[Joint release with the Consumer Affairs Agency]Recall (free inspection and repair) of LCD TV Manufactured by Sony Corporation

(1) Accident phenomenon

A serious product accident where smoke emanated from an LCD TV manufactured by Sony Corporation occurred.  One serious product accident has been reported in accordance with the provision of Article 35, Paragraph 1 of the Consumer Product Safety Law (Control No. A201100476).  Further, ten similar accidents (non-fire accidents) have been reported to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE).  No deaths or injuries have resulted from these 11 accidents.

Although the cause of the accident is still under investigation, a certain component used in the product (a wire in the inverter transformer) was found to be defective due to manufacturing failure.  It is supposed that the defective component deteriorated in the course of continued use and ignited in the product, and the ceiling of the product cabinet melted under the influence of the resulting heat.

(2) Future recurrence prevention measures

To prevent further accidents, Sony Corporation today issued a press release.  It also posted a message on its website, made a company announcement in newspapers and sent a notice to its registered users to ask users to stop using the products.  It started free inspection of the recalled products today so as to repair any component defects that are found.

(1) Product name and other data of the recalled products

Product Name	Model	Sales Period	Quantity
LCD TV “Bravia”	KDL-40V3000	From September 2007 to November 2008	71,100 units
	KDL-40V5000	From September 2007 to September 2008	9,700 units
	KDL-40W5000	From November 2007 to October 2008	74,499 units
	KDL-40X5000	From September 2007 to December 2008	31,998 units
	KDL-40X5050	From September 2007 to November 2008	1,500 units

(2) Appearance and identification of the recalled products

(Example of appearance: KDL-40W5000)

Please click to enlarge this image. (PDF:391KB)

Sony Corporation will inspect and repair the LCD TVs free of charge.

• Press release: October 12, 2011
• Posting a message on the website: October 12, 2011
• Sending e-mails to the registered users: any time from October 12, 2011
• Making a company announcement in newspapers (in morning papers of 17 newspapers): October 13, 2011

Anyone who possesses the above product should quickly contact the company below.  Should you notice any abnormality (abnormal sound or odor or smoke) from the TV, immediately turn it off, remove the power cord from the outlet and stop using it.

Sony TV Reception Center

• Telephone No.: 0120-668-812 (exclusive toll-free number)
• Service hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (on weekdays)
  
  9:00 to 17:00 (on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)

October 12, 2011

Product Accident Information and Analysis Office, Product Safety Division, Commerce and Distribution Policy Group