Joint Release with the Consumer Affairs AgencyRecall of Notebook Computer Battery Packs Imported by Sotec Co., Ltd. (Currently Onkyo Digital Solutions Corporation ) (Free Replacement or Refund)

A serious product accident has occurred in a notebook computer imported by Sotec Co., Ltd. (Currently Onkyo Digital Solutions Corporation), causing the product to catch fire.

The cause of the accident is thought to be a defect in a battery cell in the battery pack built into the computer, which might have short circuited, resulting in smoke emission, fire outbreak and the battery exploding.

To prevent further accidents, Onkyo Digital Solutions is posting more information on the website today to let consumers know that it will replace the battery packs free of charge or provide refunds for the cost of the battery packs.

This accident was announced as a serious product accident on August 21, 2009, in accordance with Article 35(1) of the Consumer Products Safety Act, which relates to accidents of unclear origin in products other than gas and oil appliances (Control No. A200900398).

The Ministry of Economy, Technology and Industry (METI) would like to ask consumers who possess the products in question to have their battery packs replaced for free or the cost of their battery packs refunded in order to prevent any further accidents.

1. Nature of the accident and recurrence-prevention measures

1) Nature of the accident

A serious product accident resulting in fire damage from the product has occurred in a notebook computer imported by Sotec Co., Ltd. (currently Onkyo Digital Solutions Corporation) and was reported to METI in accordance with Article 35(1) of the Consumer Products Safety Act (Control No. A200900398).

2) Recurrence prevention measures

To prevent further accidents, Onkyo Digital Solutions Corporation has posted more information on its website today and will start replacing the battery packs for free or providing refunds for the cost of such battery packs.

2. Recalled products: product name (brand and model), sales period and quantity

1) Product name and other data on the recalled products

Product name		Sales period		Quantity
Brand	Model	Start	End	Quantity
WinBook	WV700	Jun. 27, 2005	Apr. 29, 2007	2,831
	WV710	Mar. 8, 2005	Jul. 2, 2006	2,992
	WV711	Aug. 19, 2005	Jul. 1, 2006	490
	WV730	Mar. 8, 2005	Mar. 1, 2007	9,042
	WV730B	Mar. 4, 2005	Oct. 22, 2006	7,078
	WV731	Jul. 7, 2005	Mar. 18, 2007	4,060
	WV731-A1	Jul. 29, 2005	Mar. 17, 2007	2,096
	WV731B	Jul. 6, 2005	Mar. 29, 2007	3,639
	WV731B-A1	Jul. 29, 2005	Mar. 21, 2007	500
	WV731-T1	Sep. 27, 2005	Sep. 28, 2005	200
	WV750	Mar. 8, 2005	Feb. 11, 2007	2,408
	WV750B	Mar. 8, 2005	Dec. 3, 2006	2,692
	WV760	Apr.25, 2005	Mar. 17, 2007	3,014
	WV760B	Apr.25, 2005	Nov. 4, 2006	5,648
	WV760B-A1	Mar. 29, 2005	Feb. 1, 2007	888
	WV760B-A2	Jul. 15, 2005	Jul. 29, 2005	103
	WV761	Jul. 26, 2005	Mar. 31, 2007	2,583
	WV761B	Jul. 17, 2005	Oct. 19, 2006	3,021
	WV830	Jul. 26, 2005	Feb. 19, 2007	932
	WV830B	Jul. 28, 2005	Oct. 7, 2006	407
AFiNA	WV760-A2	Jun. 23, 2005	Feb. 18, 2007	3,081
Total				57,705

* Recalled products are those with a built-in battery pack numbered "G1L1." A total of 22,143 of these battery packs have been sold.

2) How to check your battery

[i] Model number of notebook computers
If you find a model number from the list above on the barcode sticker on the back of your notebook computer, the computer may contain a battery to be recalled. If you find a listed number on the sticker, please check the number of the battery pack as shown below [ii].

Model number of notebook computers

[ii] Model number of battery packs
Please check the number of the battery pack by removing the pack from your notebook computer. If you find the number "G1L1" in the upper left corner (in the red box), the battery is to be recalled.

Model number of battery packs

3. Actions by the company

Onkyo Digital Solutions Corporation will warn customers to remove the battery from the recalled products and to use the computers with the AC adaptor only, and will replace the recalled battery packs or exchange notebook computers containing such battery packs for free in order to collect such battery packs.

4. Notice by the company

Website:: Friday, April 20, 2012
Telephone:: Monday, April 23 onward
Email form:: Monday, April 30 onward

Distributing leaflets directly to households identified by businesses or shops concerned: Anytime from the end of April

5. Alert to consumers

Anyone who owns the above product should immediately remove the battery pack from the notebook computer, use the AC adaptor instead, and quickly contact the company below for a free replacement or refund for the battery pack.

6. Contact

Onkyo Digital Solutions Corporation:: Monday, April 23, 2012, onward
Sotec WV models Contact Section
Telephone:: 0120-338055
Service hours:: 9:30-18:00 (weekdays, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and business holidays)
Website:: http://pc-support.jp.onkyo.com/
URL for Email form:: Monday, April 30, 2012 onward
https://pc-service.jp.onkyo.com/wv/

Release Date

April 20, 2012

Division in Charge

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

Related Information

Product Safety

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Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901, Japan Tel: +81-(0)3-3501-1511