Coby Electronics announced what is at least its third major product recall in the last year and a half, calling back 13,000 rechargeable batteries sold with their portable CD/DVD/MP3 players.
The batteries, just like the portable audio and video players they recalled last November, were made in China.
Coby warns that the rechargeable batteries can overheat and catch fire. There have been four reports of fires from the batteries overheating, resulting in what the company called “minor property damage.” No one has been hurt yet.
The batteries were sold with Coby’s TF-DVD 1020 portable swivel-style music and video player. Last year, it was the TF-DVD170 and TF-DVD176 players that were recalled entirely — 12,000 units — because of fire worries.
Recalled Batteries Serial Number Ranges:
DG240043D503000001-1006
DG240006D503000001-400
DG240039D603000001-3000
DG240111D603000001-2000
DG240143D602000001-3000
DG240106D602000001-2000
DG240106D702000001-2000
DG240183D942000001-100
DG240071DB02000001-1400
DG240115D702000001-1726
DG240115D702000001-2500
The products were sold at discount toy and electronics stores for about $170 from May 2007 through this July.
For additional information, contact Coby Electronics toll-free at 866-945-2629 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.cobyusa.com/.
See also: Consumer Product Safety Commission listing.
By the way: In a reporting error. We spelled Coby “Colby” by accident in an early version of this story.
The fire hazzard issue goes way beyond the “batteries”. The TF-DVD1020 swivel screen will “swivel” (without over-travel) in either direction “until its wires” become tangled, stretched, frayed and then break — with potential “shorting” taking place. This is a gross design flaw on EVERY unit, and not just limited by specific batteries!