Sony recalls Bravia LCD TVs

Sony Malaysia is recalling certain Bravia LCD TVs because "it has come to our attention through reports in Japan that in rare cases a particular component incorporated in certain models of 40” BRAVIA LCD TVs mostly launched between 2007 and 2008, was damaged and as a result may overheat and at times ignite inside the TV set, possibly melting a part of the cabinet ceiling due to the heat."


"We have no reports of any resulting damage to other property or any of bodily injury," said a statement on http://www.sony.com.my/support/announcement/474840


Sony is offering a free check of the affected products.


In the meantime, if you have an affected TV and if you notice any abnormality in your TV unit (e.g. unusual noise, unusual smell or smoking), please immediately turn it off, pull out the plug, cease using the TV unit, and contact us. We have confirmed that this symptom does not occur when power is off, the Sony Malaysia statement said.


[AFFECTED MODELS]
KDL-40W3000


KDL-40W3100


KDL-40W3500


KDL-40X3100


KDL-40XBR


KLV-40W300A


KLV-40X300A


KLV-40X350A


Bloomberg reported that Sony Corp. has recalled 1.6 million Bravia flat-panel TVs sold worldwide since 2007 because a faulty component may cause them to melt or catch fire.


Sony recalled the liquid-crystal display TVs after a September incident in which a customer noticed a small fire and smoke, said Yuki Shima, a Tokyo-based spokeswoman for the world’s third-largest maker of televisions. Eleven incidents have been reported in Japan since 2008, according to a company statement, and no injuries have been reported.


A faulty component in the backlight systems may be the source of overheating that can melt the top of the TV set, Shima said. It’s the second recall involving Sony products in a month, with KDDI Corp., Japan’s second-largest mobile-phone operator, saying it would replace Sony-made batteries in as many as 2 million handsets because they may overheat and melt, Bloomberg reported.


“Sony-related recalls are following one another, and that may ruin the company’s brand image,” said Keita Wakabayashi, an analyst at Mito Securities Co. with a “neutral plus” rating on the stock. “Considering Sony’s overall business size, the TV recalls won’t shake the company’s grounding.”


The same transformer is used in the five Bravia models in Japan being recalled, according to a Sony statement.


The recalled sets, 40-inch models sold in regions including China, the Americas, the Middle East and Europe, will be repaired if faulty parts are found. Sony will dispatch a service crew to inspect sets, Shima said. The company won’t offer refunds or replacement TVs, she said.


There haven’t been any reports of overheating incidents outside Japan, the statement said. The recalls are carried out globally.


This is the company’s first recall of flat-screen televisions, though not the first associated with the Bravia line. In April 2010, Sony offered to repair the stands attached to two models because the screws weren’t strong enough and the stands could collapse.


Later that month, the company recalled 535,000 Vaio personal computers because of possible overheating caused by a temperature-control defect.


In Malaysia, another Sony announcement dated 20 April 2011 said they would provide for free inspection and repair of BRAVIA Television Models (KDL-40CX520 and KDL-46CX520).


"Recently, we became aware of a potential issue affecting a small number of units of BRAVIA Televisions - models KDL-40CX520 and KDL-46CX520, which were sold since March 2011 onwards. These affected units did not meet Sony’s design requirements for part of its insulation material and as such, when the units are subject to certain rare conditions (such as high temperature, high humidity and continuous usage for a prolonged period of time),customers who come into contact with the metal parts of the affected units or metal parts of a product connected to the affected units, may possibly experience a very slight irritation with no harmful effects on the body.


"To ensure customer satisfaction, we will provide free inspection and repair for the affected units.


"In order to determine if your unit is affected, we need to verify this through a serial number check. Please click http://www.sony.com.my/pressrelease/asset/449226/section/productpressreleases to find out how to check and note down the serial number of your TV set.


"If you own the affected models, please contact your local Sony service centre for detailed information regarding the free inspection and repair."