Thomson Recalls Portable DVD Player Batteries Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
Thomson Inc. is recalling about 47,000 portable DVD player batteries that can overheat and explode, posing fire and burn risks.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a significant injury report (burned fingers) and a risk of fire/explosion, meeting the criteria for 'Severe' severity (significant injury/property-damage reports).
Plain-English summary
Thomson Inc. is recalling approximately 47,000 portable DVD player batteries used with RCA portable DVD players, model number DRC600N. The batteries were sold at electronic and department stores nationwide from September 2002 through July 2003 for between $340 and $490. The batteries were manufactured in China.
The recalled batteries can overheat and explode while recharging, posing a burn and fire hazard to consumers. Thomson Inc. has received 11 reports of batteries overheating and five reports of batteries exploding. Additionally, there are two reports of consumers suffering burned fingers from picking up a battery after it overheated.
Consumers should stop using and stop recharging the battery immediately and contact Thomson Inc. for a free replacement battery. The portable DVD player itself is not being recalled, and consumers can continue to use it without the battery by plugging the AC Power Adapter into the 9-volt jack on the unit. Consumers can contact Thomson Inc. at (866) 670-4844 or by mail at Thomson Inc., RCA Portable DVD Battery Recall, P.O. Box 1976, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1976.
The recalled product
- Product
- Portable DVD player batteries
- Manufacturer
- Thomson Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind.
- Category
- Consumer Product — Electronics
- Hazard
- Affected units
- 47,000
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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