Australia included in monitor recall

Australian consumers are among those being warned about monitors that could potentially overheat and smoke, with IBM more than doubling the number it has included in its voluntary recall program.

An IBM Australia spokesperson told CRN that the initial recall in March had covered monitors manufactured from June 1997 until September 1997. 'What they've done is extended that for one year to September 98,' the spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, the faulty monitors had the potential to overheat and produce smoke.

'Since 2001 there have only been seven cases reported, out of about 685,000 monitors sold worldwide...it's a rather small proportion,' she added.

IBM and LiteOn Technology, a manufacturer in Taipei, have expanded the recall to include an additional 63,000 G51 and G51t monitors that were manufactured in September 1998. The recall, which started with about 56,000 monitors being recalled, was initiated in conjunction with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The agency said the monitors should be turned off immediately because they can overheat. IBM and LiteOn have received seven reports of monitors overheating and smoking, including one report of minor property damage and one report of minor smoke inhalation, according to the CPSC.

IBM said more information about the recall can be found on its G51 recall at http://www.pc.ibm.com.

As CRN reported in March, the original recall included monitors models G51 CRT and G51t touch-screen CRT models bearing model numbers 6541-02N, 6541-02E, 6541-02S, 6541-Q0N, 6541-Q0E and 6541-Q0S.

IBM is offering to replace or repair the affected monitors and is in the process of notifying business partners of the recall, according to an IBM spokesman. The company is also offering partners free use of a mailing house to notify customers at no expense to the partner, said the spokesman.

LiteOn is picking up all the costs of the recall, the spokesman added.
IBM in March said it was not sure how many of the products were sold by commercial partners and how many were sold through retailers, the spokesman said.