SONY Corporation, the world’s biggest video game console maker, has issued a global recall of around 3.6 million adaptors used in its best-selling PlayStation 2 game console, because of possible fire hazards and overheating.
The adaptors were manufactured in the four months ending December 2004 and were sold with the game consoles worldwide starting last November, the Tokyo-based company said in a statement. Sony will replace the adaptors free of charge.
As many as 2.3 million units are affected in Europe, 960,000 units in North America, 210,000 units in Asia, and 60,000 units in Japan, Tokyo-based spokesman Daisuke Nakata said. The cost of the recall is not known, he added.
Sony has shipped 91 million units of the PS2 as of June, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history.
The safety scare surrounds Sony’s black slimline machine, which was released in November and became last year’s must-have Christmas present.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) issued a press releases stating, “certain AC Adaptors, identified as manufactured between August 2004 and December 2004, and supplied with the black slimline PlayStation 2 models SCPH70002, 70003 and 70004 may overheat and cause an injury hazard to consumers. It is likely that some of these units may have been on sale after this date. No other PlayStation 2 units are affected.
Consumers who identify their AC Adaptor from the diagram below as one of those affected, should arrange for a replacement by visiting: www.ps2ac.com
Consumers should not take their AC Adaptor back to the place of purchase. As a precautionary measure, and until a replacement is provided, SCEE advises consumers owning one of the AC Adaptors affected by this notice to unplug the PlayStation 2 from the mains power supply and discontinue use until a replacement AC Adaptor is provided.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Bosses stress only five cases of overheating have been reported by customers, from 2.3 million potentially-affected adaptors, but the firm has decided to play safe and promised to replace every one for free.
Sharon Green, managing Director of Gibareio, SCEE’s official distributor in Cyprus, described the move as a “precautionary measure”, and urged consumers who don’t have internet access to contact 22-352543.
