Nokia Recalls 14 Million Faulty Cell Phone Chargers

Handset maker Nokia issued a global recall for approximately 14 million cell phone chargers after a potential quality issue was identified during a routine quality inspection. These faulty chargers, manufactured by one of its third-party suppliers, would be replaced without any extra cost.

According to the Finnish giant, the plastic covers of the affected chargers could come loose, exposing the charger’s internal circuits. If the components are accidentally touched when the charger is in use, it could pose an electrical shock hazard. While no incidents or injuries have been reported so far, Nokia advised owners of these potentially dangerous chargers to stop using them and ask for a free replacement as soon as possible.

The chargers concerned were manufactured by BYD Electronic Company of China. Only 2-pin chargers of certain models are involved in the replacement program. They are the AC-3E and AC-3U models made between June 15 and August 9, 2009, as well as the AC-4U model made between April 12 and October 25, 2009.

The AC-3E chargers were shipped to the European market, while the other two were sold to North and Latin America. Britain, China, Brazil, Argentina and some other countries are not affected. These three charger models are compatible with a wide range of Nokia phones, ranging from its low-end 2600 Classic handset to its pricier E71x and N95 devices.

Nokia added that BYD, maker of the chargers, would be responsible for covering the whole cost of the replacement service.

The company has established a dedicated website for users to check if their chargers should be exchanged. Customers can visit http://chargerexchange.nokia.com/ or their local Nokia site for more information.

This is not the first time Nokia had a quality issue with the cell phone accessories. In 2007, the company offered massive replacement service encompassing more than 46 million cell phone batteries made by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd due to a risk of overheating.

In the light of these potential risks, our batteries, AC/travel chargers and car chargers are designed to prevent overcharging and short circuit, ensuring high performance and safety for charging your cell phone.

Tags: Nokia Charger, Nokia N95 Chargers, Nokia Surge (6790) Chargers, Nokia 5800 Chargers, Nokia E61i Chargers, Nokia E71x Chargers, Nokia Car Charger