15.5 million Toshiba laptop AC adapters recalled over fire hazard
The recall applies to several Toshiba AC adapters that were sold in US and Canada between April 2008 and April 2014
On February 21st, Dynabook Americas (formerly Toshiba) issued an emergency recall for 15.5 million Toshiba laptop adapters sold in the US and Canada between April 2008 and April 2014. Adapters impacted by this issue need to be replaced since they're prone to overheating to the point of igniting a spark that could cause a small burn or even a fire.
Dynabook Americas states it received 679 reports of the recalled AC adapters overheating, catching fire, melting, or burning. Of those reports, 43 resulted in minor burn injuries.
Unfortunately, a mass recall like this also points toward these adapters overheating being a matter of "if," not "when," so customers with these adapters should still return them, even if they seem to be working fine right now. Since the range is about six years from 2008 to 2014, that's a decently wide window for these 15.5 million faulty AC adapters to have circulated throughout the market, including used and secondhand PC markets.
So, what do you do if you want to check if you're impacted? Fortunately, Dynabook has set up a convenient AC Adapter Replacement Program web tool showing you where to get the key part numbers from your AC adapter and input them on the page to get a quick prognosis. Hopefully, you aren't impacted by this.
Alternatively, you can check Dynabook's official support page to get a complete list of all impacted Toshiba AC Adapters and eyeball it if you don't feel like using the tool. That support page also includes a section of 12 QnAs which provides warranty info and wait times on receiving a new adapter (90 days and 7-14 business days, respectively).
With any luck, those reading this are not directly impacted by this issue and, thus, don't need to worry. Realistically there's a high chance that the 10+ year old laptops most directly impacted by this issue are long retired, but any PC enthusiast worth their salt knows that old PCs are prime repurposing material for HTPCs, Linux, and the like. Fortunately the Toshiba laptops themselves are still fine— just make sure that adapter isn't on The List.
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Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.
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USAFRet I have an old Tosh, and just checked the adapter. Used it just yesterday.Reply
Yep, its on the list. -
USAFRet Reply
"Dynabook Americas states it received 679 reports of the recalled AC adapters overheating, catching fire, melting, or burning. Of those reports, 43 resulted in minor burn injuries."Notton said:2008 to 2014?
So over a decade old?
I'm surprised they bothered.
Some of them are still in use.
Like mine (sort of).
Originally, it was my sons first college laptop.
Then, given to me when he upgraded.
It was my test box for the initial Tech Preview of Win 10.
And updated to current Win 10 version just the other day. -
Alvar "Miles" Udell As I've said in other threads, think of all the community centers, libraries, and other organizations using donated computers of this age, not to mention all the older people who refuse to use anything new until it breaks even though it poses a security risk.Reply -
USAFRet Reply
And even the uberest of geeks don't automatically throw out old hardware.Alvar Miles Udell said:As I've said in other threads, think of all the community centers, libraries, and other organizations using donated computers of this age, not to mention all the older people who refuse to use anything new until it breaks even though it poses a security risk.
Like me.
The Toshiba referenced in my above thread is this one:
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/whats-the-oldest-and-or-cheesiest-system-you-have-win-10-installed-on.3516627/
Upgraded it to the current Win 10 just the other day. -
Amdlova That's good... can use that against nvidia old power adpters with recall and new one graphics not having any call...Reply -
pjmelect This reminds me of a friend who did not like how hot his laptop power adapter was getting so he opened it up and fitted a small fan inside to cool it down as the insides of the power adapter were very hot indeed. I told him you can't fit a fan as it is a safety issue in case of water spillage, he replied "that it is my laptop and I will not spill water on it". The next day he dropped a cup of tea on it and blew it up.Reply -
vacavalier Reply
Never say never...pjmelect said:This reminds me of a friend who did not like how hot his laptop power adapter was getting so he opened it up and fitted a small fan inside to cool it down as the insides of the power adapter were very hot indeed. I told him you can't fit a fan as it is a safety issue in case of water spillage, he replied "that it is my laptop and I will not spill water on it". The next day he dropped a cup of tea on it and blew it up. -
punkncat I used an affected laptop and have since sold it to a friend. I linked him, it is for sure on the list. I recall that thing being hot as could be and always wondered about it.Reply
Thanks for the heads up.