PlainRecalls

Philips Consumer Electronics Recalls Plasma Flat Panel Televisions

Reported: March 16, 2006 Initiated: March 16, 2006 #06536 About 11,800 units

Philips Consumer Electronics North America, of Atlanta, Ga. issued this CPSC recall on March 16, 2006. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 11,800 units are affected. The recall was issued because: Arcing by capacitors inside the left and right side of the back cabinets of these TVs can pose a safety risk.. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #06536) was formally reported on March 16, 2006. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Philips Consumer Electronics North America, of Atlanta, Ga. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 11,800 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Arcing by capacitors inside the left and right side of the back cabinets of these TVs can pose a safety risk. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately turn off the Ambilight feature (see instructions in the picture) and contact Philips for instructions on how to receive free in-home service to have their TV repaired for… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 20 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 11,800

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

The recall involves only certain 42- and 50-inch, 2005 model Philips branded Plasma Flat Panel Televisions with Ambilight technology, which is an ambient lighting feature that projects a soft light onto the wall behind the TV to enhance the display. They were manufactured with the following model, date codes, and serial numbers: Model Display Type Production Began Production Ended Beginning Serial Range Ending Serial Range 42PF9630A/37 Plasma April 2005 July 2005 AG1A0518xxxxxx AG1A0528xxxxxx 50PF9630A/37 Plasma May 2005 August 2005 AG1A0519xxxxxx AG1A0533xxxxxx 50PF9630A/37 Plasma June 2005 August 2005 YA1A0523xxxxxx YA1A0534xxxxxx 50PF9830A/37 Plasma June 2005 August 2005 AG1A0526xxxxxx AG1A0533xxxxxx The model and serial numbers can be found on the back of the TV on the label that looks like the example in the picture: The serial number can also be obtained by pushing the following keystrokes on the remote control: 123654, after which a customer service menu ("CSM") will be displayed on the screen. In the menu, line 03 displays the type number and line 04 displays the production code (identical to the serial number of the set). Press the MENU button on the remote to exit the CSM.

Reason for Recall

Arcing by capacitors inside the left and right side of the back cabinets of these TVs can pose a safety risk.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately turn off the Ambilight feature (see instructions in the picture) and contact Philips for instructions on how to receive free in-home service to have their TV repaired for free.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 06536
Date reported March 16, 2006
Date initiated March 16, 2006
Recalling firm Philips Consumer Electronics North America, of Atlanta, Ga.
Units affected About 11,800
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 11,800 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
The recall involves only certain 42- and 50-inch, 2005 model Philips branded Plasma Flat Panel Televisions with Ambilight technology, which is an ambient lighting feature that projects a soft light onto the wall behind the TV to enhance the display. They were manufactured with the following model, date codes, and serial numbers: Model Display Type Production Began Production Ended Beginning Serial Range Ending Serial Range 42PF9630A/37 Plasma April 2005 July 2005 AG1A0518xxxxxx AG1A0528xxxxxx 50PF9630A/37 Plasma May 2005 August 2005 AG1A0519xxxxxx AG1A0533xxxxxx 50PF9630A/37 Plasma June 2005 August 2005 YA1A0523xxxxxx YA1A0534xxxxxx 50PF9830A/37 Plasma June 2005 August 2005 AG1A0526xxxxxx AG1A0533xxxxxx The model and serial numbers can be found on the back of the TV on the label that looks like the example in the picture: The serial number can also be obtained by pushing the following keystrokes on the remote control: 123654, after which a customer service menu ("CSM") will be displayed on the screen. In the menu, line 03 displays the type number and line 04 displays the production code (identical to the serial number of the set). Press the MENU button on the remote to exit the CSM.. Recalled by Philips Consumer Electronics North America, of Atlanta, Ga.. Units affected: About 11,800.
Why was this product recalled?
Arcing by capacitors inside the left and right side of the back cabinets of these TVs can pose a safety risk.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately turn off the Ambilight feature (see instructions in the picture) and contact Philips for instructions on how to receive free in-home service to have their TV repaired for free.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on March 16, 2006. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 06536.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (06536) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

Compare this recall with Electrolux Group Recalls Frigidaire Gas Ranges Due to Burn … →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).