Sony Recalls Computer AC Adapters Due to Shock Hazard

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #10027) was formally reported on October 28, 2009. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Sony Electronics Inc. of San Diego, Calif. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 69,000 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Insulation inside the AC adapter can fail over time, posing an electrical shock hazard to consumers. 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 turn off their computer, unplug it and stop using the recalled AC adapters immediately and contact Sony to arrange for a free replacement of the affected AC adapter. — 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 17 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.