IBM and LiteOn Technology Expand Previously Announced Recall of Computer Monitors

Friday, August 29th, 2003

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In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., and LiteOn Technology, of Taipei, Taiwan, are voluntarily expanding their recall to repair program for G51 and G51t computer monitors manufactured by LiteOn and sold by IBM. The original recall, which was announced on March 4, 2003, involved 56,000 computer monitors. The expansion includes 63,000 additional G51 and G51t monitors that were manufactured through September 1998. The monitor's circuit board can overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

IBM and LiteOn have received seven reports of monitors overheating and smoking, including one report of minor property damage and one report of minor smoke inhalation.

The recalled IBM monitors include the G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch Screen CRT models. The G51 and G51t monitors have the following model numbers on a label on the back of the unit: 6541-02N, 6541-02E, 6541-02S, 6541-Q0N, 6541-Q0E, and 6541-Q0S. The label on the back of the recalled G51 models also has a date of manufacture between June 1997 and September 1998. The "IBM" logo can be found on the front of the units, which were manufactured in China, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom.

IBM, MicroTouch Systems, and major retail stores nationwide, including Best Buy, CompUSA, Office Max, and Radio Shack, sold the monitors from June 1997 through December 1998 for about $370.

Consumers should stop using these monitors immediately and contact the IBM Repair Center toll-free at (800) 426-7378 anytime to confirm whether their monitor is covered by the recall. Consumers with a recalled unit will receive a free inspection and repair or a replacement unit. For more information, consumers can log on the company's website at www.ibm.com/pc/g51recall