The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and mobile phone vendor Kyocera Wireless Corp. (San Diego, CA), a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless phones, urged users of its model 7135 smartphone to stop using the batteries because the batteries could explode. The batteries were sold in 140,000 units, which have been sold by Verizon Wireless, US Cellular and ALLTEL. The batteries also have been sold separately as replacements.
Specifically, the CPSC said the batteries could short circuit and "erupt with force or emit excessive heat." The agency noted that Kyocera has has received four reports of this occurring, with one minor burn injury resulting. The CPSC said that users should immediately stop using the batteries and that Kyocera will replace them for free. Kyocera is expected to contact all buyers of the phone by February 6, 2004, but individual users who are not contacted should contact the company at 800-349-4478.
Kyocera previously stopped wolrdwide shipments of its KE400/KX400 Series mobile phone following reports that a Kyocera phone apparently exploded just days after a Nebraska family purchased it. The battery blew out of its compartment, leaving the phone sizzling and smoking.
