TOKYO — Japanese electronics and entertainment company Sony Corp. said it is recalling 18,000 Vaio laptop computers because a faulty assembly of the modem could result in a minor electric shock to users.
The two recalled Vaio models went on sale in May — 13,000 in Japan, 3,000 in the United States and 2,000 in Europe, the Tokyo company said.
In Japan, the affected models are the PCG-FR77E/B, PCG-FR55E/B and PCG-FR55E. In the United States, they are the PCG-FRV27 and PCG-FRV25. In Europe, it is the PCG-FR215S.
A person who touches some metal parts in the back of the laptop might feel a slight electric shock when the dial tone goes off while using the modem, spokesman Shigenori Fujita said.
The modem is also unusually slow when using an adapter to connect to an outlet, he said. Several cases of the slow modem were reported in Japan, but no cases of electronic shock have been reported and it will not cause bodily injury, Fujita said.
The recall costs, including shipping and repair, will total an estimated $4.2 million, the company said.