Chinese electronics manufacturer Lenovo has issued a recall notice for fifth-gen models of its ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop, after discovering a flaw that could lead affected devices to overheating and catching fire.
Lenovo’s fifth-gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops were produced between December 2016 and October 2017, so they’re still fairly new in PC terms, but they suffer from a loose screw defect that could damage the machine’s battery and make it a fire risk, according to the company.
If you think you might be affected by the recall or just want to check for peace of mind, here’s what to do.
Flip your laptop over so it’s upside down and you can see the product label. First, check if your machine type is affected: if you see the code 20HQ, 20HR, 20K3, or 20K4, it’s potentially a faulty one. Then, check the manufacture date. You can find this printed at the end of the serial number. If it’s between 12/2016 and 10/2017 and you have a corresponding model number, you’ve officially got a problem laptop.
(Note that we’re not sure how Lenovo formats its manufacture dates, so any numerical combination that could represents the December 2016-October 2017 period should be double-checked by following the final steps).
In a statement, the company said:
‘The recall is due to a manufacturing process lapse which Lenovo’s engineers have subsequently fixed. Having taken the time to fully understand and correct this manufacturing issue, Lenovo is fully confident that its current ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops meet Lenovo’s high quality and safety standards. Removal of any unfastened screw will eliminate any exposure of the battery to an unfastened screw. This process will eliminate the risk identified in this recall.”
If you discover your ThinkPad X1 Carbon isn’t quite the flawless specimen you thought it was, you then need to head over to Lenovo’s recall page and validate your serial number. If confirmed, Lenovo says to stop using the laptop immediate and contact it to arrange for an inspection and/or repair.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
