Eleven instances reported of faulty component igniting. Sony New Zealand promises free inspections. | PLUS: Another hacker attack on the Sony's entertainment networks sees 93,000 accounts suspended worldwide.
A “very limited number” of New Zealand customers are affected by a world-wide recall of 1.6 million Sony LCD flatscreen TVs, the company has told NBR.
The company said “a limited number of these products might contain a component affected by a quality issue, which in a rare number of cases may over-heat and ignite.”
The ignited component could result in the television’s upper rear case melting.
Eleven instances of the meltdown phenomenon – all in Japan – have been reported by media.
But, “To date, there have been no reports of any damage to other property or physical injuries,” Sony said.
The affected TVs, all 40-inch models in the Sony Bravia range, are:
The affected models are:
The models were sold in New Zealand from mid 2007 through to late 2008, Sony NZ said.
Customers can visit the support section of Sony NZ's website or phone 0800 766 969 to arrange a free inspection.
In incident is the latest in something of an annus horribilis for the Japanese company.
Earlier today, the company suspended 93,000 accounts on its global PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment Network, which delivers game, TV, music and movie content over the internet.
The accounts were suspended after an attempt to breach network security was detected involving IDs "obtained from one or more compromised lists from other companies, sites or other sources."
The company said in an online post that affected customers credit cards are not at risk. The customers are being asked, via email, to reset their passwords.
The hack attack follows a major security meltdown during April and May that took saw the entire Sony PlayStation Network taken offline for more than a month.
