[Taffycat]

Sony is to offer free safety checks on several of its TV models after a number of sets started smoking.


The company warned that a component used in eight different versions of its Bravia televisions may be faulty and could, in rare cases, overheat.
However, it stopped short of issuing a full recall.


Instead Sony said that anyone who was concerned could request an engineer come to their home for free to inspect their TV.


The models affected are all LCDs, sold in Europe since June 2007.
They are: KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, KDL-40D3660.
KDL-40V3000, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40X3000, KDL-40X3500.


Some 1.6 million of the TVs have been sold worldwide; 630,000 of them in Europe.


Reports of overheating sets have so far all come from Japan.
The company said that the televisions were not at risk while they were switched off.


It warned owners to be aware of any unusual noises, smells or smoking coming from their Bravia.


Anyone noticing those symptoms should unplug the power cable and stop using the set immediately, said a Sony statement.


Details on how to find a set's model number were published on the company's website.

Source: BBC News (my "bold" to highlight model numbers

According to Business Week, Sony has actually issued a recall on the TVs... but, the Beeb article above, appears to disagree.

[floppybootstomp]

Sony again? Marvellous quality control they have in place...

We all love Sony don't we?

[Quadophile]

I have not bought anything with Sony logo in years, come to think of it in decades.

Last time I posted something about Sony were their digital cameras, scores of them being rejected by Chinese quality control engineers

[Ian]

Thanks for the heads up TC, I've got a feeling that my dad has one of these TV sets (or a perhaps similar model - looks like it may be the KDL40W5500U) so I've forwarded the message on to him.