Recalls this week: Battery packs, hedge trimmers

A line of laptop battery packs that can overheat are among this week's recalled consumer products. Others include defective chairs and hedge trimmers.

LAPTOP COMPUTER BATTERY PACKS

DETAILS: Panasonic lithium-ion battery packs installed in 18 models of Sony's VAIO Series laptop computers. The Panasonic battery packs were also sold separately and installed by Sony as part of repairs. Panasonic battery packs included in this recall have model number VGP-BPS26 and part numbers 1-853-237-11 and 1-853-237-21. Panasonic battery pack model and part numbers are printed on the back of the battery pack. They were sold at Best Buy, Sony retail stores, other consumer electronic stores nationwide and online at www.store.sony.com and other websites from February 2013 through October 2013. Recalled model numbers include SVE15132CXW, SVE1513KCXS, SVE15134CXP, SVE1513MCXB, SVE15134CXS, SVE1513MCXW, SVE15134CXW, SVE1513MPXS, SVE15135CXW, SVE1513RCXB, SVE151390X, SVE1513RCXS, SVE1513APXS, SVE1513RCXW, SVE1513BCXS, SVE1513TCXW, SVE1513JCXW and SVE171390X.

WHY: The lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 1,700 in the U.S. and about 21 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call Sony Electronics at 888-476-6988 from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday or visit www.sony.com, click on "Support" and then look under "Support Alerts" for more information.

CHAIRS AND BARSTOOLS

DETAILS: Grand Rapids Chair Company Sadie chairs (model 837) and barstools (model 837S). The model number is printed on the underside of the chair, on the care and use instruction label. They were sold by Grand Rapids Chair sales representatives and distributors, both directly to end users and in the company's showrooms in Byron Center, Michigan and Chicago.

WHY: The back leg of the chairs can bend and the seat tabs or screws on the seat can loosen. When loose, pinch points between the seat and steel frame are created, posing a risk of injury.

INCIDENTS: Three reports of finger injuries including a finger laceration, bruise and fracture.

HOW MANY: About 2,300.

FOR MORE: Call Grand Rapids Chair Company at 866-453-4748 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email to quality@grandrapidschair.com or grandrapidschair.com and click on "Product Recall" at the bottom of the page for more information.

ANGLE GRINDERS

DETAILS: Four-inch air angle grinders with model number 20687. The model number is printed on the packaging. The grinders have a blue handle and some models have the ASC logo on the top. They were sold at Agri Supply stores in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia and online at www.agrisupply.com from January 2015 to April 2016.

WHY: The spring-loaded safety switch can fail and allow the grinder to turn on even with the safety switch locked in place, posing a finger, hand or other laceration risk.

INCIDENTS: One report of the safety spring failing, resulting in a finger laceration.

HOW MANY: About 200.

FOR MORE: Call Direct Distributors at 877-564-8669 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, send email to recall@ncddi.com, or visit www.agrisupply.com and click on "Recall Notice" at the bottom of the page for more information.

HEDGE TRIMMERS

DETAILS: STIHL model HSA 65 battery-powered hedge trimmers. "STIHL" and "HSA 65" are printed on the side of the battery compartment between the trigger and the loop handle. The hedge trimmer is gray and orange, with a loop handle, removable battery and a 20-inch hedge trimming blade. They were sold at authorized STIHL dealers nationwide from June 2010 through April 2016.

WHY: The hedge trimmer can operate faster than expected, continue running after the trigger is released or operate by depressing either the trigger or the front handle switch individually, posing a laceration hazard.

INCIDENTS: Seven reports of the trigger or front handle switch not operating properly. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 8,000 in the U.S. and 1,000 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call STIHL Inc. at 800-610-6677 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, send email to stihlrecall@stihl.us or visit www.stihlusa.com and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information.

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