Hearth Record

CPSC, IBM Announce Recall of AC Adapters for Notebook Computers

Home product recall 04-208. Announced by CPSC on Sep 2, 2004.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Sep 2, 2004. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The adapters can overheat, cause damage to the circuit board and melt through the housing, which poses a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

Consumers should unplug the recalled adapters from the wall outlet immediately and contact IBM for a free replacement unit.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: Call IBM at (800) 410-5629 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to IBM’s replacement unit website at www.AdapterProgram.com

Which ones are recalled?

The recalled 56W AC power adapters were shipped primarily with IBM ThinkPad i Series, 390 and 240 Series, and s Series notebook computers. The adapters have three hollow pins at the AC inlet and part number 02K6549 on a label on the top of the unit. The IBM logo appears on top of the unit. Adapters with solid pins are not included in this recall.

About 225,000 units, as CPSC gives them.

AC Power Adapters.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

CPSC’s photos

CPSC shows 1 photo on its notice. Hearth Record doesn’t copy them; each opens on cpsc.gov.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Delta Electronics Inc., Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Imported by International Business Machines (IBM) Corp., Armonk, N.Y.
  • Electronics and computer stores nationwide, the IBM Web site, phone orders, mail-order catalogs, and resellers sold the adapters with the ThinkPad computers, from January 1999 through August 2000. The adapters also were sold as an accessory during that time for about $55.
  • Made in China, as the notice gives it.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

IBM has received six reports of incidents, including some with minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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