Lenovo announced plans yesterday to recall tens of thousands of ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th generation laptops due to a loose screw that could cause the laptop’s batteries to catch fire.
According to a statement released by Lenovo late last night, the company “has determined that a limited number of systems may have a problematic screw […] that could damage the battery causing it to overheat, potentially putting the devices at risk of fire.”
The Chinese company says that ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th generation laptops manufactured between December 2016 and October 2017 are reportedly affected.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that the number of ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops in circulation in the U.S. is about 78,000, while 5,500 units were sold in Canada.
Lenovo said that only ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptops with the “Machine Type” code of 20HQ, 20HR, 20K3, or 20K4 are affected. Owners of the devices can find this code on a sticker on the back of the device.
If you’re interested, Lenovo has created a website where you can enter your device’s serial number and find out if you should contact a Lenovo representative for a replacement.
