Sony Recalls 440,000 Vaio Laptops Due to Burn Hazard

Sony, the consumer electronics company, said Thursday that it was recalling 440,000 units of Vaio laptop computers worldwide because of faulty parts that could trigger overheating.

The company said Thursday that the recalls involved 19 models of Vaio TZ laptop series manufactured between May 2007 and July 2008, including three export models.

The company said a faulty wiring connecting the main body of the laptop and its display could cause overheating near a power plug or the rim of the screen, sometimes distorting the shape of the computer.

The affected models are the VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 -- although not all laptops in these series are affected. Sony suggests users contact the company to see whether their computer is part of the recall, and if so to stop using it immediately.