This article is more than 1 year old

Hey fanboi, is that an EXPLODING BATTERY in your MacBook Pro?

Or are you just pleased to see me with a fire extinguisher? Danger batt recall alert

American electronics chain Best Buy has recalled a batch of 5,100 MacBook Pro* replacement batteries after they caught fire while charging up.

One customer suffered a serious leg burn, and 12 others reported seeing their device burst into flames, we're told.

Anyone who bought a black or white lithium-ion replacement battery, with the model number “MC-MBOOK13B” or “MC-BOOK13W”, for an Apple MacBook Pro should return it to Best Buy. The $50 kit is made in China by ATG, which puts its logo prominently on battery labels.

Affected customers will receive a replacement official Apple-branded battery or a $50 Best Buy gift card.

The batteries were sold through either Bestbuy.com and Partstore.com, or were handed out by Best Buy's Geek Squad repair service, between September 2008 and June 2012.

Best Buy said: "After receiving reports from customers of these lithium ion batteries overheating when charging, we believe the right thing to do is to contact our customers and ask them to return the product for replacement or for a Best Buy gift card.

"While we are only one of many companies that may have sold these batteries, we feel they are a potential fire and burn hazard and want to keep our customers safe."

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned that "consumers should stop using this product" immediately.

Have you been affected by a burning battery? Do get in touch. ®

* There seems to be some confusion about whether the batteries are for Macbooks or Macbook Pros: the recall notice refers to the Pro, but the choice of colours for the batteries suggests they are for plastic-cased Macbooks that come in black or white. The Pro batteries are enclosed in the metallic body of the laptop, so the colour doesn't matter, whereas the Macbook battery forms part of the outer coloured case.

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