Olathe, Kan. –
is voluntarily recalling around
796,000 Nuvi personal navigation devices (PNDs) sold in the U.S. as part of a
global recall of 1.25 million units because of their potential to overheat.
None of the models is currently
available for sale from Garmin, although a spokesperson said small numbers
could still be on some dealers’ shelves.
The affected models use batteries
made by a third-party supplier during select periods of time and have a
specific type of printed circuit board (PCB) design, the company said. “It
appears that the interaction of these factors can, in rare circumstances,
increase the possibility of overheating, which may lead to a fire hazard,” the
company said. However, Garmin said it found only 10 cases in which overheating
has occurred and that “none of the reported incidents has caused significant
property damage” or injuries.
The affected models are the 200W, 250W, 260W,
7xx and 7xxT (xx stands for a two-digit number).
Consumers can go online to Garmin’s
, where
they can enter their model’s serial number to determine if their unit is being
recalled. U.S. and Canadian consumers can also call (866) 957-1981.
Once a recalled unit is sent to a
Garmin-authorized repair facility, Garmin will replace the battery free of
charge and insert a spacer on top of the battery next to the PCB.
Garmin’s battery supplier agreed
to share the costs of the recall program. Garmin said it doesn’t expect the
recall to have “a material adverse effect on its results of operations,
financial position or cash flows.”
