Columbia Sportswear is voluntarily recalling battery packs sold with certain electric jackets between 14 June 2012 and 22 November 2012 and offering free replacements. View the Recall Alert for full details.

The voluntary recall relates to the lithium-polymer rechargeable battery packs (Part: 054978-001) sold with six models of Columbia electric jackets.

There is a risk that these batteries could overheat, giving rise to a potential burn or fire hazard. Two battery packs were included with each jacket.

The batteries affected by this issue may have been included with jackets purchased by consumers between 14 June 2012 and 22 November 2012 in the following Columbia-owned retail stores:

• Salzburg, Austria
• Troyes, France
• Ingolstadt, Germany
• Zweibruecken, Germany
• Munich, Germany
• Frankfurt, Germany
• Las Rozas, Spain
• Portsmouth, United Kingdom
• Cheshire Oaks, United Kingdom
• Kensington, United Kingdom

Only battery packs with part number: 054978-001 potentially included with the following six jacket models during the relevant date range are subject to this recall:

• Circuit Breaker™ Softshell (EM7382) Men’s
• Electro Amp™ Parka (SM7854) Men’s
• Electro Amp™ Jacket (SM7864) Men’s
• Snow Hottie™ Parka (SL7853) Women’s
• Circuit Breaker™ Softshell (SL7856) Women’s
• Snow Hottie™ Jacket (SL7866) Women’s

The company requests consumers compare their battery packs to the image above to determine whether they are subject to this recall. If you have a battery pack that matches the description above, please immediately remove both battery packs from the jacket and contact Columbia Sportswear at Europe-consumers@columbia.com, or toll-free at 0 808 234 0229.

We will provide prepaid shipping materials and packing instructions to return your battery pack to us, and we will then provide replacement batteries. We ask that you return the battery packs as soon as possible and do not attempt to charge or use the battery packs in the meantime.

This recall does not apply to battery packs sold after November 22, 2012 by authorized Columbia dealers, Columbia retail stores and ecommerce sites. This recall also does not apply to batteries purchased with Columbia’s electric boots, gloves, other electric products, or to the chargers and adapters sold with electric products.

Original source: http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aacw_prd/on/demandware.static/Sites-Columbia_UK-Site/Sites-Columbia_UK-Library/en_GB/v1354315464648/CustomerService/Recall_Alert.pdf