Cellular provider NTT DoCoMo said Thursday it is recalling 1.3 million battery packs made by Sanyo Electric Co. because some of them could generate excessive heat and rupture.
The battery packs made by Sanyo and installed in Mitsubishi Electric Corp's D902i handsets are subject to recall, according to NTT DoCoMo spokesman Kazunori Higuchi.
The model is only sold in Japan, Higuchi said.
The battery packs were made through May 2006 and owners of the handsets will be directly notified, Japan's largest mobile phone service operator said in a statement.
The problem is due to deformed parts installed in the battery. If the surface of the battery pack is dented accidentally, the battery could general excessive heat and rupture during or immediately after charging, NTT DoCoMo said.
The company has confirmed at least one battery rupture due to the problem and there were 17 other reports of overheating or rupture.
