Slim-line PS2 adaptors get too hot; Sony issues product recall

by Vladimir Cole { Sep 13th 2005 at 2:15PM }

Sony PS2 adaptor sticker

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has decided to recall approximately 960,000 AC adaptors sold to North American gamers because some adaptors are overheating and melting. According to the press release:

Sony Computer Entertainment America has received 38 reports of adaptors overheating, including 19 reports of melting. There have been four reports of minor property damage, two reports of minor burns and one report of a minor shock.

If you've got a slim-line PS2 purchased during or after October 2004, check the model number (located on the back, bottom, or side of the PlayStation 2 console) and unplug the dang thing if the number matches SCPH 70012 or SCPH 70011. Sony will send you a new adaptor. Click the link below for more details.

Now before anybody goes and claims that this proves once and for all that the PS2 is the hotter system, remember that Microsoft recalled 14 million Xbox power cords.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

hah. now Sony too? you'd think multi billion pound industries would actually check hardware. oh well. :P

James @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

"Microsoft recalled 14 million Xboxes" or is it actually 'Microsoft recalled 14 million Xbox power cords."? Get it right!

vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

#2: Thanks for catching my slip! Corrected.

Morningbuster @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I'm surprised Sony didn't try and pass it off as a feature and then promptly yell at anyone saying otherwise.

Andrew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I ain't turning that thing back in. I set my coffee on it so it stays nice and hot.

OTAM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

AHAHAAA!!

For all the shit I had to hear about the Xbox's cord burning up now is my chance to gloat back!

AC Adapters burning up,UMD shooting everywhere,I can't wait for the PS3!

Wait,can't the PS3 use 7 controllers at once?
Sony - Giving me laughs one day at a time.

Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Damn it. So there is a problem. I purchased a PS2 slim-line not long ago, and I noticed, almost right away, that my adapter was quite hot. This was no more than 2 hours of playtime. Not only the adapter, but the system as well. Is it really Nintendo that creates the best hardware? This really pisses me off.

Zachary @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Right on number 6, All the sony fanboys kept saying microsoft was trying to burn down our houses, well now what!?!?!?

Martez @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

To #7: Yes.

OTAM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Exactly Zachary.

The only reason i'm even posting on here (besides the fact that i'm a pissed off individual and very bitter if you've read any of my other posts) is because all the shit I had to hear from the Sony fanboys because as you know,Sony is god and can do no wrong (according to them).

So I can have a console with games like Metal Gear Solid,Gran Turismo,AND Killzone that overheats and lights my house up like a christmas tree? Where do I sign up?!I simply must have this product.

Oh wait,I do have a PS2,havent bought a game for it in about 2 years because I get the disc read error screen everytime I put anything in it.I'm glad I got my moneys worth.

Thanks Sony! *thumbs up*

OTAM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

(Not Impressed) Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

(sarcasm alert)

Sony has a corrupt piece of hardware?! NO WAY!!!!!

Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I've been collecting Nintendo products pretty much all my life. With the exception of Sega. This generation I ended up purchasing all the systems. PS2, Cube and Xbox. I've had no problmes with Xbox, and no problems with Cube. I was a bit sceptical purchasing a PS2 (slim-line). The reason for this is because I'm always hearing on the net how Sony create systems that usually break down quite fast. You take the comments for what they are. But once you buy the damn system and find that it starts to overheat, you begin to realize that all those comments you read were true. This is ridiculous, really. I don't know why I'm so angry. But because of this, this is definitely the last Sony system I purchase. Sony, you just lost a consumer.

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Did you even have a bad model? It's only the intial systems of it, 843,000 of them. That's a relatively small number compared to how many have been shipped. *shrugs* still never had a problem with my system. Don't know what the hell you're talking about 2 hours burning your system out. I left San Andreas in and on for about 36 hours, while playing big chunks of 8 hours at a time. Guess I'm one of the few who didn't get exploding Sony hardware.

(Not Impressed) Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Here, here, matthew!

I bought a PS2. I still have it. It ticks, it tocks, it gets hot when it decides to piss me off. I use to get disc read errors. I was dumb enough to buy the HDD. I sold my games.

But riddle me this, why do I still have the piece of crap? I don't even know lol.

Cyberclaws @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

To #7, Absolutely!

I have a PS2 (Piece of Sh*t version 2) and I only keep it around and visible so I don't get my whiny Sony Fanboy friends all upset by only showing a NGC. As for BillBox, well, I can't say anything too bad about it because it hasn't given me enough games to judge it fairly (what's that tell you?).

I will more likely than not end up buying all the consoles again this generation. I'm still doubtful about the PSP yet because every person I know that has bought it, has either stopped using it (for months now) or sold it off. Whenever I try to ask them where their PSP is while playing my NDS, it stirs bitter memories of all them hours of work they did to pay for their expensive paperweight.

DIY Home Theater @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Ah, so this explains the faint burning smell coming from behind my rack.

Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Christopher 7xii, unfortunately I do have a bad unit. I actually wanted to buy the original big model. But yeah, my system and adapter heat up. And yes, it doesn't take longer than two hours for it to do that. I don't even play my PS2, so maybe it's not that bad afterall. :s

batman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

i'm not surprised at all. sony is japanese for "shoddy hardware."

I had 2 PS1's they both needed optical drive replacements in their lifetimes,

I have 1 PS2, it doesn't work (infinite disc read errors)

i was going to get a PSP (may still, depending on future games, like any system) but the dead pixels, scratched screens, screwed up UMD drives, and horrible battery life caused me to decide otherwise.

Now this.

Seriously though, the only systems that i have owned that have had problems have been made by sony, what does that tell you?

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

"Now this.

Seriously though, the only systems that i have owned that have had problems have been made by sony, what does that tell you?"

Apparently you missed the much larger recall Xbox had on their AC adaptors... Or how everyone and their mother gets disc read errors... Or the part where people's hard drives were dying rendering the Xbox useless.

I honestly think that this whole disc read error is related to how you treat your system. I mean, nobody bitches or whines about how you had to blow into your NES to get it to work, or do that awesome "blow through a shirt into the game to clean it" trick. How about the "wiggle the game while it's in there to get it out", or the infamous "flick reset repeadily until it finally boots" trick? All everyone recalls is the fuzzy memories of playing the games, yet I'm sure everyone that had one experienced at least one(or all) of those problems with the NES.

How about, we can go on the topic of remodeling the GBA because they made a horrible first build? They made an SP less than a year later because you couldn't see shit on the screen unless you were directly under the fucking sun... The last place you really want to be with a video game. At least with the AC adaptor problem it doesn't cost you another $100 or so to buy a new model of something you already have because they have no clue how to create a new handheld.

But don't worry, there's also the GB Micro in case you didn't replace your original GBA yet. Yes, Sony is the only company that fucks up. Let's marvel at the fact that they're the ONLY company to have recalls, faulty game reading technology, or short lifespan units. While you're all debating that, I'll enjoy my first batch PS2 that still runs like the day I got it. Let me enjoy my slimline PS2 that's yet to catch fire or slowdown due to heat issues.

jc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Hey OTAM, we used to smoke in our house and the PS2 gave us 'disc read errors' about every 2 months. This was fixed everytime by opening up the PS2, removed the disc tray cover and cleaned the lens with a little isopropenal on a Q-Tip. Every time the PS2 would boot up fine afterwards. (since we stoppped smoking in the house, the PS2 has been fine)

This is a pretty serious issue, the overheating of the power supplies. Shame on Sony or their supplier for not properly testing/designing the units. On the plus side, the power supply is outside the box and can be easily replaced.

I have fixed several Xboxs as well. Unfortunately to resolder the powersupply, you have to go inside the Xbox. Most were fine, but a few from a certian production period were scary. The entire power connector from the cable to the board was shifted and shorting out on nearby components.
Microsoft was absolutely irresponsible for not recalling those units. I understand the liability issue and whatnot... but come on, fixing this problem by getting the customer to replace their regular power cord with a fault breaker power cord??? That's like solving poverty by hiding the poor from the rest of our view.

Shame on MS and Sony for poor design and slow response to safety issues regarding their products.