Microsoft Announces Xbox Power Cord Recall

Officials from Microsoft have announced that the company will voluntarily replace the power cords on any of 14.1 million Xbox consoles sold world-wide - approximately 70 percent of the 20 million Xboxes sold to date. The company has an observed a failure rate of around 1 in 10,000 units centered around the power cord, which has led to users suffering either minor burns or damage to property, including scorched carpets. Microsoft claims that there have been only 30 cases of actual injury or property damage thus far. The recall covers any Xbox sold world-wide before October 23rd 2003, the exception being continental Europe, where the recall covers only consoles manufactured before January 13th 2004. Customers can order a new power cord by going to the Xbox website or using specific toll free numbers, according to region. Replacement cords should arrive within two to four weeks, with Microsoft advising customers in the interim to turn off their consoles when they are not in use.