Dell is recalling 4.1 million notebook batteries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that this is the largest computer-related recall in the agency's history.

You are advised to stop using affected batteries immediately. The reports of exploding Dell notebooks started to appear in June.

Dell has now launched the Dell Battery Program site to provide you with the necessary information to find out if your Dell notebook batteries are affected by this major recall. This recall affects Dell notebooks shipped in the US and other countries.

Potentially affected Dell Notebook models:
Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705
Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90 XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710

Problem batteries have been shipped between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006. If affected they need to have one of the following prints on the backside: The words "DELL" and "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" or "Battery cell made in Japan, Assembled in China". There is a two step process to identify if your battery is affected:
1) Check if your battery model MAY be affected. If your battery is not listed, you are not affected.
2) Check if your specific battery PPID (Dell Part Piece Identification) is affected. This step is necessary to identify if your battery is affected. Only some batteries within each model are affected. If the battery is subject to this recall you will be automatically connected to a replacement order form.

Find all the details on this Dell Battery Recall site (you can also call toll-free: 1-866-342-0011). The site is available in multiple languages. I suggest you take this recall seriously. Too many reports of exploding Dell notebooks had been appeared. To shortcut things you can directly go to this page and enter the battery PPID to check if your battery is affected.

My wife has a Dell Insprion 8500. I checked the battery PPID and lucky me the battery does not require replacement.