Mitsubishi Electric Recalling Television Sets

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. said it will recall or repair as many as 45,000 large-screen television sets sold in Japan after at least seven of the models caught fire from 1991 to 1997, in the latest in a spate of recalls by Japanese companies. The television problem was reported in Japan’s Sankei newspaper, which said Mitsubishi Electric regularly replaced the faulty part in sets brought in for other problems. The company had not told the government about the faulty TV sets, though it’s required to report any faults that might endanger consumers, according to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The ministry has asked the company to explain its handling of the defect. A Mitsubishi spokesman said he didn’t think the company’s decision could be considered concealment. Mitsubishi said the fires were among 66 reported incidents, but it didn’t say what the other incidents were. No injuries were reported as a result of the incidents, it said.