SONY Corp. notified customers Oct. 12 that several models of its 40-inch Bravia LCD HDTV may overheat and catch fire. Currently, reports of problems are limited to Japan, and no injuries or property damage outside of the television itself have been reported. However, the company is asking all consumers who purchased affected models to contact the company to schedule a service evaluation. It is estimated this alert includes 1.6 million television sets worldwide.

Affected models include Model Nos. KDL-40V3000, KDL-40VL130, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40WL135, KDL-40XBR4 and KDL-40XBR5. SONY says the problem is related to a particular component in these models, which may be defective. If the affected component is found upon inspection by the SONY service representative, it will be repaired at no charge to the consumer.

SONY advises consumers to be aware of any abnormality in their TV unit and its performance, such as unusual noise, unusual smell or smoking. The company advises consumers who notice these problems to turn the unit off, unplug the cord and stop using the TV until it can be evaluated by a service professional.

To schedule a service appointment, customers may download a service request form at the company’s website, or toll-free at 1-877-899-7669 to schedule a free evaluation.