Philips to Repair 12,000 Plasma TVs

Philips Electronics said on Friday that nearly 12,000 plasma TVs it sold in the United States are vulnerable to overheating, and plans to visit customers' houses to replace the faulty component. Consumers will be contacted directly, and Philips declined to say how much the fix will cost the company.

A Philips spokesperson downplayed the seriousness of the problem, saying the move was simply a "precaution" and noted there is no fire risk. Only 42-inch and 50-inch sets sold in the United States are affected by the overheating. Plasma TVs have surged in popularity over the past year as prices have continued to fall, but production problems have plagued electronics companies trying to keep up with demand.