TOKYO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) shares fell more than 4 percent to hit the lowest in almost three years on Friday after the electronics maker announced a recall of 438000 Vaio portable computers due to...

Sony recalls 438,000 laptops on burn concern A recalled Sony Vaio laptop is seen in an undated handout photo. REUTERS/U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission/Handout

By Franklin Paul

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp <6758.T> has launched a voluntary recall of 438,000 Vaio portable computers, citing a potential hazard that could cause the machines to overheat or possibly burn a user.

It is one of the biggest computer recalls since 2006 when Dell Inc recalled 4.1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire.

Sony's recall affects 72,800 computers in the United States, a Sony spokesman said on Thursday.

Sony received 15 reports of overheating, including one of a consumer who suffered a minor burn, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission said.

The flaw, in Sony's VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 series computers, is related to "irregularly positioned wires near the computer's hinge and/or dislodged screw inside the hinge" that can cause a short circuit and overheat, the agency said.