Sony Adds More Tough CFexpress Type A Memory Cards to Recall

Sony Japan has updated its alert for the company’s CEA-G (Tough) series CFexpress Type A memory cards to add new batches to the recall list. Under certain conditions, the cards can become unrecognised by the camera and not save files correctly.

Fortunately, the conditions won’t be an issue for most of us. They happen when the cards are being used at their extreme low-temperature limits, around -10°C. Sony’s partial recall covers specific batches of memory cards, and Sony will repair or replace them for free.

Sony CEA-G Tough Series CFexpress Type A – Partial Recall

Sony has issued a recall based on cards essentially dying in extremely cold temperatures. The company appears to have narrowed the issue down to specific batches of cards, but it affects the Sony CEA-G CFexpress Type A cards in 80GB ($178), 160GB ($248), 320GB ($398) and 640GB ($698) capacities.

The initial statement was released on June 26th, 2024 and reads:

Thank you for your interest in Sony products.

We have found issues with some CEA-G series memory cards, where the memory cards are not recognised or the image saving process is not completed in low temperature conditions around the lower limit of the operating temperature (-10 degrees Celsius).

To address these issues, we are implementing a free repair program for the affected memory cards from 26 June 2024 until 29 June 2029.
If you have an affected memory card, please contact your local Sony service centre. A list of the Sony service centres can be found on the service centres’ page.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The original issue affects Sony CEA-G80T / CEA-G160T / CEA-G320T / CEA-G640T model cards with specific serial number ranges. The serial number is printed on the back of the product near the bottom. The update to the advisory includes newer batches of CEA-G320T / CEA-G640T CFexpress Type A cards.

Here is the original list of affected serial number ranges:

• CEA-G80T:
  • ① Products with 8-digit numbers 22030050 to 23050157, except for products with the following numbers:
    • 22030077, 22030094 , 22040022, 22050028, 22050067, 22070075, 22110010, 22110015, 22110029, 22110037, 22110103
  • ② Products with the nine-digit number 220300500 to 230501570
• CEA-G160T:
  • ① Products with 8-digit numbers 22030127 to 24029999, except for products with the following numbers:
    • 22040025, 22040068, 22050029, 22050068, 22070076
  • ② Products with a 9-digit number between 220301270 and 240299990
• CEA-G320T:
  • ① Products with 8-digit numbers between 22090001 and 24029999
  • ② Products with a 9-digit number between 220900010 and 240299990
• CEA-G640T:
  • ① Products with 8-digit numbers between 23010001 and 24029999
  • ② Products with a 9-digit number between 230100010 and 240299990

These are the new cards that Sony has added to the list on January 25th, 2025.

• CEA-G320T:
  • ① Products with 8-digit numbers between 22040001  and 22080110
  • ② Products with a 9-digit number between 220400010 and 220801100
• CEA-G640T:
  • ① Products with 8-digit numbers between 22080001 and 22100136
  • ② Products with a 9-digit number between 220800010 and 221001360

If you have one of the affected cards, head to the Sony website. You can enter your card details, and they will send you a collection kit. You send that back to them with your memory card(s) enclosed, and you’ll get working ones back.

Again, it’s not an issue that’s going to affect a massive amount of people. A lot of us will never be shooting in those kinds of temperatures. But it’s probably still a good idea to get yours sorted if you have one of the affected cards.

These cards are on the list of recently VPG-certified CFexpress cards. Sony also has 960GB and 1.92TB Tough CFexpress Type A memory cards. Those, however, are part of Sony’s CEA-M lineup, not CEA-G and aren’t part of this recall. So, if those are the cards you have, you’re probably safe.

Update: February 17th, 2025. This post was updated to note the addition of new serial number ranges to the recall. It was originally published on June 28th, 2024.