Sony shares fell more than four percent to their lowest in almost three years on Friday after the company was forced to recall 438,000 Vaio laptops due to possible overheating problems that could cause burns to users.

According to Reuters, Sony said that the problem with the laptops related to irregularly positioned wires near the computer"s hinge that can cause a short circuit and overheating.

While the company said that the recall would have a limited impact on its earnings, at least one analyst has voiced concerns that the situation could negatively impact Sony’s reputation. The company is said to have waited a year to report the problem after first learning of it.
 
"If these things pile up and reveal that Sony"s structurally weak, then its brand value will definitely be hurt," Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Investment Management, told the news agency.