The funny thing is that no consumers ever experienced the exploding-battery problem -- exposure was limited to a very small number of developers who'd gotten prototype 5300 'books. A switch back to NiMH batteries was quickly made in time for volume production.
Bad case plastics, however, are a different story. A great many 5300 owners had hinges break on them, or some other such problem. Apple extended their repair window at least once (perhaps twice) in response to a loud and sustained chorus of complaints.