2016 MacBook Pro 15" display issue

[mttst4r]

Hi. I have a 2016 MacBook Pro 15". And the bottom display has this dark spots. Any one encounter this? I understand from Apple the 13" also has this problem and apple will repair the 13" but not for 15" (???).

 

[appltech]

And your Mac was working without overheating, yes? (can be wrong, but I've heard that there can be caused by heat)

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I believe that’s a result of the “flexgate” issue. There’s a monitor cable that runs through the hinge which gets degraded over time. Apparently, a judge decided to sink a lawsuit seeking recompense for fixing this issue.

'Flexgate' Class Action Lawsuit Over Faulty MacBook Pro Displays Dismissed by Judge

A class action lawsuit that Apple was facing over "Flexgate" issues affecting MacBook Pro displays has been dismissed by a California federal judge, reports Law360. Filed in May 2020, the lawsuit accused Apple of knowingly concealing an alleged flex cable display defect impacting some 13 and...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Christopher Kim]

Yes, unfortunately this is the classic symptom of Flexgate, commonly referred to as the "Spotlight issue". I got it on my 2016 13" MBP and it was a free fix because of the Service Program.

Unfortunately, they don't have the service program for the 15". I seem to recall a few stories of forum members successfully getting Apple to fix it for free, but involved a lot of luck, persistence, and the right demeanor (eg. being kind, and hoping to get the Apple Genius to be on your side and want to help you out).

 

[flashvenomdesign]

Yes, unfortunately this is the classic symptom of Flexgate, commonly referred to as the "Spotlight issue". I got it on my 2016 13" MBP and it was a free fix because of the Service Program.

Unfortunately, they don't have the service program for the 15". I seem to recall a few stories of forum members successfully getting Apple to fix it for free, but involved a lot of luck, persistence, and the right demeanor (eg. being kind, and hoping to get the Apple Genius to be on your side and want to help you out).

Unfortunately, after Louis Rossman made a video saying that "Apple will definately fix your flexgate MBP 15", you just have to be a squeaky wheel", I haven't heard of a single case of Apple fixing this issue. I tried for weeks to escalate my case until I got someone (I won't mention names) who said he was the highest level manager I could talk to. I said "you must work for someone, what's his name or phone number?" to which he said "That would be a privacy issue." to which I said "Ok, can you please give him my number and have him call me?" - He then said in so many words that I was out of luck, and that even if Jobs raised from the dead and approved the repair, there was nothing he was willing to do.

I am so done with Apple, unfortunately. The simple fact that they will repair the 13" but not the 15" is the single most immoral and unethical thing a company has ever done to me.

I plan on using a mom/pop/ebay repair shop to fix this issue, and once this laptop bites the dust, it will be the last Apple product I will ever own... Which is sad because I proudly display a Newton, an SE30 and a picture of me as a kid at Macworld in my office.

 

[jav6454]

Hi. I have a 2016 MacBook Pro 15". And the bottom display has this dark spots. Any one encounter this? I understand from Apple the 13" also has this problem and apple will repair the 13" but not for 15" (???). View attachment 1956832

Flexgate... ouch.