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2016 (Oct) MacBook PRO Expanded battery
- Thread starter wwwebtech
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Yes the case is bent, the circuit board generates errors, this happened overnight. It's not good at all for such a new model to have this issue so early. This laptop was purchased when the model was first released 13 months ago. I can't help but wonder if there's a long list of Apple customers with the new MacBook Pro's that are going to have the same issue starting very soon? I cannot recommend anyone buying a MBP or giving one as a holiday gift.
It was nearly five years before i had a less significant expanded battery issue with my 2012 MacBook Pro, which was solved by me replacing the battery. That's not an option with the current model. If this was 5 years down the road, I wouldn't be a very unsatisfied Apple customer.
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..what? are you kidding me? Expanded battery already after 12 months and they won't change it?
How many cycles on the battery?
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I'm very surprised they won't replace this. Maybe try again or just be more of a pain in the ass?
Since the Retina models came out, the battery has been glued in, when either the topcase/keyboard or the battery has to be replaced, they both are.
lol what the hell... seriously? I'd try again - cause that's ridiculous.. how many months out of warranty are you?
i guess this goes to show..... definitely invest in AppleCare / count it into your overall expense..
I'm sorry to hear/see this, wow. Way to soon, no matter what you did with it. But I'm curious, how many cycles did your battery have? and What did you usually use your laptop for? web/word or Final cut/photoshop. etc.
I realize that, but I was asking because if the case wasn't destroyed, it is possible to still remove the battery, not easily but it can be done. Extreme caution is needed as a Li-Po battery isn't something you want to puncture.
If OP can't do anything with Apple and getting replacement, it's either a project to do or sell it for a fraction of what was paid for. If it were me, I would take it upon myself and take the battery out.
Yes... Like I have done on many occasions with a multitude of other laptops from Apple, Toshiba, Dell, IBM and Lenovo. The only other time that I have a battery do this was on an Apple, but that laptop was nearly five years old at the time.
For those who asked, the 12 month Apple warranty expired 41 days ago on this laptop. I believe its largely the same laptop that Apple still sells today.
Based on what I have read on how Apple has handled expanded batteries on their older models. when I went to the Genius Bar, I expected they would have replaced the laptop. However that is not the case.
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Have you contacted Apple support directly and asked to speak to someone who is a supervisor? I think Apple may possibly repair this for a discounted or a reduced rate with the right approach...(just don't approach this from the perspective that Apple has to do XYZ - an expectation of something doesn't usually work well for either party.)
Incredible.
While this may happen after many years, seeing this occur after just over a year is stunning, and totally unacceptable. There is a difference between a foreseeable failure happening soon after the warranty ends and something that should happen much later like this.
I would also definitely contact Apple support and ask for supervisor contact.
While this may happen after many years, seeing this occur after just over a year is stunning, and totally unacceptable. There is a difference between a foreseeable failure happening soon after the warranty ends and something that should happen much later like this.
I would also definitely contact Apple support and ask for supervisor contact.
OP:
Where (in the world) are you?
Is there -another- Apple Store genius bar you could try?
If there IS, I would try that one (even if it was a longer distance from you). The attitudes may be different there.
Seems to me an expanded battery like yours -- even if "out of warranty" by a couple of months -- constitutes a safety hazard that would "warrant" a repair in any case.
As others have mentioned, if you can't "get a change" at the genius bar you've already visited, try calling Apple customer support DIRECTLY and explain the problem to them.
There -used to be- a "flat, $300 repair rate" that you could get from Apple to address out-of-warranty failures. It -might- apply in your case (if they absolutely, positively refuse to do it free). That would cost only a little more than AppleCare would have cost if you had bought it when it was still available. Worth spending $300, "if that's what it takes"...
Where (in the world) are you?
Is there -another- Apple Store genius bar you could try?
If there IS, I would try that one (even if it was a longer distance from you). The attitudes may be different there.
Seems to me an expanded battery like yours -- even if "out of warranty" by a couple of months -- constitutes a safety hazard that would "warrant" a repair in any case.
As others have mentioned, if you can't "get a change" at the genius bar you've already visited, try calling Apple customer support DIRECTLY and explain the problem to them.
There -used to be- a "flat, $300 repair rate" that you could get from Apple to address out-of-warranty failures. It -might- apply in your case (if they absolutely, positively refuse to do it free). That would cost only a little more than AppleCare would have cost if you had bought it when it was still available. Worth spending $300, "if that's what it takes"...
Escalate the issue using the Apple website, this is a problem with the battery that is inherent it’s possible with any lithium battery and should be covered. in the eu it’s 2 years in the UK 5 years on this sort of issue. Wherever you are in the world look up your statutory rights and then quote them to Apple support. They are usually pretty good about these things so keep trying. Take names insist on talking to managers and stay polite you should get a decent resolution in the end.
UPDATE: Apple store agreed to repair, initially with a quoted cost of $475.00 (Flat Rate Labor Charge $100 + Flat Rate 2 Charge $375). They then agreed to Repair for $280 ($100 labor + $180 Flat Rate 1), which was then reduced to free of charge.
The laptop has been repaired and is back in my possession.
Great news! Did they every give you a reason why this battery expanded like that on this near new system?
No reason, no comment at all, other than "it happens'. My question regarding whether they had seen other 2016/2017 MacBook Pro's with the same issue was met with silence.
This laptop is a late 2016 13" MacBook Pro without the touch bar, purchased on the day that they became available locally, but before the touch bar models were in stock. Essentially it is one of the first examples of the current style MacBook Pro. It has not been used for much more than web/internet, document creation, etc. It had no physical damage and it was always in a climate controlled space (I have a nice & light MacBook for travel). One day it was fine, the photos show what it looked like the next morning. Hopefully this was just an anomaly and not the start of others having batteries expand after 13 or 14 months.
This is very good news, and, I think, a fair handling of the situation. Inflated batteries should not happen just 13 months after purchase.
I really wonder about the costs they indicated. Even the first one seems very low compared to the damage: top case, and low case had to be replaced, and of course, also the battery, and maybe the boards too; though, some folks got quotes of around $600 (if I remember well) to replace keyboard + top case.
But anyway, it does not matter too much since it was reduced to $0 in the end (as it should be).
This is very good to hear.
They are right in noting that it does happen (it's unfortunately the reality in a world where the batteries that provide the most energy density with the least weight for the most practical costs come with an inherent degree of instability, an [extremely ironic] hatred of heat, and quality control with lithium cells is still far from a perfected science.)
But something like this happening so early is unusual and part of good customer service means taking care of the customer when such things like this do arise. I am glad to hear that Apple came through with this.
