2016 (Oct) MacBook PRO Expanded battery

[jerryk]

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.

The fact it happened so suddenly makes me wonder if the issue likes not in the battery itself, but in the charging regulation circuitry. It is supposed to start slow charging at approx 80% full to prevent overcharging the battery. If that failed one evening that could have strongly overcharged the battery.

The good thing is you now have a new machine. If they gave you a new charger, I would not use the old one, cable, or anything else associated with the defective's system charging.

 

[atsang]

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.

Wait a minute. How many times did you have to go back? Were you just trying a different store? A different manager?

My battery is dead after 13 months. They quoted me $786. Should I try again?

 

[ZapNZs]

Wait a minute. How many times did you have to go back? Were you just trying a different store? A different manager?

My battery is dead after 13 months. They quoted me $786. Should I try again?

Yes, because something is very wrong with this quote. Firstly, it should not be anywhere near this high if the only issue is the battery and there is no water damage. Secondly, it would not be unheard of for Apple to cover replacement if your battery meets their criteria for replacement and is only several weeks outside the warranty.
https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service

 

[atsang]

Yes, because something is very wrong with this quote. Firstly, it should not be anywhere near this high if the only issue is the battery and there is no water damage. Secondly, it would not be unheard of for Apple to cover replacement if your battery meets their criteria for replacement and is only several weeks outside the warranty.
https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service

Welp. Took it back and they quoted even worse. They said "Since it won't turn on, we don't know if the problem is the battery or the logic board."

Top case (battery) replacement is ~$500.
Logic board replacement is ~$800.
Could be both.

I'm one month past the end of my 12 month warranty....SERIOUSLY?

 

[Miltz]

Yes, because something is very wrong with this quote. Firstly, it should not be anywhere near this high if the only issue is the battery and there is no water damage. Secondly, it would not be unheard of for Apple to cover replacement if your battery meets their criteria for replacement and is only several weeks outside the warranty.
https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service

Negative. My laptop was 8 days out of warranty with keyboard issues and they wanted to charge me $479. Further more when I challenged them they told me "we don't make exceptions anymore, it's not fair for the people who actually buy AppleCare, sorry" Needless to say I'm disgusted.

 

[atsang]

Negative. My laptop was 8 days out of warranty with keyboard issues and they wanted to charge me $479. Further more when I challenged them they told me "we don't make exceptions anymore, it's not fair for the people who actually buy AppleCare, sorry" Needless to say I'm disgusted.

Those are the same words they used with me. My entire development team (all Mac users) is flabbergasted they would do that. CC warranty is an ok backup warranty, but Apple 10 years ago would have covered this.

 

[Fishrrman]

Miltz wrote:
"My laptop was 8 days out of warranty with keyboard issues and they wanted to charge me $479. Further more when I challenged them they told me "we don't make exceptions anymore, it's not fair for the people who actually buy AppleCare, sorry" Needless to say I'm disgusted."

Was yours a 2016/17 ??

If so, I think there are going to be many, many, MANY more folks with similar experiences in the future.

Fearless prediction:
KeyGate™ is going to become a disaster for Apple in the next 2-4 years.
Worse than "RadeonGate".

 

[Miltz]

Those are the same words they used with me. My entire development team (all Mac users) is flabbergasted they would do that. CC warranty is an ok backup warranty, but Apple 10 years ago would have covered this.

8 days... out. On a $4,500 laptop and they looked at me like I walked in with a netbook.
[doublepost=1515444223][/doublepost]

Miltz wrote:
"My laptop was 8 days out of warranty with keyboard issues and they wanted to charge me $479. Further more when I challenged them they told me "we don't make exceptions anymore, it's not fair for the people who actually buy AppleCare, sorry" Needless to say I'm disgusted."

Was yours a 2016/17 ??

If so, I think there are going to be many, many, MANY more folks with similar experiences in the future.

Fearless prediction:
This is going to become a disaster for Apple in the next 2-4 years.
Worse than "RadeonGate".

2016. Never had a issue for a full year. I’m very disappointed.

 

[jerryk]

Miltz wrote:
"My laptop was 8 days out of warranty with keyboard issues and they wanted to charge me $479. Further more when I challenged them they told me "we don't make exceptions anymore, it's not fair for the people who actually buy AppleCare, sorry" Needless to say I'm disgusted."

Was yours a 2016/17 ??

If so, I think there are going to be many, many, MANY more folks with similar experiences in the future.

I suspect you are correct. I had my refrigerator quit cooling 12 days after the one year part of the warranty that covered labor ran out. Paid $3600 for the fridge. They paid for the controller $125, I had to pay the labor $375.

Two years later the same thing happened again. This time it was $475 for the labor and now $200 for the part, but I am 23 days out of the parts warranty so I paid the whole $675.

 

[atsang]

Apple store rep said they have denied a free repair to someone who was 1 day out from their warranty. She said they have orders from above that they have to take a hard line stance.

Ummm this is the beginning of the end imo.

 

[bartvk]

I wanted to say that we have it better in Europe, where the law mandates that a machine is fit for purpose. However, I just checked the price difference and where you pay US$ 1499 for a 13" nTB, we pay EUR. 1468 which is US$ 1749. We simply don't have the choice to pay less.

I think if I lived in the US, I would've gotten AppleCare with an machine that's so expensive I can't replace it out-of-pocket.

 

[The Mercurian]

I think the OPs case is different however. Dead battery is one thing. Battery expanding out of the case is entirely another. Its a major safety hazard - I would almost imagine Apple should be buying machine with an expanded battery back so they can forensically take it apart to find out what happened!

 

[conifer]

Wow, too bad. If you bought your Mac with credit card, check coverage as some double the warranty .edit: iPhone X damage is expensive to repair, I bet a lot of folks will be shocked.

 

[MacZonie]

Just found this thread. My 2016 MBP was has been used in clamshell mode standing in an BookArc stand. Just took it down to check out the keyboard - delete and p double-strike. Shocked to find the battery expanded!

Going to Apple store Thursday. Wish me luck.

 

[Miltz]

Just found this thread. My 2016 MBP was has been used in clamshell mode standing in an BookArc stand. Just took it down to check out the keyboard - delete and p double-strike. Shocked to find the battery expanded!
View attachment 767488
Going to Apple store Thursday. Wish me luck.

How often do you use it in clamshell mode? What kind of Apps do you run?

 

[Tenashus1]

Happened to me on my 2015 13". Had Apple Care. Top case replaced. Hope things work out for you.

Apple Care has become forced insurance. With everything soldered and non user replaceable ssds there is no other choice.

 

[Painter2002]

Just found this thread. My 2016 MBP was has been used in clamshell mode standing in an BookArc stand. Just took it down to check out the keyboard - delete and p double-strike. Shocked to find the battery expanded!
View attachment 767488
Going to Apple store Thursday. Wish me luck.

If you have the non-touchbar model they currently have an open repair program for the 2016 MBP without Touch Bar. They should cover repairs at no cost.

Here is the link to Apple's sight if you want more information: 13inch-macbookpro-battery-replacement

EDIT: Forgot to attach the link.

 

[MacZonie]

How often do you use it in clamshell mode? What kind of Apps do you run?

Pretty much all the time. Usual apps, Mail and Safari plus LightRoom and Parallels. Internal temperatures seem reasonable and fan speed during idle is 2000/2160 rpm.

If you have the non-touchbar model they currently have an open repair program for the 2016 MBP without Touch Bar. They should cover repairs at no cost.

Here is the link to Apple's sight if you want more information: 13inch-macbookpro-battery-replacement

Thanks. This is a 15" Touch Bar model but a similar mechanism may be at work.

I spoke to Apple two weeks ago about not waking reliably from long sleep. I was advised to plug in the charger AND the LG 5K. I was skeptical about two power sources but was assured I should do that. Noted the expanded batteries around a week later. I suspect that was the cause of the expanded battery. Visited an Apple store 6/28. It is currently in the Apple repair depot and being worked on as of 6/29. The standard cost was $795 but tech said the cost would be 0. Looks promising so far...

 

[Painter2002]

Pretty much all the time. Usual apps, Mail and Safari plus LightRoom and Parallels. Internal temperatures seem reasonable and fan speed during idle is 2000/2160 rpm.



Thanks. This is a 15" Touch Bar model but a similar mechanism may be at work.

I spoke to Apple two weeks ago about not waking reliably from long sleep. I was advised to plug in the charger AND the LG 5K. I was skeptical about two power sources but was assured I should do that. Noted the expanded batteries around a week later. I suspect that was the cause of the expanded battery. Visited an Apple store 6/28. It is currently in the Apple repair depot and being worked on as of 6/29. The standard cost was $795 but tech said the cost would be 0. Looks promising so far...

Ah, well in any case I’m glad they are taking care of it for you! Hopefully the new battery won’t have any issues.

 

[cobracnvt]

Happened to me on my 2015 13". Had Apple Care. Top case replaced. Hope things work out for you.

Apple Care has become forced insurance. With everything soldered and non user replaceable ssds there is no other choice.

Exactly, extended warranties are a requirement at this point.

 

[A7ibaba]

In the EU you have 2 years.1st year is Apple warranty,for second year store who sold it is responsible for warranty

 

[MacZonie]

Ah, well in any case I’m glad they are taking care of it for you! Hopefully the new battery won’t have any issues.

Current status as of today, 7/3/2018:
"June 29, 2018:
Our technicians are working on your product. We’ll notify you when the repair has been completed."

I was hoping it would move a bit faster than this. Probably a lot of repairs queued up.

 

[Mr.Scarface]

Current status as of today, 73/2018:
"June 29, 2018:
Our technicians are working on your product. We’ll notify you when the repair has been completed."

I was hoping it would move a bit faster than this. Probably a lot of repairs queued up.

If anyone has the issue with the expanded battery, you should start with the Service App on you iPhone and contact Apple there. 2015 13'' MacBook Pro had they expanded battery after only 75 cycles (had it for 3 years...exactly...no AppleCare). They approved the repair after 5 mins and gave me a case # to drop it off at the Apple Store. Batteries should do that and Apple knows that. It is a danger to the owner.

 

[MacZonie]

To close the loop...

Got my MBP back today after 4 business days (7 calendars days). Replaced battery and keyboard, according to the repair service record. No cost. All seems to be working fine. System report shows 1 battery cycle.

 

[jsorrels]

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.

How did you get them to agree to the reduced charges? I have the same problem with a 2016 and a 2017 15" Macbook pro. How did you escalate?