Apple Extends MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues Until December 31, 2016

[diipii]

Wow. QA over at Apple has really gone down hill. It seems like every week there's a story regarding faulty hardware or malfunctioning software. I don't ever remember it being this bad.

I believe it's all to do with every Apple computer's inability to get rid of heat. Now the iMac has a 5k screen you might almost hear the GPU bubbling. I can imagine the board at Apple looking sideways at Ive and Cook and saying to themselves "your days are numbered."

 

[steve62388]

I've bought a second hand late 2011 macbook but i didn't notice this issue yet. Anyway, anyone knows if this can be applied to a second hand product?

I would think so, all models are covered until at least the end off this year and it's easy for them to identify the model. I took my 2012 in recently and wasn't asked for a receipt.
[doublepost=1455980161][/doublepost]I have one of the affected models and was getting kernel panics. I have three Apple Stores within reach. The support article doesn't advise you to make one but I tried to make a Genius Bar appointment anyway. There were no appointments available at any store and with time running out on the recall I had to do a walk in.

On arrival I was told the wait time was two hours twenty minutes. I ended up waiting for three hours fifty minutes. The graphics test took eleven minutes and no fault was found. It was a very long and frustrating day, add in my travel time and it was basically an all day event.

I would recommend the mail in option.

 

[alvindarkness]

I had my 2011 MacBook Pro die and then replaced by Apple and then sold it to some guy on craigslist. I used the money to buy the 2012 MBP with the Nvidia GT 650m (With anti-glare screen). That really is Apple's last great laptop. Everything since has been 'meh' (and ridiculous considering soldered ram!)

Totally agreed, it was their last great laptop, I might look into doing similar... (had mine die a few times, last repair was by apple under this program).

 

[Taz Mangus]

I have the same problem on my MacBook Pro 13 2015.
Does anybody else experience this?

I would suggest take your 2015 MacBook Pro into an Apple Store and have it looked at.

 

[lsh]

Hmm. Just did the flat rate repair on a 2011 for video issues last month. Specifically asked about this program (since I had a 2nd one repaired for free) and was told it expired. Glad they extended it or I never would have known it was still covered - wouldn't have expired until 2/27. Bummer the Genius didn't know.

 

[foem]

Does anyone know what the graphics test is that the Genius Bar people will perform? Is it something that I can do prior, to determine whether my Macbook will be eligible for repair? Currently experiencing major problems including video glitches, diagnostic test (hold down opt D at startup) does not reveal any problems.

 

[tubeexperience]

Does anyone know what the graphics test is that the Genius Bar people will perform? Is it something that I can do prior, to determine whether my Macbook will be eligible for repair? Currently experiencing major problems including video glitches, diagnostic test (hold down opt D at startup) does not reveal any problems.

It's call the "Video System Test (VST)" and no, you can't perform it at home.

Hmm. Just did the flat rate repair on a 2011 for video issues last month. Specifically asked about this program (since I had a 2nd one repaired for free) and was told it expired. Glad they extended it or I never would have known it was still covered - wouldn't have expired until 2/27. Bummer the Genius didn't know.

You should be eligible for a refund.

 

[tubeexperience]

Worried? Maybe not. I imagine not every single machine failed. You may be in the fortunate camp.

My Early 2011 MacBook Pro 17" ran fine until last month, when I suddenly got the shifted screen and distorted image while working in Photos. Upon restart the machine wouldn't reach the login screen, and sometimes went to a blue screen or got a pixelated green streak through the centre. Sure enough, the local Apple authorized service centre confirmed it was the logic board issue and arranged a replacement at Apple's cost (I was quite relieved, as I bought the MacBook Pro in Canada and now live in Oman and wasn't sure if I would be covered). So the problem can still crop up very late in the MacBook Pro's life - at least you're covered until the end of the year if it hits you.

(Late 2011 MacBook Pro 17-inch)

Every time OS X is booting with the Apple logo and progress bar about 2/3 of the way through, I get a WHITE SCREEN for about 10 seconds before the boot screen comes back.

Also, when waking up from sleep, I get a static bar about a inch thick horizontally across the screen for a few seconds.

It does pass the Video System Test at the Apple Store.

I don't see any issue when OS X is fully loaded, so I am wondering if what I am seeing is imminent GPU failure or something else.

 

[DPZ]

Sadden to read Apple still won't acknowledge this problem started in MacBookPro Mid-2010 and fix those.

My mid-2010 15" MBP has had graphics issues for 4 months. Overtaxing the machine with too many vids playing or Pages/Photoshop caused the machine to hang and the screen to go blank. Any audio from video playing would repeat the audio frame over and over until I powered down with the power button. Been holding out for the rMBP 15" release later this year. I was reading up on baking the logic board when I came across a post about a little app that controls the switching between the intel and Nvidia GPUs. Seems thats what is causing the hang on this machine, the handoff between GPUs. The app is called gfxCardStatus. 2 versions are available, I needed the older one (v1.8.1) because I'm still using OS10.8.6. Newer version is v2.3. I loaded the app, swithced to Nvidia only, and opened up 5 separate youtube windows. Made a couple full screen. The fan ramped up, but the machine never hung. Good luck!


http://en.softonic.com/s/gfxcardstatus-10.6.8:mac

 

[jimmie32]

(Late 2011 MacBook Pro 17-inch)

Every time OS X is booting with the Apple logo and progress bar about 2/3 of the way through, I get a WHITE SCREEN for about 10 seconds before the boot screen comes back.

Also, when waking up from sleep, I get a static bar about a inch thick horizontally across the screen for a few seconds.

It does pass the Video System Test at the Apple Store.

I don't see any issue when OS X is fully loaded, so I am wondering if what I am seeing is imminent GPU failure or something else.

Take pictures of it and take it in again. Say the problems are not acceptable and should be GPU-related.
The Genius Bar may be able to grant you an exception if you're nice to them and get it replaced under the program. As long as you have evidence, they can pass it onto engineering and grant you a free repair.

 

[mfuhrer]

Does this cover the labour charges by an Apple authorised service provider?

Yes, I had my logic board replaced last month at an Apple authorised service centre (MiStore in Oman) and picked up the repaired MacBook Pro at no charge.

 

[buckwheet]

My mid-2012, non-retina Macbook Pro does exactly the same thing—if I run Skype or FaceTime for more than 20 minutes, or so, it is pretty much guaranteed to happen. It will do it under more average conditions, as well, but not as reliably. Does anyone know or understand why it isn't covered. It's a GeForce GT 650M.

 

[throAU]

Well, just booked my 2011 in for this repair. It doesn't do it every often, but i have a photo on my iphone of the behavior; has anyone had any issues with apple refusing repair?

 

[sparky1499]

Well, just booked my 2011 in for this repair. It doesn't do it every often, but i have a photo on my iphone of the behavior; has anyone had any issues with apple refusing repair?

I took mine in with photo evidence. They ran the hardware test and found no fault.

Now that i have video evidence I'll be back for a second attempt.

 

[pat500000]

I've bought a second hand late 2011 macbook but i didn't notice this issue yet. Anyway, anyone knows if this can be applied to a second hand product?

same..got the oct model 2011 15 inch and haven't noticed anything yet.

 

[buckwheet]

I've bought a second hand late 2011 macbook but i didn't notice this issue yet. Anyway, anyone knows if this can be applied to a second hand product?

Second-hand is fine. MY gf had hers done just a few months ago, and it was second-hand.

 

[Brandhouse]

Great that they've identified a recurring issue and great to know that my 2011 17" Mac Book Pro is still covered if I get the issue happening again.

 

[frumpy16]

(Late 2011 MacBook Pro 17-inch)

Every time OS X is booting with the Apple logo and progress bar about 2/3 of the way through, I get a WHITE SCREEN for about 10 seconds before the boot screen comes back.

Also, when waking up from sleep, I get a static bar about a inch thick horizontally across the screen for a few seconds.

It does pass the Video System Test at the Apple Store.

I don't see any issue when OS X is fully loaded, so I am wondering if what I am seeing is imminent GPU failure or something else.

I had symptoms that included almost these exact things. Just brought my machine in today after seeing this thread and the genius hooked up and ran the diagnosis. He found an 'immediate' failure of the video test (with the screen garbled as he ran the test. Ha!). It popped up a failure message and told the genius to refer to some numbered procedure/process/KB article. He said "oh yeah, you're definitely qualified under this [repair] program and took the laptop to send in for a fix.

My issue started more subtle like yours and eventually degraded into the system being unusable because you wouldn't know when the display was going to essentially explode into random junk. Take it back in and, good luck!
[doublepost=1456104729][/doublepost]

Second-hand is fine. MY gf had hers done just a few months ago, and it was second-hand.

Yeah, just took mine in today (first hand) and the genius didn't do anything except grab the serial number. No proof of ownership, purchase, etc required or taken.

 

[kemal]

Lead free solder leading to shorts would be the standard "tin whisker" problem. This can be caused by excessive stress on the solder joints. The one I had replaced had an intermittent non-responsive nvidia chip ~ the CPU took over video so the machine seemed fine. The nvidia chip not responding was likely a solder crack, not a short.

Either way it *boils* down to INADEQUATE COOLING.

 

[eco7777]

my computer is a late 2010, but exactly this very same model.
I do not understand why apple cannot fix it and they are asking me for 310 dollars to do it.

I have to live with 3-7 kernel panics a day.
[doublepost=1456113985][/doublepost]

Sadden to read Apple still won't acknowledge this problem started in MacBookPro Mid-2010 and fix those.

This!
[doublepost=1456114109][/doublepost]

My mid-2010 15" MBP has had graphics issues for 4 months. Overtaxing the machine with too many vids playing or Pages/Photoshop caused the machine to hang and the screen to go blank. Any audio from video playing would repeat the audio frame over and over until I powered down with the power button. Been holding out for the rMBP 15" release later this year. I was reading up on baking the logic board when I came across a post about a little app that controls the switching between the intel and Nvidia GPUs. Seems thats what is causing the hang on this machine, the handoff between GPUs. The app is called gfxCardStatus. 2 versions are available, I needed the older one (v1.8.1) because I'm still using OS10.8.6. Newer version is v2.3. I loaded the app, swithced to Nvidia only, and opened up 5 separate youtube windows. Made a couple full screen. The fan ramped up, but the machine never hung. Good luck!


http://en.softonic.com/s/gfxcardstatus-10.6.8:mac

it didn't work on mine, still got the kernel panics.

 

[shurcooL]

I have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) and it's not affected. Still running like a champ.

Since there are many people complaining, I just wanted to throw something positive out there.

 

[chromite]

I have an early 2013 MBP. Hope this doesn't happen to me!

 

[Keane16]

Wow. QA over at Apple has really gone down hill. It seems like every week there's a story regarding faulty hardware or malfunctioning software. I don't ever remember it being this bad.

Must be new to the company. Things are much better now than they ever were.

Can you imagine an iPhone 4 like antenna issue now? Or an OS as bad as OS X Cheetah or Jaguar. Or the way the iPhone 3GS used to lock up and freeze without rhyme nor reason. Remember (or even worse, did you have to use use) the regularly overheating Power Mac G4 Cube?

Apple used to have way more big issues than they do now. But as always there is room to improve.

 

[frumpy16]

By the way, if you want to try the genius test at home try this. The VST is the most relevant test here.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201257

 

[shaunp]

I had a problem with a 2010 15" MBP and apple refused to acknowledge the problem, even had one of the 'geniuses' tell me that I might have bought the wrong product. They only looked at it when I showed them video evidence, and even then they only replaced the thermal paste.

Was annoyed at the time as I had to buy another laptop as the 2010 machine was just too noisy to use and my customers complained when I was onsite. Ended up buying an early 2013 rMBP, as nobody else made anything decent at the time.

This machine has also had GPU issues. I have just had the logic board replaced as part of this program.

Not impressed so far - 2 expensive laptops (~£3000 each) and both had GPU issues. My nMP also locks up occasionally.

Dell are now making some great kit, it's just a shame Windows 10 is so dire with multiple monitors and there's no equivalent of Messages otherwise it would be bye bye Apple.