Apple Initiates Repair Program for 2011-2013 MacBook Pros With Video Issues

[JTToft]

Hi all,

Just had an email from Apple...

Now, my Wife is away travelling with the laptop, so I can't get the serial number at the mo, but I found the receipt from the Apple store...

I rang AppleCare and despite them telling me in their email (top of this post) that I paid for the repair and they'll refund me, the chap said the laptop doesn't qualify for a refund as it's a 2010 model.

Can anyone help/advise please?

Thanks.

- That first email must have been sent in error, since the 2010 models, indeed, aren't covered by the programme. Unless you also have a qualifying model registered to your email address?
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

 

[mdgm]

- When I had my MBP (info below) fixed a few weeks ago, the Authorized Service Provider assured me the replacement logic board was from a new batch that had had the GPU issue fixed.

They may claim they've fixed it, but I'm not at all convinced. If a replacement can have the GPU problem practically straight away it suggests quite strongly that the problem is still there.

 

[fat jez]

They may claim they've fixed it, but I'm not at all convinced. If a replacement can have the GPU problem practically straight away it suggests quite strongly that the problem is still there.

Agreed. Unless they have manufactured a new batch or re-balled every one of their replacement stock, each one is still a ticking time bomb.

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

Agreed. Unless they have manufactured a new batch or re-balled every one of their replacement stock, each one is still a ticking time bomb.

The problem wouldn't be fixed by reballing anyway.

The problem isn't with the solder under the chip - the problem is with the actual connectivity between the chip and the substrate. Reballing only works because it happens to reheat the chip enough to reflow the bumps on the actual chip.

Here you go:

 

[JTToft]

If a replacement can have the GPU problem practically straight away it suggests quite strongly that the problem is still there.

- Indeed. I suppose time will tell for me. Fortunately, Danish law entitles me to free repairs of the same issue for up to three years after the initial repair.
I might not even keep the laptop for that long.

When did you have yours "fixed"?

 

[mdgm]

Fortunately, Danish law entitles me to free repairs of the same issue for up to three years after the initial repair.

I think down here it might be one or two years. Anyway my MBP is still under warranty at the moment.

When did you have yours "fixed"?

Sent it in last week and got it back this week.

 

[JTToft]

Sent it in last week and got it back this week.

- Right. So then that isn't the reason why you got a faulty replacement part and I was told I didn't.
I suppose it's possible that the replacement logic boards for the cMBPs have had the problem fixed, while the ones for the rMBPs haven't. Though that would be strange...

 

[molocono]

MBP 15" (early 2011) repaired...switched graphics processor?

I just picked up my MBP 15" (early 2011) 2.2GHz i7 from the Apple Store.
I was having display issues and took it in to get it fixed.
They replaced the logic board and battery. No charge.
The display is looking better than ever and battery is holding up great!

 

[2298754]

Wow. this is the sort of "repair" that i want with my mid 2012 rMBP! Have applecare still, had display replaced over a year ago, new display has several bad pixels now, SD card reader is intermittent (can reproduce), and the ubiquitous video card issue which causes intermittent freezing/restarts. would be ecstatic if i got an ivy to haswell replacement... currently have the upgraded 2.7 ghz cpu, 16gb ram 256 ssd

I think "untold" rule from AC is 4 repeated repairs for the same issue I think. Not 4 different problems. Since my graphics problems went hand in hand with the logic board and display, it worked out.

I think I had a Sandy Bridge rMBP from 2012. Huge upgrade for me!

----------

When I asked for a replacement the Genius Bar at the Apple Store told me I had to have a call with AppleCare (my machine is covered by AppleCare). They wouldn't replace it at the store.

Waiting to see what they decide. I have no confidence that another replacement logic board would fix the problem for any reasonable length of time considering the replacement logic boards still have the faulty parts that fail prematurely.

Stop wasting your time at the Apple Store. Keep calling AppleCare and "logging" calls. Ask for a senior advisor and say that you are getting the run-around from the store. The Senior Advisor will take over your case (provided that you've had many many repairs like I did.)

And the store DOES have authority to replace the computer. It's just that the Genius Bar manager is probably unwilling. This is why I had to "push" them using AC

 

[red5standingby1]

well submitted my mid 2012 rMBP to apple today, issues included:

bad pixels
occasional freezes
****** SD card reader

-genius/technician spotted the bad pixels so theyre replacing the display (2nd time)
-he couldnt get the 1 of the thunderbolt ports to work on the left side so hes basically saying theyll replace the logic board
-he cleaned dust out of my sd card slot which i havent used in 2 years since its ****** and the usb 3.0 external card readers are faster for reading anyway, i was surprised when he showed me some green corrosion on the pins, i never spilled anything and can only attribute it to the humidity in Hawaii the last 2 years. so he said i might have to pay out of pocket for those, but everything else should be covered under applecare. theyll mail it in for some triage/troubleshooting and ill hear from them in a couple days if i have to pay for anything out of pocket.

 

[Awjvail]

Received my MBP back again with another new logic board - this one appears to be defective as well. The fans spin like crazy whenever using the discrete GPU, the screen distorts, and then it freezes and crashes.

I've driven over 1200km back and forth to the Apple Authorized Repair center over the past month because Apple doesn't see the need to have one in my city - I'm getting really frustrated with receiving broken parts back time after time.

 

[mdgm]

Got back from the Apple Store a few hours ago. They replaced my mid-2012 rMBP with the 2.3 ghz/16gb/256gb SSD with the current one, and since they don't make the "lower" end model with discrete graphics, I got the higher end model with the 16gb RAM/512gb SSD/2gb NVIDIA card.

They want to replace by mid-2012 rMBP with 2.3ghz/16gb/256gb SSD with the low-end model which has no discrete graphics. I tried to point out that the graphics was a downgrade but the AppleCare representative insisted the new base model is an upgrade over what I currently have.

 

[2298754]

They want to replace by mid-2012 rMBP with 2.3ghz/16gb/256gb SSD with the low-end model which has no discrete graphics. I tried to point out that the graphics was a downgrade but the AppleCare representative insisted the new base model is an upgrade over what I currently have.

Keep pushing for it. That's ridiculous. I didn't even ask for the upgrade. They gave it to me.

 

[jcgr96]

I have a 2012 rMBP, my video havent failed. Should i take it to test or wait till it fails?

 

[mdgm]

Keep pushing for it. That's ridiculous. I didn't even ask for the upgrade. They gave it to me.

They've agreed to provide it.

I have a 2012 rMBP, my video havent failed. Should i take it to test or wait till it fails?

If your GPU is O.K. then Apple will do nothing. If it does fail hopefully it fails before your coverage under the Repair Extension Program expires.

 

[Genkakuzai]

Just got my Late 2011 MBP back, after having sent it in to an authorized service provider here in Sweden (Midcon) a week ago. The logic board has been replaced and so far I'm having no issues what so ever. According to the dude I talked to it's a brand new logic board. Fingers crossed!

 

[2298754]

They've agreed to provide it.

Congrats!

 

[Awjvail]

I've had 3 failed repairs and it's still doing it. I called Apple and my senior advisor brought up the prospect of a replacement, and tried to initiate it, but failed.

Then she went to speak to Customer Relations, who declined replacement because I was "a few days outside of the 4 year window". I've been without a computer for about a month now and initially started this whole repair process well BEFORE the 4 year window expired.

This is getting ridiculous.

 

[MagicBoy]

... and when you mentioned that what was the response?

 

[Awjvail]

... and when you mentioned that what was the response?

She said the most they could do was take it in for repair again (which would be a 400km total trip for dropoff/pickup).

I've been without a functioning computer for a month and have driven over 1200km taking it back and forth to the closest repair center (because Apple doesn't have one in my city) and taking it back would bring it up to 1600km which is quite ridiculous.

 

[mdgm]

Well I guess you could ask them if they can offer a discount off a new machine.

At the Apple Store I was at today I heard them offering someone a discount of 10% off a new machine.

 

[ConnYoungy]

I have a 2012 15" MacBook (not retina) so technically it's not covered (I think) but I've been having the issue seen in the screenshot (sometimes the whole screen, not always confined to one program window)

Can anyone advise?

 

[fat jez]

I have a 2012 15" MacBook (not retina) so technically it's not covered (I think) but I've been having the issue seen in the screenshot (sometimes the whole screen, not always confined to one program window)

Can anyone advise?

Image

I'd take it into an Apple store and see what they say?

 

[red5standingby1]

well submitted my mid 2012 rMBP to apple today, issues included:

bad pixels
occasional freezes
****** SD card reader

-genius/technician spotted the bad pixels so theyre replacing the display (2nd time)
-he couldnt get the 1 of the thunderbolt ports to work on the left side so hes basically saying theyll replace the logic board
-he cleaned dust out of my sd card slot which i havent used in 2 years since its ****** and the usb 3.0 external card readers are faster for reading anyway, i was surprised when he showed me some green corrosion on the pins, i never spilled anything and can only attribute it to the humidity in Hawaii the last 2 years. so he said i might have to pay out of pocket for those, but everything else should be covered under applecare. theyll mail it in for some triage/troubleshooting and ill hear from them in a couple days if i have to pay for anything out of pocket.

got my mid 2012 rMBP back today (submitted sunday, got back thursday), following was replaced:

logic board (2.7ghz, 16gb) - thunderbolt port not working
display - bad pixels
board, i/o - SD card issue
cable, i/o, flex - was damaged
cable, i/o, right - was damaged

didnt get upgrade to haswell so still on ivy but whatever, everything was covered under apple care, i didnt do any accidental damage to the ports/cables so idk what was going on there

 

[slapple]

My 2011 15" MBP won't even boot up anymore. Always freezes on the white screen after the Apple logo is shown. I've tried rebooting it 30 times now and it won't get to the login screen. I know this is related to the GPU problem since I've seen the vertical lines and stuff on the screen before when I was able to boot up.

Does freezing on the white screen on bootup qualify me to a free repair under this program?