Apple Says 2011 MacBook Pro No Longer Eligible For 'Video Issues' Repair Program

[MacRumors]

Apple says the following models are no longer eligible for its MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues:
o 15-inch, Early 2011
o 15-inch, Late 2011
o 17-inch, Early 2011
o 17-inch, Late 2011The following MacBook Pro models remain eligible, so long as they were purchased less than four years ago:
o Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012
o Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013Apple launched the repair program in February 2015 to address a "small percentage" of MacBook Pro models that "may exhibit distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts," allegedly due to faulty GPUs.

The program expired on December 31, 2016, but it's still in effect for eligible models up to four years from their original date of sale.

A support document on Apple's website says the affected models were sold between February 2011 and December 2013. Use the "Check Your Coverage" tool on Apple's website to determine if a particular model is eligible.

The video issues impacted many customers, prompting a class-action lawsuit against Apple and an online petition with over 40,000 signatures. Affected users often experience visual banding or malfunctions on the screen, particularly when watching HD videos or using pro apps such as Final Cut Pro X.

Apple will continue to repair Mid 2012 or Early 2013 models, free of charge. Affected customers can call an Apple Store to schedule a Genius Bar appointment, visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or call Apple Support and request a postage paid box to mail in the MacBook Pro to a local Apple Repair Center.

Article Link: Apple Says 2011 MacBook Pro No Longer Eligible For 'Video Issues' Repair Program

 

[rezwits]

This is nuts, they said this ended December 31, 2016.

 

[iamMacPerson]

Did they ever really fix the issue? Last I recall they were just replacing the logic boards with no real fix, meaning all these machines are doomed to die the same death they did last time.

 

[ryguy92000]

This is nuts, they said this ended December 31, 2016.

yes, yes it did. these machines are going on 7 years old. If any of my customers have one that still works, I'm sure to tell them about the ticking time bomb in the GPU. After letting them vent some verbal frustrations i remind them that the car they pulled up in is less than 3 years old and they traded up from one that was hardly 5 years old at the time of the trade.

"what do you mean you don't service a 2006 MacBook pro any more?" ......."here have a chrome book, it'll be an upgrade"

 

[fastasleep]

Did they ever really fix the issue? Last I recall they were just replacing the logic boards with no real fix, meaning all these machines are doomed to die the same death they did last time.

They were replacing them with identical logic boards, nothing changed on them. I am on my fourth(?) logic board, last one I had replaced back in December before the program ended. Crossing my fingers this one lasts until I get motivated to upgrade.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I am so glad I bought into the Mac in 2015. It seems like anything pre-2013 was susceptible lots of issues. Then again, my Early 2015 screen lamination is starting to strip.

 

[saudor]

wow.. so pretty much every 15 inch is plagued with GPU issues. (i bet the 2014,2015 will join the list soon at this rate!)

the 2010 had the nvidia 330 gt blowing its solder points too.

 

[alvindarkness]

Did they ever really fix the issue? Last I recall they were just replacing the logic boards with no real fix, meaning all these machines are doomed to die the same death they did last time.

I had my third repair just before Christmas, so I doubt theyve actually repaired the issue properly. But at least they've kept this program running for as long as they did.

yes, yes it did. these machines are going on 7 years old. If any of my customers have one that still works, I'm sure to tell them about the ticking time bomb in the GPU. After letting them vent some verbal frustrations i remind them that the car they pulled up in is less than 3 years old and they traded up from one that was hardly 5 years old at the time of the trade.

"what do you mean you don't service a 2006 MacBook pro any more?" ......."here have a chrome book, it'll be an upgrade"

You know that intels yearly upgrades now arent as dramatic as they were back in the core2 days or earlier. A 2011 MBP with an SSD and 16GB of RAM is still as much a workhorse today as it was back then. Considering its upgradability and some good old useful (to me) ports like ethernet, I actually prefer it over the 2016 offerings. But it sure is a ticking timb bomb like you said.

 

[logicstudiouser]

All HELL is about to break loose below me!

I sold mine earlier this year for $1900.

 

[Bako-MacAddict]

I have a 2011 MacBook pro and hasn't gave me no issues since I got it. The only thing I've done to it is upgraded to solid state drive and the ram. Runs like a champ!

 

[digitalrampage]

yes, yes it did. these machines are going on 7 years old. If any of my customers have one that still works, I'm sure to tell them about the ticking time bomb in the GPU. After letting them vent some verbal frustrations i remind them that the car they pulled up in is less than 3 years old and they traded up from one that was hardly 5 years old at the time of the trade.

"what do you mean you don't service a 2006 MacBook pro any more?" ......."here have a chrome book, it'll be an upgrade"

I'm not sure what your role is, but if you work at Apple or an Authorised Dealership, you are awful at your job.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

I'm not sure what your role is, but if you work at Apple or an Authorised Dealership, you are awful at your job.

Yeah I hear the Apple store sells a lot of chrome books.

 

[Nykwil]

This saddens me

 

[stewy]

wow.. so pretty much every 15 inch is plagued with GPU issues. (i bet the 2014,2015 will join the list soon at this rate!)

the 2010 had the nvidia 330 gt blowing its solder points too.

You mean this issue?
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/gpu-kernel-panic-in-mid-2010-whats-the-best-fix.1890097/

 

[throAU]

Did they ever really fix the issue? Last I recall they were just replacing the logic boards with no real fix, meaning all these machines are doomed to die the same death they did last time.

Not really a way for Apple to fix the issue as the faulty parts were AMDs. AMD isn't making those GPUs any more.

Machines expire, and have warranties to protect against this. Unfortunately, yes, these machines are all likely to die the same death.

 

[norrismantooth]

All HELL is about to break loose below me!

I sold mine earlier this year for $1900.

I took mine in earlier this year for this repair. Here's how it played out:

- Apple repairs GPU, left, and right logic boards under quality program. Machine runs well. Someone in their repair facility scratched my screen, so they had to depot it and replace the screen.
- I get the machine back with two giant "polished" scrapes on the bottom. It's badly gashed. Apple says they will replace the bottom shell.

I get the machine back. New screen. New bottom. New top (because it's all cut from one piece of aluminum). New keyboard.

The only thing they didn't change was the SSD and the superdrive. They threw away my CAX Airport card.
I complained. But, I got over $1000 worth of free repairs.


Anyone want to buy a near mint 2011 MBP / 16GB / 480GB SSD ?

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

I have this problem. It is intermittent. I have decided not to follow up on it. However, I have also set decided not to buy another MacBook Pro.

 

[joefpd]

I have this problem. It is intermittent. I have decided not to follow up on it. However, I have also set decided not to buy another MacBook Pro.

 

[petrolhead360]

I bought my MacBook Pro 15" in Feb 2011 the month of launch.
The first failure of the GPU happened before the repair program and cost me £450 which was refunded under the Sale of goods act.
2nd failure in August 2016 was repaired under the program.
On the basis that the replacement part is the same I estimate I have another 9 months of life left.

Although I was not happy with the early fight with Apple to get this fault recognised the replacement program has helped to keep me in the Apple camp.
It's just the prospect of shelling out £1500 to £2000+ for the next one that concerns me.

 

[joefpd]

After Apple refused to replace the graphics card on my 2011 macbook pro for a second time (second issue happened 30 days after the Dec. 31, 2016, deadline), I decided to try the reflow process with a hot air gun and replacing thermal paste. It worked for about 6 months. Did it again and it is still going strong. Definitely best to replace, but this did bring mine back to life.

 

[throAU]

I have this problem. It is intermittent. I have decided not to follow up on it. However, I have also set decided not to buy another MacBook Pro.

FYI
This problem is also happening on PC laptops.

I have a bunch of HP elitebook 8560s at work that are failing with the Radeon GPU in them, and have been failing for a while.

HP extended 3 yr warranty is well and truly up, HP haven't done anything to offer extended warranty.

All the vendors use the same GPUs and all will have similar issues when there is a GPU fault.


Apple did far more for their customers than any PC vendor here, so your decision to not buy a macbook (if based on this failure) is flawed...

The reason it is so prevalent on the MBP is because all the 15s had the AMD GPU in them. The HPs in question could have been ordered with integrated only, Nvidia, or AMD; only the AMD ones in this case are failing.

Nvidia had problems a couple of years earlier - similar problem, Apple did a similar extended repair program. Don't believe any of the PC vendors did.

 

[Ries]

FYI
This problem is also happening on PC laptops.

I have a bunch of HP elitebook 8560s at work that are failing with the Radeon GPU in them, and have been failing for a while.

HP extended 3 yr warranty is well and truly up, HP haven't done anything to offer extended warranty.

All the vendors use the same GPUs and all will have similar issues when there is a GPU fault.


Apple did far more for their customers than any PC vendor here, so your decision to not buy a macbook (if based on this failure) is flawed...

The reason it is so prevalent on the MBP is because all the 15s had the AMD GPU in them. The HPs in question could have been ordered with integrated only, Nvidia, or AMD; only the AMD ones in this case are failing.

Nvidia had problems a couple of years earlier - similar problem, Apple did a similar extended repair program. Don't believe any of the PC vendors did.

Apple did nothing until they were sued.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...t-expands-accuses-apple-of-concealing-defects

 

[QuadG5Man]

They were replacing them with identical logic boards, nothing changed on them. I am on my fourth(?) logic board, last one I had replaced back in December before the program ended. Crossing my fingers this one lasts until I get motivated to upgrade.

Nice! I had mine done once before selling - upgraded SSD + 16GB RAM. It was the 2.2x quad i7 model. SCREAMER oh I miss it on my MacBook Air now.

 

[throAU]

Apple did nothing until they were sued.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...t-expands-accuses-apple-of-concealing-defects

Its still more than any PC vendor has supported their hardware for.

I don't actually agree that they should have been liable for anything beyond the warranty period (and I'm one of the affected users). This is what warranties are for - and the failure was in a third party component.

 

[QuadG5Man]

I took mine in earlier this year for this repair. Here's how it played out:

- Apple repairs GPU, left, and right logic boards under quality program. Machine runs well. Someone in their repair facility scratched my screen, so they had to depot it and replace the screen.
- I get the machine back with two giant "polished" scrapes on the bottom. It's badly gashed. Apple says they will replace the bottom shell.

I get the machine back. New screen. New bottom. New top (because it's all cut from one piece of aluminum). New keyboard.

The only thing they didn't change was the SSD and the superdrive. They threw away my CAX Airport card.
I complained. But, I got over $1000 worth of free repairs.


Anyone want to buy a near mint 2011 MBP / 16GB / 480GB SSD ?

I'll trade you my MacBook Air