Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Lawyers Researching Possible Class Action Lawsuit Over 2011 MacBook Pro Graphics Issues

Got a call from apple call center in Ireland this morning after creating a costumer request over the last couple of days.

They refuse to give me a free motherboard replacement because i'm out of warranty.

Last step i can take is to send a registered written letter to the Irish offices telling my case and asking them to review the decision.

Here is the address i must sent the letter:

Apple Distribution International
Hollyhill Industrial Estate
Hollyhill, Cork
Republic of Ireland

I will send the letter complaining and point them to this forum, facebook group and online petition.

We can do something, we should do something!

I see that the comments on this topic here on this forum have slowed down.

We are a active community searching for a deserved solution.
We paid premium for a product that lasts less than a 300€ laptop.
we are being neglected by apple, while some are getting the repair for free.

Please join and share this facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2011mbp/
(the group is not mine i only want to help spread the word as much as possible)

please fill the online petition if you haven't already:
http://www.change.org/p/timothy-d-cook-replace-or-fix-all-2011-macbook-pro-with-graphics-failure

You can get more info on the facebook group or on the http://action.mbp2011.com site.

PS: you don't need to have a non-working computer to sign the petition.
It's a design flaw and if you sympathize with problem thousands of mac users are going through you can and you should sign it.
 
Mine is now dying for the third time. 5 months since second repair, and 6 months out of AppleCare.

Biting the bullet and buying a 15" rMBP and once everything is transferred over I'll take it up with Apple. I expect a hassle both because of AppleCare atatus and the fact it's running Yosemite. Don't feel like unwinding the OS just to get a hardware fault repaired.

If I get them to repair it, not much point - I can't use it to replace my 2009 MBP as my "server" since it will just die again, I can't hand it down to family since I'll feel bad when it dies again, and I can't likely sell it for more than a pittance since it has this reputation. The reason I'm buying a replacement is I figure it will die again before a major mbp update, anyway. If not I can use the new one to replace that 2009 server and upgrade if need be.

Apple finally beat me.
 
lumencreative said:
Is there no way of stress testing the GPU?
Click to expand...


Search on google for "limbo for mac" it's a game that automaticly uses the dedicated gpu and in my case it had almost 100% success in putting my computer in a non working state due to the gpu problem.
 
mine looks to have died again, 6 months after having a logic board replacement for the same problem and 3 months after my Applecare expired. I'd be loath to pay for a replacement if it's only going to last 6 months before failing again.
 
fat jez said:
mine looks to have died again, 6 months after having a logic board replacement for the same problem and 3 months after my Applecare expired. I'd be loath to pay for a replacement if it's only going to last 6 months before failing again.
Click to expand...

Yep. I just bought a rmbp 15" because I can't keep doing this. Died for the third time. (Well not quite dead yet, but symptoms have started again)
 
cmaier said:
Yep. I just bought a rmbp 15" because I can't keep doing this. Died for the third time. (Well not quite dead yet, but symptoms have started again)
Click to expand...

Mine is limping along by forcing it not to use the discrete GPU with Gfx Card Status. My girlfriend needs it as she is working away right now (graphic designer). It's either pay 1/4 the cost of the purchase price to get it fixed or put the money into a new model.

If a class action offered a few repair or refund to those who have already paid, where would be the point when the replacements last 6 months before doing the same again?
 
Yep. GFxcardstatus worked for me for a bit then I started getting fatal errors popping up and had to disable it. So I can't reliably use the machine for anything that makes the fans turn on anymore. Freezes, reboots, gray screens, torn screens, etc.

fat jez said:
Mine is limping along by forcing it not to use the discrete GPU with Gfx Card Status. My girlfriend needs it as she is working away right now (graphic designer). It's either pay 1/4 the cost of the purchase price to get it fixed or put the money into a new model.

If a class action offered a few repair or refund to those who have already paid, where would be the point when the replacements last 6 months before doing the same again?
Click to expand...
 
cmaier said:
Yep. GFxcardstatus worked for me for a bit then I started getting fatal errors popping up and had to disable it. So I can't reliably use the machine for anything that makes the fans turn on anymore. Freezes, reboots, gray screens, torn screens, etc.
Click to expand...

Great, doesn't bode well for the long term future of my machine :(
 
I bought my APMBPMD311LL 17" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer on 03/10/2012 ($2,500) and it was perfect until a few weeks back when I started getting the graphic distortions seen on the OP in this thread, then this past week it became more frequent and yesterday it got that bad that it will no longer boot.

Based on the reports in this thread I'm not expecting Apple to assist with this seeing that it is out of warranty, even though I believe that this is a wide spread latent defect.
What I have read is it stems from the move to lead free solder, which over time becomes brittle, which lead content solder does not.

What would be the best path forward for me, still hound Apple for assistance, or just go out and buy a new Logic Board and if so where do I purchase this?

I'm contemplating the 7mins in the oven at 375degF - what's to lose, unless it rules out the remote chance of Apple stepping up to the plate.


Typed on my trusty 5 yo work HP ProBook 6555b
 
I suggest you see what Apple does. They did fix mine (second time) for free after my applecare ran out, so you never know. Be polite.

I'm waiting for mine to completely fail (for the third time) and then I'll be in the same boat as you.

ron1004 said:
I bought my APMBPMD311LL 17" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer on 03/10/2012 ($2,500) and it was perfect until a few weeks back when I started getting the graphic distortions seen on the OP in this thread, then this past week it became more frequent and yesterday it got that bad that it will no longer boot.

Based on the reports in this thread I'm not expecting Apple to assist with this seeing that it is out of warranty, even though I believe that this is a wide spread latent defect.
What I have read is it stems from the move to lead free solder, which over time becomes brittle, which lead content solder does not.

What would be the best path forward for me, still hound Apple for assistance, or just go out and buy a new Logic Board and if so where do I purchase this?

I'm contemplating the 7mins in the oven at 375degF - what's to lose, unless it rules out the remote chance of Apple stepping up to the plate.


Typed on my trusty 5 yo work HP ProBook 6555b
Click to expand...
 
cmaier said:
I suggest you see what Apple does. They did fix mine (second time) for free after my applecare ran out, so you never know. Be polite.

I'm waiting for mine to completely fail (for the third time) and then I'll be in the same boat as you.
Click to expand...
Made an online appointment to see my local Apple store and surprisingly they booted it from their network and performed hardware test, which it passed.
They checked their data base for known issues with this model and it came back with nothing.

We then tried a boot from the HDD and it hung on the grey screen.

They had two options, 1) they install a new Logic Board at their store for around $550 or 2) send it to a local repair place for a flat rate of $310 regardless of what part needs replacing with a turn-around of 3 ~ 5 days.
I took option 2.

If I get a working reliable machine for $310 I'm good with that.
 
ron1004 said:
Made an online appointment to see my local Apple store and surprisingly they booted it from their network and performed hardware test, which it passed.
They checked their data base for known issues with this model and it came back with nothing.

We then tried a boot from the HDD and it hung on the grey screen.

They had two options, 1) they install a new Logic Board at their store for around $550 or 2) send it to a local repair place for a flat rate of $310 regardless of what part needs replacing with a turn-around of 3 ~ 5 days.
I took option 2.

If I get a working reliable machine for $310 I'm good with that.
Click to expand...

My most recent repair only gave me 5 good months of functionality so I don't think $310 is necessarily a good investment.
 
cmaier said:
My most recent repair only gave me 5 good months of functionality so I don't think $310 is necessarily a good investment.
Click to expand...

I went through this a couple of times (both repaired by Apple) with late 2007 and early 2008 MBPs with the Nvidia problem. My disks also got too hot (one failure). My long term solution was to install Temperature Monitor and smcFanControl and more or less manage my fan speed manually. Not a solution for everyone, but, I operated at a base level of 2000 RPM at all times, and, 6000 RPM when things started to get hot. (After 4-5 years, one of the fans went out.) (I have no idea if there are Yosemite versions of these apps.)

IMHO, Apple designers were/are trying too hard to raise battery life and minimize noise. If many GPUs are dying under heavy use, the designers were trying too hard.

Other comments were regarding how long one should expect these things to last without problems. I assume three years because that is how long AppleCare covers, but, based on the rate that hardware and software technology changes, my belief is that these systems should be designed for and generally last four years, and, I wish that Apple sold 4-year AppleCare and not just 3-year.
 
What a load of waffle. It's a GPU issue, period. The Intel CPU that sits next to it and shares the same cooling system and soldering process doesn't fail in the same way.

UK consumer law indicates they should reasonably last up to six years. Seems a sensible yardstick to me for a £1500+ laptop.
 
MagicBoy said:
Break within 90 days, rinse and repeat a couple of times. Get new rMBP. ;)
Click to expand...

Do you have an advice on what would be the best way to make the problem appear within the 90 days ?
I'm using GpuTest 0.7.0 on mine several hours a day with an external monitor and the lid closed.

Thanks.
 
cmaier said:
My most recent repair only gave me 5 good months of functionality so I don't think $310 is necessarily a good investment.
Click to expand...
That's not what I was hoping to hear - that's just two months out of the repair warranty.

What's Apples response when the repair fails repeatedly within the 3 month warranty,...... offer a replacement, .... not easy in my case because the 17" is no longer made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back