Does your MacBook Pro freak out with distorted graphics or randomly restart? Then you’ll want to take advantage of Apple’s new repair program.
After deeming that a “small percentage of MacBook Pro systems may exhibit distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts,” Apple will start fixing parts for free on select MacBook Pro models.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Apple last October over graphics issues with 2011 MacBooks. A petition on Change.org for Apple to offer free repairs currently has over 38,000 signatures. A thread on Apple’s support forum about the issue has over 4 million views.
Now Apple will repair any MacBook Pro purchased between February 2011 and December 2013. The program covers Retina as well as non-Retina models.
While AppleCare would typically be required to get free repairs, the program means that anyone can get their affected MacBooks fixed at no cost. The computer must have “distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen, “no video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on,” or restart “unexpectedly” for it to qualify.
Any Apple authorized service provider, not just Apple’s own stores, will do the repairs. You can check your MacBook’s eligibility on Apple’s website. The programs lasts until February 27, 2016 or until three years after the MacBook’s original purchase date.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
13 responses to “Apple starts free repair program for glitchy MacBook Pros”
Is this just 15- or 17-inch Macbook Pros, or also 13-inchers?
Any
That’s not what Apple are saying on their website:
Affected ModelsMacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011)
MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013)
Do COM know more than us, or is this a mistake?
Well as long as you provided evidence (and knowing CoM’s history with fact checking) the I have nothing to say against you. I am sorry :)
Yeah, I’m sorry too: I have a 2011 13″ with a dead display… Be nice to get it fixed for nix.
They’re also offering refunds for anyone who has since repaired their system. It’s been a long time in coming!
Too long…
My mid-2010 MacBook Air 13″ has the screen glitches but no love from Apple.
My MBP 15″ purchased in Oct 2012 has not exhibit distorted screen graphics, however, for no apparent reason on occasion it restarts. And here I thought it was something I did. ;)
I wonder how I’m going to prove to Apple it randomly restarts???
If you run console you’ll see that *everything* that happens on the system-level in OS X gets logged (and later, archived).
Argh, the graphics card in my early-2011 15″ MacBook Pro died a couple of months ago exactly as described. I brought it to the Genius Bar and because my AppleCare coverage had expired, it was going to be a $300+ repair. So I ended up selling it to Gazelle as “broken” a couple of weeks ago for a measly $125. If I’d only waited a couple more weeks…
I had the exact same issue! I just recycled mine last week!
They need to do something for their shitty Thunderbolt Display that never wakes up.