If you purchased a MacBook Pro between 2007 and 2008, you’re probably aware that Apple had more than a little bit of trouble with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GTs they used to build the Pros that generation. In fact, Apple’s been repairing MacBook Pros for customers for free since October of 2008 if they experience blank screens or image distortion issues related to the faulty GPUs.
A new report by Mobile Magazine suggests, though, that the tool Apple has been using to determine whether or not a defective 8600M GT is responsible for rendering your MBP unusable is in itself faulty, and may have resulted in several false positives for logic board and not GPU issues.
The problem? Apple’s fixing 2007 and 2008 MacBook Pros with GPU issues for free. Logic board replacements, on the other hand, usually cost more than a grand.
According to Mobile Magazine, Apple evaluates Pros for a faulty GeForce 8600M GT GPU by using a USB stick running NVIDIA diagnostic software. However, because these faulty GPUs can overheat and actually short out your logic board, this test can indicate the logic board as the fault when, in fact, the logic board was fine before the GPU fritzed out.
Simply inspecting the logic board physically on these models would accurately diagnose the true nature of the problem, but right now, Apple’s not doing that, potentially charging customers over a thousand dollars to fix a problem that they should be fixing for free. Let’s hope Apple Geniuses get a memo addendum in their inboxes about this issue soon.
[image via Bookyard, story via GigaOm]
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
24 responses to “Report: Apple Charging Some MacBook Pro Customers $1,000+ For Repairs That Should Be Free”
$1,000+? Might as well just get a new laptop, 3-4 years is about the time to change laptops anyway.
I work for a AASP and haven’t had this issue yet, so far I have been able to replace Logic Boards for everyone with this issue. Good luck to all with those issue out there!
I just recently had the logic board replaced on an early 2008 MacBook Pro. The cost of replacement was $300, not $1000.
MAY HAVE RESULTED. that is a key line. These guys are claiming possible false positives but have not presented proof.
Also, most common folks don’t buy a new computer every year so they were likely swayed to get Apple Care (at a max cost of $349 for a laptop). So depending on the date of the failure they didn’t have to pay even 3 cents on it. ANd if it was past that period for that high of a cost, they would just get a new computer. Or take it to a 3rd party shop that will do the repairs for cheaper
Apple promptly replaced mine in MBP 2007 no question asked, no charges. Repairs cost in Canada 1400 CAD. Thank you Apple.
My 2007 MBP had this issue last year and Apple repaired it free of charge. Thanks Steve
If you didn’t get it covered for free, check out the NVidia class action suit at http://www.nvidiasettlement.co… . Hopefully, if you qualified, you got your claim in. My sister just had her MBP graphics go on her and the Apple Store covered it in full. My mom paid to have her’s fixed a year or so ago but got reimbursed through the class action suit. My son had an HP laptop that was also covered. He’s getting a new replacement from NVidia.
if i were apple, i’d charge customers $2,000.
I have a 2008 MBP that I just got back from Apple for exactly the same problem. They must of changed their probe since I got a new logic board for free. I was considering purchasing a new MBP but I have changed my mind since it works so much better with the new board in. Thank you Apple!!
What should I do if I missed the march 14th deadline. I’m 99% sure that my computer had the Nvidia problem even though they told me it was a fault with the motherboard. It was quite a pricy repair and I would be very thankful, if someone could help me out here.
Just had my MacBook Pro repaired for this issue at the Apple Store, for no charge. Thank you Apple!
I have a 17″ MBP late ’07 model. The screen went blank after close to 4 years of serving me. I got a quote that it will cost me RM2000+ (approx $700) and I decided to go ahead and bought myself a new one instead. This article saved me RM2k and I can’t thank you enough because I have nostalgic memories with my old MBP. Apple definitely has awesome customer relations. It’s in their blood.