Apple initiates replacement program for MacBook USB-C charging cables

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited February 2016
Apple on Friday activated a quality program for USB-C charging cables included with 12-inch MacBook with Retina display models, as well as those sold as standalone accessories, saying a design issue with affected units could cause them to fail.




As noted by Apple, a "limited number" of MacBook USB-C charging cables shipped through June 2015 have a design flaw that causes a attached laptop to not charge or charge intermittently when connected to a power source.

While the company did not offer detail on the apparent design flaw, it did specify a method by which old cable versions susceptible to failure can be identified. Apple says redesigned cables include a serial number next to printed text reading, "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." while original versions do not.

Apple did not offer an estimate as to how many affected units reached customer hands, but a review of the accessory posted to the Apple Online Store last September appears to describe the problem:

This cable has gone from kinda working (getting my macbook to charge after 20 secs of trying) to having to fiddle with it for more than 5 minutes before it works. As of now, I have to manually hold the charge cable into the port as far as it will go before it registers and begins to charge. The moment I let go it stops charging again. Then, randomly, it will suddenly resume charging as usual. This is incredibly frustrating and time wasting.

Apple will proactively send out new cables free of charge to customers who provided a mailing address when they purchased or registered their new MacBook. The company expects replacement cables to arrive by the end of February.

Those customers who did not purchase a MacBook through Apple's online store, or register the device online, can obtain a new cable by visiting an Apple retail store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. Alternatively, users can contact Apple Support via telephone, chat or email.

The USB-C charge cable program is effective until June 8, 2018.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    suddenly newtonsuddenly newton Posts: 13,819member
    Mikey has this problem?
  • Reply 2 of 10
    alumisalumis Posts: 7member
    My OEM MBR12 USB-C cable doesn't have any text imprinted on it.
  • Reply 3 of 10
    mazda 3smazda 3s Posts: 1,613member
    Uhhhh, those are Lightning cables. 
  • Reply 4 of 10
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member
    mazda 3s said:
    Uhhhh, those are Lightning cables. 
    Odd, what looks to be the original graphic has the right cables, at least now....

    http://www.apple.com/support/usbc-chargecable/

  • Reply 5 of 10
    muppetrymuppetry Posts: 3,331member
    alumis said:
    My OEM MBR12 USB-C cable doesn't have any text imprinted on it.
    Neither does mine. I haven't noticed any problems with it.
  • Reply 6 of 10
    nolamacguynolamacguy Posts: 4,758member
    the haters on MacRumors (and they're almost all haters) are going nuts on this, nearly 100 posts already as prove that the new Apple sucks. they forget that the old Apple had hardware problems too, and that there are 1000x more users now. sigh. 
  • Reply 7 of 10
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    the haters on MacRumors (and they're almost all haters) are going nuts on this, nearly 100 posts already as prove that the new Apple sucks. they forget that the old Apple had hardware problems too, and that there are 1000x more users now. sigh. 

    Exactly. A few that come to mind:

    http://appleinsider.com/articles/06/08/24/apple_recalls_18m_ibook_and_powerbook_g4_batteries

    http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1638003,00.asp

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBook#Quality_issues

    http://9to5mac.com/2014/10/17/2011-macbook-pro-gpu-complaints-not-going-away-as-petition-reaches-18k-signatures/



    On a somewhat related note, I was banned from that forum for partly the exact thing I'm doing now: substantiating (my) claims. MacRumors is funny stuff indeed.

    nolamacguy
  • Reply 8 of 10
    joshajosha Posts: 901member
    nolamacguy said:
    the haters on MacRumors (and they're almost all haters) are going nuts on this, nearly 100 posts already as prove that the new Apple sucks. they forget that the old Apple had hardware problems too, and that there are 1000x more users now. sigh. 
    Just Windows sucking trolls.

    All hardware and software occasionally has design and manufacturing problems.
    The key here is Apple recognized the problem and came out with a free fix.

    Now if only I could get the webcam to work on my WinXP netbook. I bought the Netbook because I wanted a light travel laptop.
     In fact I've given up on every getting a WinXP fix for it.  My Fix is to move to a lovely MacBook 12".
  • Reply 9 of 10
    mac fanmac fan Posts: 87member
    alumis said:
    My OEM MBR12 USB-C cable doesn't have any text imprinted on it.
    Mine does. It's very hard to see- extremely tiny and light. It actually looks like the cable just scraped against something.
  • Reply 10 of 10
    muppetrymuppetry Posts: 3,331member
    mac fan said:
    alumis said:
    My OEM MBR12 USB-C cable doesn't have any text imprinted on it.
    Mine does. It's very hard to see- extremely tiny and light. It actually looks like the cable just scraped against something.
    OK - you are correct. Very faint. Mine is one of the "affected" versions, even though it appears to work OK.
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