Apple to replace faulty 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries
Apple Computer has initiated a worldwide battery exchange program for certain rechargeable batteries that were included with its 15-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer systems.
"We recently discovered that some 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries supplied to Apple do not meet our high standards for battery performance," the company wrote in a message on its support Web site. "To give our users the best experience possible, we will replace these batteries for customers free of charge."
The exchange program is in response to reports of 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries that have become swollen or deformed due an excessive amount of heat.
According to Apple, the affected batteries may have been included in 15-inch MacBook Pro systems that were sold from February 2006 through May 2006. The affected batteries have model number A1175 and a 12-digit serial number that ends with U7SA, U7SB or U7SC.
To view the model and serial numbers located on the bottom of the battery, customers must remove the battery from the computer and turn it upside down. The battery serial number is located above the barcode.
Customers whose MacBook Pro battery meets the aforementioned criteria should call Apple with their MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro battery serial numbers ready. Apple says it will take about 3-5 business days for customers to receive their replacement battery.
"The affected batteries do not pose a safety risk. You may continue to use your current battery until a replacement arrives," the company said.
When customers receive their replacement battery, Apple also asks that they use the same shipping packaging and included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to Apple for analysis.
"We recently discovered that some 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries supplied to Apple do not meet our high standards for battery performance," the company wrote in a message on its support Web site. "To give our users the best experience possible, we will replace these batteries for customers free of charge."
The exchange program is in response to reports of 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries that have become swollen or deformed due an excessive amount of heat.
According to Apple, the affected batteries may have been included in 15-inch MacBook Pro systems that were sold from February 2006 through May 2006. The affected batteries have model number A1175 and a 12-digit serial number that ends with U7SA, U7SB or U7SC.
To view the model and serial numbers located on the bottom of the battery, customers must remove the battery from the computer and turn it upside down. The battery serial number is located above the barcode.
Customers whose MacBook Pro battery meets the aforementioned criteria should call Apple with their MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro battery serial numbers ready. Apple says it will take about 3-5 business days for customers to receive their replacement battery.
"The affected batteries do not pose a safety risk. You may continue to use your current battery until a replacement arrives," the company said.
When customers receive their replacement battery, Apple also asks that they use the same shipping packaging and included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to Apple for analysis.
Comments
they have great sense of quality service. i'm impressed.
I agree completely with the previous poster. Apple usually does the right thing.
My spare battery, bought a little while later, is also of a different serial number range.
At least before the end of the year an Apple Store is opening close to me so i dont have to drive 400 miles one way to have that option.
Think of all the down time the customers (each one is minor, but add them together...) have to endure, while Apple doesn't get hurt.
How many times have there been battery recalls? It is rather sad the frequency with which this happens.
The right thing for them to do is to make batteries that work.
Originally posted by monkeyastronaut
they have great sense of quality service. i'm impressed.
Yet their quality control is a total disaster. I'm impressed too.
Originally posted by Gene Clean
Yet their quality control is a total disaster. I'm impressed too.
You do realise these problems are not just Apple laptops? Dell has dozens of exploding laptop incidents on file, and friends of mine have had awful troubles with Acer and even Vaio laptops.
That's not an excuse, though. What's different is that Apple tends to make things right, even if it sometimes takes a few weeks. You do realise they have to diagnose the problem before they can do a recall, for example?
I had a problem with my MBP. A broken logic board. I brought it into my local repair shop, and picked it up THE NEXT DAY. That's service. Now with the battery, even though my battery appears fine, I already have over 100 cycles on it and will be getting a new one for free.
Yes, quality control is an issue in the computer industry. By the way, I also hope you realise that Apple don't even do their own QA or factories anymore. They're all made by the likes of Asus, who also churn out Vaio's and other laptops. And they don't make the logic/motherboards either. Those are developed by Intel.
I'm not saying Apple shouldn't push Intel, Asus and others to strive for more quality, though. You just gotta be sure you know who's at fault here.
Or maybe Apple should start their own factories in the US and Europe again? I mean, it'll only mean the MacBook will double in price, but who cares right, because they'll be able to do their own QA!!?
They KEEP MAKING FAULTY BATTERIES
Except they don't make the batteries.
They will have to get a credit from whatever assembler/manufacturer is responsible.
Originally posted by Robin Hood
You just gotta be sure you know who's at fault here.
If I'm buying my notebook from Apple, I hold Apple responsible for its quality control (or lack thereof). I don't care if they use the same factory as ASUS or Dell.
It's not my problem. If they're going to charge $2000 for an entry-level pro laptop, they should have a pro quality control team to work on it. That's all I'm saying.
Originally posted by Bergermeister
Apple's name is on the product that the customer receives. Apple therefore has all the responsibility.
++ FTW!
I took some pictures of the swollen battery if anyone's interested...
Originally posted by Bergermeister
Apple's name is on the product that the customer receives. Apple therefore has all the responsibility.
Of course they have the responsibility, and they're taking it! It's who's to blame that's in question. And you simply CANNOT put all the blame on apple! You just can't! You can maybe put part of the blame on them, but there is simply no way you can put it all on them.
Originally posted by Bergermeister
Apple is such a great company! They KEEP MAKING FAULTY BATTERIES and then KEEP GETTING PATTED ON THE BACK for responding to upset customers.
Someone keeps making faulty batteries for them, and they keep contacting customers to replace them-- no questions asked-- generally long before the battery fails for the customer. THAT'S why they get (and deserve) a pat on the back.
I filled out the form for my wife's laptop even through the battery is still working fine so far. A new one's being shipped out this week.
Total time spent: probably around 10-15 minutes. If it had actually failed and Apple had waited until then, then required an RMA and such, it would have taken away days. Yay Apple!
I haven't had any problems though - what's the issue supposed to be? I wonder if you could get the new one, and then just keep the old one as a back-up?