iPhone 3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing

What happened to the original thread? This is a major problem that needs to be addressed, not hidden. When I tried to get mine replaced, they said it's not a known issue. I do not think a brand new item should crack on its own or due to poor manufacturing in the first week. This is definitely a defect.

Not with the iPhone they don't.

AT&T does not handle ANY iPhone repairs or exchanges under Apple's warranty for the iPhone. You purchase an iPhone from an AT&T Store and don't like the iPhone and want to return it for payment credit, you must return it to the AT&T Store where it was purchased within 30 days of the purchase date.

If you return an iPhone to an AT&T Store in regards to a potential warranty claim, they will direct you to an Apple Store or tell you to call AppleCare.

Just a note to all those "conspiracy theorists" about Apple deleting threads to stop debate on the topic. The threads in question were polling people about their phone cracks. If anyone chooses to read the terms of use on these forums, polling is against the terms, and threads with polls are removed. Okeey dokeey. 😉

Quote"+Do not post polls or petitions or links to same+."

Personally I think if Apple does not react quick enough than there should be nothing wrong with users troubleshooting the issue. Asking people what their week of production is does not constitute as polling. This is a serious issue. There over a million people who have a potentially flawed product. No product surrounded by this much hype at that cost should crack on its own. I love my iPhone but this news really scares me.

I noticed 2 hairline cracks in my white iphone 2 days after purchase, i went in and they said they had not seen this issues before but they replaced it on the spot you gotta love the apple store. I read the posts about the cracks and then of course i noticed them on my phone i was perplexed that some stores didnt replace their phone. I would try a different apple store or talk to someone in management you do have to go thru the genius bar to process the replacement. Yes they replace with a new phone not a refurb. Again i have a pristine 3g phone that works amazingly

Not to be ornery or anything, but I spoke to the manager at my local AT&T store at length about this yesterday. They said that if they had another iPhone to give my that they absolutely would within 30 days of purchase and that after that I would have to deal with Apple directly.

We are talking about two different warranties. Yes, Apple warranties the iPhone - but AT&T warranties all handsets purchased from them for a period of 30 days. This is to cover cases where someone gets a lemon phone that bricks in the first week sort of thing.

Copied from this link under Warranty Exchanges.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/return-policy.jsp

+New wireless devices carry a one-year warranty from date of purchase. Refurbished devices carry a ninety day warranty from the date of purchase. To make a warranty claim after the first 30 days from purchase, call 1-800-801-1101. *Apple branded equipment is covered by Apple's one-year Limited Warranty; refer to apple.com for details.*+

My White iPhone 3G 16 GB has had some very minute chips and cracks out of the box, right where the plastic meets the steel bezel. The cracks are between the sleep switch and the bezel, the volume switch and the bezel, between the screw holes on the bottom and the bezel and the headphone jack and the bezel. Radiating cracks have started to develop around the camera lens as well. The chips are at the top of the phone where the plastic mates with the bezel by the SIM slot. I just chalked it up to poor manufacturing tolerances and I even pointed it out to the Apple store salesperson when i bought it but more as a point of curiosity than wanting a replacement. As of right now, you have to look closely to see them and they haven't presented structural problems, yet. If they get worse I will set an appointment with the genius bar.

If I remember anything from my industrial technology college courses, it would seem that maybe the plastic cooled too rapidly near these openings in the plastic, causing these fractures. Just a guess.

What the heck do you have in your pocket man? Sandpaper? That phone is pitted all to ****. Of course your going to get cracks in it if it looks like that. Pitting = soon to be cracks. Cover that thing up. May I suggest InvisibleSHIELD by Zagg? Good luck getting it replaced with a new phone. I would want to get mine replaced too if it looked like that.

@ VixenSFO

Hi, I am waiting for my iPhone 3G 16Gig. I would love to hear from you regarding your new replacement iPhone... Hopefully, it won't have anymore cracks. I have a theory regarding the cracks, that if you don't have it from the start, it won't develop any at all. Can you keep us posted?

Here in Spain, the word is that the phone will get send away for at least 15 days if you take it in with this issue.... with no replacement and no guaratee anything will be done about it.

All Apple wants is your cash - customer service has gone out of the window. Cut the PR ******** and provide your customers with support Apple!!

see you whiners, this post didn't get deleted!

Wow very informative.

Which week are your iPhones from? Maybe there is a connection. Mine is from week 27. (You can check your week by looking at the serial and from there the 4th and 5th number.)

My iPhone is a black 16GB and it was made on week 29. I posted earlier that I had no problems, but further inspection revealed two small cracks between the headphone jack and the chrome bezel. It doesn't really bother me at all, as you almost need a magnifying glass to see them.

Message was edited by: contegni