MacBook Pro 15 inch 2017 Flexgate / Stage Light problem

The tech guy mentioned it himself, and when he checked to find which program could be applied to my issue he was surprised that it was only available for the 13", he asked his colleagues and they told him the same thing.

He told me that I will have a refund if in the future the program is extended to 15", but it's a bet.

I purchased my MacBook Pro in august 2017. In the month of March 2019, one day I was working on da Vinci resolve and suddenly my display turned off and display started showing white and black patches on the bottom on the screen and display only works below 45 degree angle. I soon found out that I was due to fault in the backlight cable length. The issue has been dubbed as #flexgate. So, it’s a manufacturing defect. Apple did launch a repair program for 2016 models with similar issue and I have been waiting for past 8 months for Apple to extend the program to include 2017 13 inch models. It’s very expensive (46000 rupees ~ $650) to repair my Mac and I have already visited Apple service centre 3 times in India in Delhi and Chandigarh at Unicorn AASP. But It seems there is NO HOPE.

link to my original post: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250902774

I’m never going to buy any Apple product again. Apple broke my trust.

#flexgate

Just chiming in here, to register another case of this annoying issue, which documents the seemingly ongoing decline of quality, in Apple products.

Got my 15" Mid 2017 model (bought in december 2017) back today, after PAYING to have my screen replaced. Sent it for repair as it was exhibiting the stagelight effect, as well as blueish blodges in different areas of the screen. Other than this, there was a rattling sound from within the computer. It has never been dropped and the stagelight issue just "magically" appeared recently, when I started the computer up. The discolouration has been building for about half a year or so, but wasn't really properly noticed until a few months ago.

I had several frustrating discussions with Apple's tech support, to get them to accept that this was a known issue, directly related to the issue on 13" Macbook Pros of the same era, which they are repairing under an extended warranty on the screen.

Unfortunately there was no interest in accepting that the issue was anything else than normal wear and since I use this computer every day for work, I was forced to pay for the repair myself.

I have to say that this was the last straw for me. I am not going to buy a high end computer from Apple again, as I can no longer be certain that they produce products, that reflect the pricepoint of the device, from a quality-perspective.

I've bought Mac computers since 2005 and have had very good experiences with their service, when I've had issues, but my experience with this model (Aside from this issue, I've had the keyboard replaced in connection with the known issue there) and the level of service they are providing now just doesn't leave me comfortable with investing in their high end products.

As it happens, I'm fortunate enough, to be in a situation now, where I don't need a high end portable device and it seems like Hackintoshing has become easier and more stable recently (Yes yes, the switch to ARM will probably mean losing the possibility to update to the latest OS'es in the future). So I'm going to sell this computer now, cut my losses and build a Hackintosh for pro media work. I'll get a entry level ARM-macbook, when they come out, for administrative work, seeing as I am not going to cross over from Mac to Windows.

Apple products have never been perfect, but the recent development for Apple in regards to quality and responsibility for that quality has been a sad development.

7 march 2019 "iFixit" looked into this and found:

“we found that there are two things contributing to this problem. The first one is Apple opted to use thin flex display cables for this MacBook pro, as opposed to the beefier wire cables that they used in previous ones.” 

“the other problem is they wrapped those display cables, partially around the controller board that when the laptop opens those display cables are getting pulled tight around the corner of that board and that’s what is causing them to ware over time.” “The only way to fix the problem is by replacing the entire display. A repair that costs around $700.” 

“Apple.. has gone so far as to remove their posts about it in their own technical support pages” 

At the time this happened and it was a fresh issue, Apple removed many posts of people discussing this. It is possible that executive decision makers on this at Apple have told staff to remove posts and sweep everything under the carpet until more time has passed, hoping this issue will disappear in the distance. Leaving behind so many people and lives who's businesses and families continue to suffer due to this design flaw.

It is really unfair and unacceptable that Apple continue to make amazing amounts of profit.. and that for them to do the right thing, have integrity with this and sort this issue out for customers in a fair way is like a speck of dust of the profit they make.. and still there are executive decision makers who are telling everyone else at Apple to stay silent on this subject and wait for it to go away.

Even if this comment is deleted, I hope the person reading this receives this message. I simply don't know what to do. And I feel saddened that this has not been addressed.. and that whoever made this decision has not been confronted about this.

Solution: Offer those with 13 and 15 inch models with this issue to have a reasonable trade in value for these MacBook Pros. If not a free repair, then a trade in value is just fine. I get that it will be a lot of money and resources to do this, and I feel confident this action of integrity will be inspirational.

Apple created a smokescreen with the repair program for one model, one size, one year and it worked. They are not going to do anything else. We are just screaming into the void. Go buy a new macbook pro and hope it doesn't have some other fatal flaw.

The BKLT flex on these machines can be replaced but it is an extremely difficult repair that not too many people can pull off. I will tell you now, there is no way that anyone, Apple or third party repair would attempt this repair for $79 labour. It involves removing the very fragile LC D panel and associated backlight/ diffuser etc sheets to access and replace the backlight/ camera cable assembly. I suspect that what they actually replaced was the short LCD cable between the logic board and TCON PCB that is a part of the LCD assembly (https://tinyurl.com/ypy87hhh) This cable is not subject to the same kind of damage that the backlight flex cable is, I can assure you.

My MacBook Pro 15" have the same issue as the 13" inch model but Apple denied the free service saying the replacement program is only for 13" models. PATHETIC!

Everyone needs to call Apple tech and demand they offer the same program they offer to the 13 inch laptops. It’s the exact same problem.

Have the same issue with my Macbook 15 inch 2018, it's a shame that designers forced engineers to make a fragile flex cable which can be replaced only with the entire display case.

Well, the Genius Bar help me to repair the display and keyboard for free,, they said it is under cover, and my is 15 inch.

#Flexgate problem on my 15" 2016 model, I bought at end of 2017, have it for mere 20 months so far. The screen went out, apple store quote me $680+tax to replace! It's a rip off!! I said NO, so I have a expensive waste in hand :(

$2400+tax for 20 months, then $680+tax to repair, it's a shame, Apple!

I’m trying to understand why 13 inch get repairs, but 15 inch do not. It’s very hard to convince myself that it’s a fair policy. I have 15 inch, I’m unable to use it as laptop. Calling support gave no answers.

I appreciate that Apple uses recycled aluminum and claims to be more eco than other manufacturers, but forcing people to throw away fully functional notebook due to cable design fault makes it just a scam marketing talk.

My understanding is, that the flex cable cannot be replaced separately, because it's glued to the panel (refer to iFixit videos). The only option is to get new display panel from Apple, which comes with new flex cable. My display panel is 100% working as I can see perfect image when I don't attempt to fully open the lid.

Unfortunately MacBook is totally useless as laptop, when the only way to see image is to keep screen half closed (<40% angle).

I have dealt with the annoyance of a spotlight effect on my Macbook Pro 15" for over a year now. Randomly the backlight would go out too or not go on after opening. The only solutions I could find were to open an close it a few times (which I know may exacerbate the problem over the long term) or run my fingers along the back intersection where the screen meets the keypad and the faulty cable connects the two. Recently the backlight went out and could not be restored. My computer was rejected for the Macbook Pro 13" program and I was quoted $600+ for a screen replacement. Insofar that the same cable was used in both models, I can only assume that Apple is aware that both models are affected and decided that it was inconvenient to expand the program to include the 15". I hope that Apple will announce a program for the 15" this week, on the anniversary of its release. This will restore some faith in the company but either way, the product design and manner in which this issue has been handled is a huge disappointment.

15'' mackbook pro 2016. Same problem here started from last week :( More than like 45 degrees then screen turns black. Makes no sense they replace those 13'' but say no to the 15''. I have got it less then two years, did not drop it or spill water on it. It was definitely design problem.