2018 MBP 15" retina screen serious design flaw?

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2018 MBP 15" retina screen serious design flaw?

I have a late 2018 MBP and recently the retina display began flashing purple lines (see attached photo). I followed all the recommended steps to address the issue - reset the PRAM/SMC, boot in safe mode, etc, etc. The purple lines are present during safe mode, shutdown, restart, and even during the process of upgrading to Catalina. I have learned that this is not a software issue, but a design flaw in the retina display flat cables. It will cost $600-$800 to fix, only to be replaced with the same flawed materials. I am heartbroken! I paid over $2700 for this MBP with upgraded components, only to have it made useless by a $3 cheap flat cable. This is not an isolated issue but is a common, well known problem with this display. What choice do I have?

Should this not be recalled by Apple? Sure it will cost them $$$$, but is that not better than losing many longtime loyal customers and tarnishing their reputation for making quality products? This MBP now has little value and can only be traded in for recycling. I had my previous MBP over five years and was still running well - this one just over one year. I feel I have thrown my money away and I am sickened over it.

Your downhearted customer!

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 11, 2020 11:21 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,262 points

Jan 11, 2020 12:16 PM in response to M Wise

M Wise wrote:

I could give feedback to Apple, but will that encourage them to fix my broken MBP without cost to me?

If so then I will definitely give them my feedback. However, I know Apple is already aware of this issue because I am not the first, and likely not the last, who has experienced this problem with this product.

Typically in the past if Apple does release a Service Program, they have offered a refund for out of pocket expense parts & labor for the exact issue covered.

Service Programs are triggered by the percentage of all MBP of this spec vs. the number of failures documented. It is a numbers game. We are not privy to this %, or have any more insight.

A repair ticket, your Apple Feedback—all are heading in the right direction to trigger this release.

Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback

A repair at your local Apple service centre will generate a "service record" for the repair on your machine—and this is all you will need to qualify—if a Service Program is issued.

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Answer 2

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,262 points

Jan 11, 2020 11:37 AM in response to M Wise

M Wise wrote:

Your downhearted customer!

Hi M Wise — this is a user to user support forum.

You can send your letter to Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback

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Answer 3

M Wise Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2020 12:11 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thank you Leroydouglas for your reply. Yes, I could give feedback to Apple, but will that encourage them to fix my broken MBP without cost to me? If so then I will definitely give them my feedback. However, I know Apple is already aware of this issue because I am not the first, and likely not the last, who has experienced this problem with this product. I have been a Mac user for decades at home and work, but I have reached the point of frustration by the short life of this expensive product. I now have to decide what to do from here.

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Answer 4

M Wise Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2020 12:22 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thank you again! I will do.

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2018 MBP 15" retina screen serious design flaw?

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