Repeated logic board failures on 2018 MacBook Pro

Just buy a new one. I’m now out 1400 dollars because my 2018 MacBook Pro logic board failed in September 2019 (two weeks out of year warranty and Apple refused to cover it). Now in January 2021 my logic board again is broken and my computer suddenly isn’t turning on (was working fine yesterday). Not sure how it isn’t being considered a part of the recall given the same part has been replaced thrice in a 3 year period.

I have the same problem: 2018 macbook pro ssd failed after very light use. Thankfully I have applecare but the problem is you have to send out entire computer if you want to attempt data recovery from a third party. (yes I know we should have backed it up) but the reason I am writing this is SSD's do fail and fail often-maybe not as much as old spinning drives but they do fail and fail often. This is my second SSD failure this year in my family. Most people have macs for more than 5 years. I would vote to not have ssd soldered on logic board. I own 3 macs and 3 windows machines. The ability to upgrade on a PC is quite nice. I was shocked at Apple service center that I have to put back in a 1tb ssd and have no option to upgrade. I would be even more upset if I was paying for the repair given the decline in ssd prices over the last few years.

I have a 15” 2018 MBP. After 14 months I experienced overheating issues, then the computer didn’t charge and finally it didn’t turn on. The official apple repair service changed the logic board in warranty.

Now, 7 months later I’m experiencing the same issues (computer still works). I’ve sent it again to the repair service, but is really frustrating. Apple has to investigate this problem because doesn’t make sense that the lifetime of the logic board of 2.500 € computer is about 1-2 years.

It would certainly be nicer if instead they sent Time Cook to personally hand you a brand new computer after yours encountered a failure out of the about 20 million Macs per year Apple has shipped.

In November (two years almost to the date my battery was defective in my i9 32GB RAM 1TB MacBook Pro 2018. They replaced the battery, the Touch Bar (which the power button was wobbly I noticed in the first replacement), the keyboard and the track pad. They also replaced the top of the case. They said that to replace the faulty battery they have to do all of that because everything is glued together (glued together on an over $4,000 laptop????). The Mac cost me $4200 when I bough it. I also had apple care too.

Then two months later one of the USB-C ports stopped working. I took it in again and they said, "Oh..we will probably just replace the port." I thought to myself (I am an old tech who probably knows more than the young tech - this was a 3rd apple service center since no Apple stores in 400 miles to go). I thought..."Ah...they will probably have to replace the logic board, everything is attached in one board, what is he talking about...?".

Well..a week later I get it back. I was told they replaced the Touch Bar and the logic board. The cost of the first battery replacement would have been over $800...Then...this repair cost would have been another $850. I had apple care (thank God) and I would have spent around $1,650 on an over $4,000 laptop I just bought just over 2 years ago...

I have about 8 more months on my apple care. I hope nothing else happens.

The tech joked with me a little nervously when he gave me back my laptop and said, we have replaced almost everything in your laptop except the screen (as he right after saying this bumped the screen as he was about to close it for me...said sorry). Showed me the costs as if I should be relieved that I had apple care... (apple care $300+ more at purchased). Yeah..just used parts probably taken out of a refurbished model. Why should I be pleased with the repair...?

It runs good now. Did not know about the faulty logic boards in these models (trend).

I am a bit concerned about spending over $4,000 on a laptop and then in two years have issues. If I have it for 4 years after first originally buying it lets sya...that means it costs me about $1,000 a year. If I did not have apple care the costs would have increased to about $2,000 a year for the next two years due to the out-of-pocket costs I would have had to pay for repairs if no apple care..

I like the laptop (including the Touch Bar and the keyboard is not bad - use to it now and the newer one seems to me mushy to type on). But now quality is no longer considered (major parts glued together) at Apple and it does not last anymore (this was two years)...?

I have a M1 Mac mini and runs about the same or sometimes better in FCPX rendering than my MacBook Pro 2018 close to maxed out (including cost) and is why I bought the M1 at 3/4 the price I paid two years ago....

Me-thinks that something is not right about this...

I experienced this also with my 2018 MBP. It just won't turn on anymore. Mac Service Center diagnosed it as a logic board failure and it costs me PHP45,000 to repair/replace. It's very disappointing because I was only able to use it for a year and a half. Hope this gets to Apple. I know a lot of people here in the Philippines who experienced the same problem and we think it's a bit unfair. This laptop is so expensive.

I would contact Apple via online or email and explain the situation. 1.5 years is too close to warranty expiration and sometimes they will take it in consideration depending on who you talk too and the reasons for failure. I took care of the laptop, so the tech saw It did not fail due to my use.

Apple Service type Centers are third party support for places where Apple Stores are not available. If you go through them first, then they charge for their service in addition to Apple’s charges most of the time. Best to go through Apple support first with anything and let them assign the Service Center, including making the appointment if possible. People sometimes don’t know (most) that these centers are not Apple, though they have an Apple logo sometimes out front of their service centers. Glad to have them if like myself are 400 miles away from an Apple Store of course...but for major repairs, contact Apple Support via chat or email first so Apple Authorizes the repairs and it becomes an Apple authorized repair instead of a third party repair. Logic board repair will cost, so out-of-warranty pricing will cost $450+ anyway.

Keep your receipts and appointment emails etc. and keep a watch out for possibly a recall or something stated by apple about the MacBook Pro 2018’s faulty logic board. If many report the issues (and documented), then Apple may do something to avoid law suits etc. It is now a known issue, for many have reported it..but..not sure what the “many” meaning the total needed for Apple to act. I have had practically almost everything replaced on my $4,000 Laptop...so I have heard there are issues. Great Laptop...but..new technologies (at that time) have a lot of working, including mass producing cutting costs for more profit (Tim Cook is a master at this), so unfortunately..we the consumer sometimes get hit, and most of the time is costly.

My MBP 15" Touch Bar 2018 has the same problem. Working one day, I leave it in the sleep mode, in the next day it didn't turn on, no charge, nothing.

I took it to third-party assistance, since the Apple Store is closed due to the COVID pandemic. They diagnosed a failure of the logic board and the same was replaced with the touch ID, all for Apple Care. Zero cost.

I am afraid because the replaced board is the same, and there is no feedback to correct the problem. Just as you think that the entire new Macbook line, since 2017, may have this problem.

Apple Care ends next year, what to do? That is the question.

I am genuinely sorry you have had such Bad Luck. There is nothing Readers can do to repair your confidence in the product except to assure you that your single sample does NOT represent a TREND.

Apple made around 20 million Macs last year, and your bad experience with a sample of one does not move the needle on reliability in the slightest. It is not statistically significant.

When Consumer Reports magazine polls their members in their annual survey, Apple computers and Apple service have been the highest rated (compared to any other company) for many years running.

HELLO!

I finally managed to convince Apple Singapore to replace my logic board for free even if it's out of warranty already. You might want to try to contact them either. Blessings!

Hello, Loby.

It worked. They will replace it for free. Thanks for the info!

This reminds me of the "recall" of the staingate, which does not look like a recall, as it is not well publicized on the apple recall page. They change the stained retina displays at no cost to the user, I have already changed them 3 times from my old Macbook Pro 2013.

As if they considered it a problem, but only for users who actually complain.