Level 1

11 points

Macbook Battery is expanding or swollen

Dear all,

As mentioned in subject. The battery of my laptop is expanding.I try to called the Apple Support just now. They told me i need to pay for the battery replacement.

I am so disappointed with the service from Apple. I am having others brand of notebook with me right now and some of them even older than the macbook i have. But the battery never expand or swollen like this.

I just cant imagine if i don't notice the battery problem it might anytime leads to a possible explosion.

who can tell me what can i do? should i write to steve jobs about what their support team replied?

Macbook, Windows 7

Posted on Sep 13, 2010 7:09 PM

68 replies

Oct 23, 2010 5:14 AM in response to limcheehang

I have the same problem! It cost £67+vat to repair or brand new battery £99. We only can do is to pay for. Apple won't take there responsibility either manefactory deface or out of warranty.

Best of luck!

K. Liu

Dec 2, 2010 7:08 AM in response to limcheehang

I have a Macbook that is almost four years old, and just recently my battery started swelling pretty bad. Read all the posts about getting the run-a-round with Apple support.....saying you needed to buy a new battery. Even though my battery still holds a decent charge, I figured I would probably have to spring for a new battery soon.....as I was due.

Someone on the Discussions mentioned try taking it to an Apple Genius, and see what they might do.

Yesterday, I took it the Genius at the Apple Store near Clear Lake, TX.....and lo and behold....he took one look at my battery and said "I will give you a brand new battery", no questions asked, even though my Macbook has been out of warranty for years, and I was out the door in minutes......with a brand new Apple battery!

Life is good.

Dec 3, 2010 1:35 PM in response to Bruce Sprague

You are really lucky guy!!!

Can I borrow this luck too? I'm having the same issue as you with my battery and my macbook is old like yours... My MacBook has 4 years now...

I'll take my MacBook to the Apple's Tech Support and see if they can change my battery for free as well.

Wish me luck!

Kilik

Level 1

0 points

Feb 23, 2011 4:00 AM in response to limcheehang

I'm in a similar situation. I have a MacBook Late 2007 and I bought it with an AppleCare Warranty. My battery is swollen and I've phoned to the AppleCare Service a couple of times and they said that AppleCare doesn't cover the batteries...

I'm very disappointed with the service, it's very expensive and they don't want to replace my battery for free, even in warranty... Tomorrow it expires 😟

I can't believe that your batteries had been replaced for free although they were out of warranty and Apple doesn't want to send me another one...

jtmanis

Level 1

0 points

Feb 27, 2011 4:31 PM in response to limcheehang

My MacBook's battery has swollen to the point where if it's in the machine, the trackpad button becomes pretty much useless. Sadly, I'm too far from an Apple Store in order to take it in. Is there anything I can do?

SPD

Level 3

530 points

Mar 4, 2011 7:30 PM in response to jtmanis

Having the same issues with my wife's black Macbook. I thought initially it was the top case. But after lifting the laptop up, I could feel the huge bulging battery on the bottom. The laptop is always on a cooling stand with fan, even in the winter.

This is clearly a defect. I hope that the Apple Store will replace it. I don't feel like paying 129 + tax.

Too bad Apple has skimped on quality. I had five major issues now with two MacBooks. At least the MBPs seem to be better all around.

kostby

Level 4

2,984 points

Mar 4, 2011 11:11 PM in response to SPD

You won't want to hear this, but the battery is a 'consumable' item, like an eraser.

You don't mention how many charge cycles are on the battery (Apple, About this Mac, More info, Power), but around 300 cycles is considered 'average' before replacement-meaning that half the people get more cycles, and half the people get fewer cycles-for white and black MacBooks from 2006-2008.

If your system is still under the original Applecare or extended Applecare warranty, talk to them. You might find a sympathetic ear, but if you don't, then just buy a new battery. If the Apple battery is too pricey, there are equivalent replacement batteries like the one I purchased from a reliable vendor such as Macsales.com (Other World Computing). (I've read a number of horror stories about replacement Macbook batteries purchased on ebay!)

After more than 3 years of use, I purchased a new battery for my MacBook 2,1 for about 1/10th the original cost of the computer. That was a small investment for continued portable, reliable operation of the system. I've upgraded RAM twice, and the hard drive twice, and each time, the cost was an investment in continued use and reliability. My total outlay for a new battery, RAM, and disk upgrades is still less than the cost of a new or even a refurbished Mac.

You can operate the MacBook from the power supply without a battery, but you will likely see reduced system performance.

SPD

Level 3

530 points

Mar 5, 2011 7:30 AM in response to kostby

kostby wrote:
You won't want to hear this, but the battery is a 'consumable' item, like an eraser.

You don't mention how many charge cycles are on the battery (Apple, About this Mac, More info, Power), but around 300 cycles is considered 'average' before replacement-meaning that half the people get more cycles, and half the people get fewer cycles-for white and black MacBooks from 2006-2008.

Thanks for your reply. I'm aware of issues concerning battery cycles. Apple replaced the battery on my white MacBook free of charge when it wasn't holding a charge after 100+ or so cycles.

The issue that concerns me with the battery in my wife's MB is the physical deformation of the battery itself That has nothing to do with how many cycles it has been used and seems to be a defect--one that others are experiencing as well. Defects differ from normal charging cycles.

hannasae

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2011 4:25 PM in response to limcheehang

I have the same problem :/ My MacBook is more than 4 years old and I've never had Apple Care, but the battery's working great beacause this computer has been mainly used as a desktop computer.

Health Information:
Cycle count: 50
Condition: Normal

I bought this MacBook in Japan, but I live now in Poland and there's no Apple Store here, only some authorized resellers. I've read that they're not very helpful, but I'll try next week. Wish me luck!

zOnk_d

Level 1

0 points

Apr 11, 2011 9:52 AM in response to kostby

@kostby:

In my mind, a consumable battery issues is that it suddenly stops holding a charge. At that time it's consumed and no longer usable.

Based on your statement and Apples actions on phone support, a swelling and potential dangerous problem with a battery is part of the normal life cycle.

In that case it should come with warning about the hazard and inspection be part of the "normal" operation.

Such as:

"Dear Apple customer. Thank you for purchasing our potentially dangerous product. In all probability, your battery will eventually fail and become dangerous. When your battery fails, swells, becomes hot and could possibly explode, please remove it from your product and place it in an area away from people, pets, young children and homes, then call us with your credit card number and you can purchase another ticking time bomb for $129 -- and thank you for your continued support."

Apr 12, 2011 8:30 AM in response to zOnk_d

I also had a bad experience with a swollen battery. Took my computer to an Apple Store here in Oslo,Norway. I was only going to get my top-case exchanged under the extended warranty programme, but noticed that my battery had swollen to the point of bursting through the seams. I asked if this was normal, but the clerk couldn't confirm this. I asked the service center to have a look at it, and recommend something. They said I shouldn't use my battery any longer because of the swelling, and purchase a new one (my battery has done 221 charge cycles and is 3.5 years old, and holds a charge for 3.5 hours continuous use). I told them I expected them to check if it was a production defect, but they were adamant it wasn't covered under any warranty or recall programme. I am disappointed, as there are numerous stories here about people getting their swollen batteries exchanged at no cost. At least Apple should treat these customers equally, and not let them have test their fortunes in their local shop. I would like to take this further, but I have no expectations about Apple responding to this. I have ordered a third-party battery on eBay for a tenth of the price they wanted in the Apple Store. Apple accesories is a total rip-off.

Rgds,

BlackBook

SPD

Level 3

530 points

Apr 14, 2011 8:38 PM in response to hannasae

I took in the battery today to the Naperville store in Chicagoland. They replaced the battery for the Macbook, even though the Apple Care had just lapsed. We run that laptop on a fan always, so there is no reason it should have ballooned up like that. But it was very kind to get a free replacement.

GeoffHom

Level 1

12 points

Jun 20, 2011 1:42 PM in response to limcheehang

Just took my laptop and bulging battery to the Apple store in Los Cerritos, CA. (White MacBook, refurb. through Apple, bought in August '08. Battery has done 97 cycles.) Genius said it was out of warranty, and the best he could do was I could buy a new battery for $99 (it's a little cheaper from the Genius Bar than the store floor). I'm going to buy a third-party one from eBay instead.

Honestly, I'd have felt better if Apple's customer service was more consistent. That may not make sense, but that's how I feel. Also, I felt very disempowered because there was no way to provide any feedback that I was disappointed. It seemed like the Genius would just move on to his next ticket.

One tip from the Apple website, though, is that we're not supposed to use the laptop like a desktop (i.e., always plugged in). I thought that was just a warning about battery life, but apparently it can lead to bulging batteries, which Apple may or may not replace after warranty.

aga

Level 1

8 points

Jun 21, 2011 9:30 AM in response to Bruce Sprague

Yes, I went to two Apple Stores and did not get this kind of service. I have a Macbook 2,1 (~3.5 years old). They said I would have to pay $120 for a new battery even though they are only $30 elsewhere online. They said the bulging battery is not a defect and that it happens all the time! I shouldn't've given them my serial number so they couldn't've checked that my MacBook is no longer under warranty nor should've I registered with the Genius Bar people ahead of time; I had to wait an hour anyways just to hear them say I need to pay $120! And at two different Apple Stores!

aga

Level 1

8 points

Jun 21, 2011 9:32 AM in response to NobreAngel

Don't bring the laptop nor give them its serial number. Take the battery out and bring it to them. You're probably more likely to have them replace it for free. Good luck with Apple's awful service; it used to be better pre-Steve Jobs returning, when Apple was more of an "indie" company. I use Linux now and my next laptop will definitely be an Acer. They have the same guts as the Apple ones but are ~½ the price!

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Macbook Battery is expanding or swollen