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Swelling Macbook Pro Battery

I've had this MBP since November of 2008, and in the past month, I've noticed that the battery is swelling. Visibly, it is not that large, however, it does not fit inside the MBP unibody case without having the back piece that covers the battery partially separated from the case. This is rather annoying, but the reason this is such an issue is that the battery is now large enough that it is pushing on the trackpad, making it nearly impossible to touch the trackpad without making a click. My computer is out of warranty, but I feel that because this isn't standard wear and tear, it is clearly a flaw in Apple's batteries, I should not have to pay $130 for a replacement. However, every attempt I have made to talk to a real person over the phone or via email has been unsuccessful. Do you think Apple will replace the battery for free, and how should I go about speaking to someone at Apple about this without paying $49 for phone support?

Thanks,

David

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 21, 2010 2:45 PM

Reply
65 replies

Jun 14, 2017 6:48 PM in response to eww

Oh my god who are you to come on here and dictate what people do and don't 'deserve' It's a manufacturer defect which Apple refuse to admit to. In Australia they've been replacing the entire Mac on the quiet and bung people the money to do so instead of a physical replacement. You clearly are a rude half wit, and an embarrassment to the Apple community.

Nov 2, 2017 10:08 AM in response to lisatfong

The standard warranty says, essentially: Apple will repair or replace (at their option) any parts found to be defective in materials or workmanship during the warranty period.


The standard warranty period is one year, and you were given the option to extend that period to three years by purchasing the AppleCare extension to three-year coverage, provided you acted within the acceptance period, which WAS up to one year on that Mac at that time. [AppleCare PLUS is generally the option for new Macs today, and it has a 60-day acceptance period.]


No deception or lying is involved. If you did not choose the purchase the three-year AppleCare plan, you opted to pay for repairs yourself (after the standard one year period) out of your own pocket, even if the repairs were needed due to defects in materials or workmanship.

Dec 21, 2010 3:33 PM in response to harmlessgoat22

Do you have access to an Apple Store? If so, make an appointment at the genius bar to have the battery looked at. I did the same with my swelling battery, and even though the Mac was out of warranty (just barely) and the battery had 276 cycles and was over 3 years old, they gave me a new battery at no cost. It seems people are having better luck in person than over the phone.

It is entirely at Apple's discretion whether or not they will replace a swelling battery, but they seem to cut people a surprising amount of slack. Possibly that is because there once was a specific program to replace swelling batteries (Battery Update). Don't really know, but if you take it in and ask, the worst thing they can do is say no.

Personally, I think this is the sign of a defective battery, but not everybody agrees. I have a slew of old Apple batteries around dating from 1998, and none of them have ever come apart like this.

In the meantime, don't use the battery. It could cause permanent damage to your Mac. It could also leak noxious chemicals. Place it in a plastic bag and carry it in separately. If nothing else, Apple will recycle it for you.

If no access to an Apple Store, and no success at speaking with anyone else, you could always call Apple and ask to speak to Apple Customer Relations. Be very nice and polite on the phone, and express your concerns that you seem to have a defective battery. No guarantees as to the outcome, but I believe you can at least avoid the $49 fee.

Good luck!

Jan 2, 2011 10:55 PM in response to S.U.

Sorry for hijacking this thread.

But I have a similar problem. I don't think I have access to Apple Store. I can't seemed to find it in Bangkok. Either I can't find it, or there's no Apple Store in Bangkok.

Mine is uMBP late 2008 15". Retail reseller in Bangkok is selling a replacement at 6,900 baht(Estmated 229USD)!!.

You mentioned that, calling Apple might help. Is this the number to call, in Bangkok? "Shop the Apple Online Store (001-800-65-6957), or find a reseller."

There is no Apple Store in Bangkok. 😟

http://www.apple.com/asia/support/store/

Jan 4, 2011 2:21 PM in response to Vynn

Apple used to have a program where they replaced the removable batteries that did this, and even after that program ended, they have been remarkably generous in replacing swollen batteries on the theory, I suppose, that batteries should eventually just stop working and not swell up unless they are defective. There seems to be some debate as to whether swelling is considered something that should only happen if a battery is defective, or if it is a normal occurrence that could happen to any battery.

In any event, you need to replace the battery ASAP before it can cause permanent damage to your computer. Even if you have to pay for it yourself. By all means make a fuss though, and try to get it replaced for free.

Good luck!

Jan 19, 2011 9:43 AM in response to harmlessgoat22

I have the same model, late 2008 MacBook Pro purchased in Nov 2008 and have the same issue. The battery started to swell a couple of weeks ago and eventually popped the battery compartment lid open. I removed it and the swelling went down a bit but it still won't fit in the laptop anymore.

I took it to the Apple Store in the Eaton Center (Toronto) today but no love from the genius. He basically said that "swelling is normal" at the end of life and refused to replace it for free, or even offer a discount on a replacement battery.


<Edited by Host>

Jan 20, 2011 12:01 PM in response to Anthony C. Kay

My MacBook Pro is an olllld 2006 model, but the battery was replaced mid 2007 by Apple as part of a recall. My battery is swelling rapidly as well. I am standing in the Eaton Centre Apple Store right now!

I was just at the genius bar and also had no luck getting it replaced. They offered a $118 replacement with only a 3 month warranty.

I'm thinking about trying one of the other Apple stores in the GTA... :S

Jan 29, 2011 11:24 PM in response to harmlessgoat22

I had the same problem as the original poster. The battery in my machine was down to 80% capacity on 183 cycles in 27 months, and it had swelling that got worse as machine heated up. I took the machine into the Apple Store at Yorkdale in Toronto. The fellow at the Genius Bar there took one look at the battery and saw that it was swollen (I couldn't tell that it was swollen when the battery was cool). It was replaced on the spot under the AppleCare warranty I had purchased with the machine.

The diagnostic test showed that the battery was fine. It was the physical inspection that showed it was at the end of its useful life.

Jan 30, 2011 7:01 AM in response to harmlessgoat22

David, I had exactly the same problem, the bulging battery on my MBP (purchased in December 2008) made working with the trackpad impossible, I had to use a mouse and removed the battery because I feared that the swelling might end in a fire or even an explosion.

I just came back from an appointment with the Genius Bar. They first shocked me by saying that this is normal end-of-life behavior, and that there's no fire hazard nor explosion danger whatsoever. But they finally tested the battery and found it to be in good health (with ~350 cycles).

So they decided to replace it without charge. Which was nice...

Jan 31, 2011 3:43 AM in response to harmlessgoat22

My Feb 2008 model battery just decided to swell up out of nowhere and also makes the trackpad unusable, I have an appt later today and hope that they will be able to help just like theyve helped you guys. Mine currently looks like this:

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8118/photo1g.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9865/photo2pi.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8492/photo3jz.jpg

Feb 24, 2011 4:14 AM in response to HitcH.ARTStudios

I've had 3 bulging batteries in my 2006 MacBook Pro (17). Each time, I've taken the computer to the Genius Bar, and, each time, they've replaced the battery for free. The third time (last week) the genius told me that bulging results from deterioration of the battery's chemicals. He checked an Apple database and said that there is a long-standing Apple program for replacing bulging batteries. He replaced mine under that program. He also said that bulging occurs more often in 17-inch MBPs than in other models.

Feb 24, 2011 8:29 AM in response to harmlessgoat22

"I don't think I have access to Apple Store. I can't seemed to find it in Bangkok."

Oh, please, this has been discussed a dozen times before. MCC is the autorized service provider, and there are several outlets in central Bangkok: Pantip Plaza, Siam Discovery Center, and Rama III @ Narathiwas (the Galaxy building). I live within walking distance of the latter, brought in my computer, verified the problem, and had a new battery within a few days.

Swelling Macbook Pro Battery

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