Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

Apple isn't the same responsive company they once were. Sorry to say. If you are having issues, don't expect any meaningful help from them.

I need to stress tha the OWC memory tested fine, I also need to note that I had two sets of the 16GB modules and one set of the 8GB modules. All failed. The 16GB modules form Crucial have been fine. THe memory isn't bad, but there is more likely a timing issue. Lots of bits being shuffled down that TBD pipe. My guess is that it wouldn't take much to trash that signal if there was a slight issue with when the data got there. The 4GB and 16GB sets from Apple are just fine. So to me the question is this: "Is anoyone out there having this problem with genuine Apple product?"

I'm not sure, but I think I have read some where that there are problems with MacBook Air and MacBook Pro users who connect to TBD also. 🙂

After working relatively well for about a year, I'm also experiencing similar issues with my Thunderbolt Display (connected to a 13" Retina Macbook Pro). If I unplug it, wait ten seconds, and plug it back in it will come on for about 5 minutes then go dark. All of the peripherals connected and built into it work fine and it shows up in the System Preferences.

The warranty just expired on it, so I fear that I'm now staring at a $1,000 paperweight. I'm going to try and take it into an Apple Store this week to see if there's anything that can be done.

Has anyone had any experience repairing this problem out of pocket?

@bigzig

This is exactly what happened to me. 3 weeks after the warranty ran out the screen started going black. The only way I can keep it on for a usuable length of time is to turn the brightness down just under half. Which is certainly not ideal. It also gets worse in hotter temperatures, only staying on for 10 seconds, which I can't comprehend.

I took mine to Apple last week. They said the actual LED display was faulty and would have to be replaced. They quoted me $1,250 to repair it. It costs $1,199 for a new one. Go figure.

I'd be interested to see what they say about yours.

Well, almost three months later, the same issue happened again and again. Awfull experience with the Thunderbolt Display connected to the MacBookPro Retina display 15'' (closed), both bought in December 2012. Perfect configuration, if it could work properly!! It is really a shame...

And Apple Support send me back again to a service provider (there is no Apple Store in Ireland...). After what I have read, I would prefer to get my money back, or exchange to anything else, instead of having to take a huge risk to have problems after the waranty expires (the simple exchange won't be enough), like other users have detailed here.

And guys, having these issues, you are paying the extra cost of an Apple Care on top of that? 😕
no, really, I would prefer to wait for the Thunderbolt technology to be stabilised. The MBP Retina Display is brilliant and powerful, I hope that the repair service won't keep it too long.

So really, 😠 DO NOT buy, at least until a new version of the display is released!!

Finally, what would you recommend to do if the Apple service provider cannot find anything? Or even if they change some parts? Anyway to get Apple taking back the display againt a kind of voucher?

Thanks, cheers!

My TBD is still in warranty and works fine. But thanks to these reports I'm going to buy the extended warranty through AppleCare, which is £69. I don't usually buy these but this seems like it might be money well spent.

I dont think there is anything wrong with TBD. Ive been connecting dual TBDs with Mini 2011 (AMD graphic) 16GB ram with no problems, but connecting these same TBDs to Mini 2012 (intel HD graphic 4000) both TBDs turns off randomly (updated to latest OSX 10.8.3). Although if I switch to 4GB ram from Apple, everything run smooth.

Thanks ajpegg. What is your config by the way?
And Apple Care, inst'it like theft: paying Apple until the fix and setup properly this new Thunderbolt Intel technology?? That's a disgrace from Apple!

Hi graystate,
It looks like Apple does not like all we say here... maybe we should have another safer place to continue the discussion!! So guys, plesae, subscribe to email notifications, so you will have the deleted message 😎:

graystate wrote:

Do you think we should start a pe-tit-ion to get apple to do a re-call?

I think so. Maybe there is other form of pres-sure that we can put on APPL. What does the community think?

Puma-IT wanted my configuration...

All purchased in Feb 2013, UK

MBA 8Gb Ram, 512Gb SSD

Thunderbolt Display

Wired keyboard

Bluetooth trackpad

Apart from having to plug the keyboard into the MBA USB instead of the hub in order to wake it up after sleep it all seems fine at the moment

@ ProJay - That has been my point all along. There seems to be a timing issue with non-Apple memory in the 2012 Mini. To reinforce my previous posts, mine is running fine now that I have Crucial memory instead of the OWC I started with. The mini never gave me a problem with the 4GB or 16GB modules from Apple. One other brand (I have since forgotten) ran fine but it wasn't rated at the same speed as the Apple or the Crucial. The TBD doesn't seem to be the issue. Merrory does.

Your mileage may vary.

Mine switched off plugged into the Apple repair guy's computer as well as mine. It's not a ram issue in my case.

And yes, Apple sent me a very friendly message about deleting my previous post. hahaha shows I was right. We should do it.

@ BSammon - Could you share me the part number of those Crucial modules. I will try to get a pair of those Ram and report next week. So frustrating, I was hoping that the new 10.8.3 would solve the problem but no luck for me.

Just to add my 2c also.

Memory in my case didn't matter. Brand new MB Pro Retina 15" and brand new TBD.

Guys at the store tested, same issues. It's the connector as we've had same issues with the new 10GB converged networking wiring in the datacenter when those technologies were new.

The problem is, that's all hardwired into the display and is not an easy swap for Apple to preform. I fear we will never see a recall on these guys b/c there just arent that many TBD owners...and the cost is too steep.

I've been both to our business apple store reps in NY and SC. Both have seen increasing numbers of TBD returns but only the NY store (guessing more volume) was quick to state they've seen many come back.

Perhaps the ram has somethign to do with it in the mac mini's but they have their own little weird issues, the 2012 mini can't be reinstalled from OSX 10.8 usb stick you can create... something about the EFI being different... have to restore OS via network install only. So, the mini's may be a special situation.

I'd be all for a recalltbd.com site. If another one or two of our TBDs fail here at work, I'll start one up.