The battery in my old iPhone (out of warranty) has just decided to explode, pop the screen off and bend the main board. Is Apple doing anything to correct this issue? I wasn't using it for a phone, rather an ipod around the house, but still it shouldn't just fall apart like that!
iPhone 3GS, iOS 5.0.1
I got my old 3GS replaced at an Apple Store yesterday for $80 - it was out of warranty but they said they would replace it as a battery problem. This was the second Apple Store I went to - the first tried to sell me a new battery for $150. I found an authorized Apple repair shop and they told me to go ASAP to Apple (and go to a store that wasn't as busy as the one I went to) and they should offer to replace for $50 - $100, confirming that the battery was swelling and it could explode or at least leak and damage the board. The second Apple Store was great - I did not have to throw a hissy-fit to get them to replace, just dropped a few key words like product defect; the Genius at the first store just wanted to get rid of me.
I noticed the problem when I was finally getting ready to sell the phone. I got a new iphone 5 in Nov. and had sold the phone after taking photographs of the phone in mid Jan. No bulging back and screen was clear and bright. I did notice that the phone was not holding a charge very well. Sold the phone about 10 days later and while getting it ready I noticed a dark spot on the screen, below the glass. when I pressed on the area, the spot moved. got an appt at Apple that afternoon and the Genius told me that the battery was swelling and pushing upwards and that's what caused the darkening. he opened the phone and apparently relieved some of the pressure but there was still a spot. obviously I could not sell with a known change so I checked around and found the place to replace the battery. in the 5 days between noticing the dark area and then going to get a new battery, the case started bulging. this was shocking as I was not charging or using the phone.
Took a while to find any info on battery swelling on Apple website (only here). Google 3GS battery swelling and the photos are grim - this is NOT unique problem. If your phone gets warm and the battery does not hold a charge, run, do not walk, to get the battery replaced.
I remember that...with the scorching of iPhones visibly seen on the back. Good days.
Take it to Apple, and hope for a replacement. If not, they'll either offer an out of warranty replacement, or a trade-in allowance.
Hi, This happened the other day to my iPhone 3GS. I purchased the iPhone on March 8th 2010, it's barely 2 years old!!!
I spoke to apple support re this at the end of last week and I am shocked at the explanation I got from them!!!
I was told initially that there were a limited number of cycles that the batteries were designed to last. When I asked for documentary evidence of this, I was told that they did not have this documentation and that in fact, the battery that they were referring to was the MacBook pro battery!
I was then told that the battery had expanded as this was a 'safety' feature. Again, I asked for a copy of the manufacturers documentation and battery specs for the model of battery that is fitted to the iPhone 3GS and again, Apple were unable or unwilling to supply this. I was then given the postal address for apple customer relations in Cork and was also advised to contact O2 as the phone was purchased there.
Lookm, batteries do not behave in this manner, I also expect a product, that costs hundreds of euros to purchase to last longer than 2 years!!!!
Come on apple, you can do better than this!!
Well here we have another 3GS that blew it's lid.... Went to Apple and they said sorry this is not a defect and since it is out of warranty it is my loss. One would think you could get a product to last for more then 2 1/2 years. Apple you were great at one time but no more. You should be ashamed.
My Iphone 3GS is about three years old. I purchased a 4s in June and put the 3gs in a drawer. After about two months i decided to charge it up and use it as an ipod. I noticed very quickly that the capacity of the phones battery had been reduced since i had last used it two months earlier.
After the seventh day of use, I went to unplug it and noticed the case for the phone was ajar. Upon further inspection, noticed the screen had pulled away from the phone case and the case itself seemed swollen and mishaped. After some research, I found several articles and photos indicating that the battery had expanded or exploded.
As this product is out of warranty (and I did buy apple care), I do not expect apple to fix it. But i think the issue is bigger than a battery replacement. This anomaly has the potential to cause serious personal injury or property damage. It would behoove Apple to investigate these problems and take action to recall if neccessary. It would be the right thing to do.
There are a few reports of this problem on the SaferProducts.gov site:
http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/Result.aspx?dm=0&q=3gs&srt=0
Well, I went to the apple store and they gave me a replacement phone for the cost of a replacement battery, which I suppose is better than nothing but not amazing. I've sold it already.
I'm not going to rush into buying any more apple stuff. A £500 phone should really last more than 2 years.
Take them up on it. No disrespect intended, but what the he double-hockysticks did you expect? By your admission, you have a 2-3 year old phone, WELL outside of warranty, including any extended warranty. They are not obligated to give you anything but they are willing to give you a new (well, probably a referbished) iPhone for the cost of a battery. Sounds like a pretty decent deal to me. But not for a self-entitled ingrate. But you have a resolution, it's your choice, take the offer and move on or continue to chew on your sour grapes.
I also have recently experienced my (nearly 3 year old) IPhone 3Gs turning into a sort of Jack-in-the-box device. The expansion of the battery completely destroyed the device,
I have contacted Apple and they have contacted me for the last 3 days. All nice people... true story.
My Apple case had just been 'resolved' which means Apple gave 2 options: paying for the repairs (expanded battery, cracked motherboard, cracked screen, bended/cracked housing) or buying a new IPhone.
A €600 device that self-destructs after 2 years by a malfunction that normally can occur when it is 'end of life' is questionable. Since Apple apparantly is very aware of this being a known issue with the IPhone 3Gs battery I think the Apple 'service' regarding my case and cases stated in this thread is terrible to say the least, warranty or no warranty. Even if Apple wasn't aware of it being a known issue the 'service' would still be terrible.
It's nice this 'safety feature' kept me from getting hurt but still I'm left without a device I did not intend to part from yet and costs lots of money to replace.
Bottom line is: the IPhone 3Gs is a device which carries the Apple logo, so I presume Apple is proud of such device. Considering so many cases of a 'safety feature' which renders the device is completely worthless after a period of a few years... I consider this a design flaw. The customer should not pay for such a flaw or 'bad luck' for that matter.
Just as Czarmuss wrote (Jul 5, 2012 2:45 AM) I have the same problem!
The technician at Apple Store (Stockholm/Sweden) told me about a "self destruct feature" that makes all of the Apple-batteries swell or explode after about 2 years! Nothing they tell the buyer about...
EU Consumer Law in Sweden give me 3 years of warranty if it´s proved to be a manufacturing fault as I claim. Apple Store in Stockholm/Sweden says it´s totally normal and not a problem with a battery that swell or explode in my iPhone 4 (after about 2 years)! I had to pay about €79 to get a replacement iPhone since the casing is destroyed.
Read more about the matter, or in today's Metro online (also in a swedish edition).
http://www.metro.se/nyheter/sprangd-iphone-helt-normalt-enligt-apple/EVHmbA!aerL CzRvKaSlM/
http://www.metro.se/nyheter/mobilreparator-vanligt-fel-med-expanderad-iphone/EVH mbA!twgWzWPOm8MWk/
<Link Edited By Host>
Lithium Ion batteries are used in a wide variety of devices from laptops to iPhones to Samsung phones and tablets to the Chevy Volt to Boeing 787 Dreamliners. In every one of these applications (including Samsung devices) there is a chance of the battery overheating in a process engineers call "thermal runaway". It's a serious enough problem that "naked" batteries not enclosed in a device (like a phone) cannot be carried on aircraft. The enclosing device contains the damage and prevents (hopefully) any secondary damage.
I've never had a problem with batteries per se, but I have had problems with other Samsung devices and their support was less than stellar. I eventually threw away my LC-11 wireless hotspot because it worked so poorly, and despite 4 battery replacements and 3 device replacements it never worked acceptably.
Please be sure to file a consumer complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is my hope that eventually a prominent US law firm will start a class action lawsuit against Apple regarding this product failure and that we will all be properly compensated for our losses, which are mounting as Apple takes no action to remedy the situation.
APPLE: This is a technical issue. There is plenty of evidence that the 3gs batteries swell, resulting in damage to the phones with the potential to hurt someone holding the phone when it explodes. Apple, you have not issued a warning, product notice, or recall. We are doing your work for you, Apple. by warning people of this product problem. Do something about this. Apple. other than remove postings. |
It's not a bomb, it's a Lithium battery. This "blowing up" happens sometimes, just as everything else in the world happens sometimes. If Apple is approached calmly without ranting, they are more probable to resolve the problem.
Well, BombDog, just as I advised David Lee, I encourage you as well, as a citizen of England, to visit an Apple Store and try to get the issue fixed. I myself hope to reach Germany soon, as there is the nearest (1400km) Apple Store to my home. Please let us know of how things are advancing.
Well, teklife, you should visit an AppStore and give'em a chance before going for the Koreans... It's obvious that Apple did a mistake with respect of the 3GS's battery, and this is normal: they are not God! So, we should give'em a chance to reveal their real policy. Let us know if you get and answer from them.
iPhone 3gs exploding expanding battery
