The NVIDIA graphics processor in my MBP just failed after 4 1/2 yrs - it is the only thing wrong with the computer. It is a known and admitted defective part but Apple refuses to replace it without charging me $300. This is a recall-type situation - Apple should meet its responsibilities.
MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2 GHz), Mac OS X (10.6.4)
You aren't alone, and I sympathize, but you have essentially no options. All indications are that Apple is sticking quite consistently to the stated 4-year time limit for free NVidia repairs.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Yes, no legal options, but Apple should take care of its loyal customers and do what is right. They certainly have the resources.
That may be, but you aren't talking to Apple here — we're all just other MBP users. To tell Apple what you think, go here:
Yes I realize that. I have already communicated directly with Tim Cook's assistants. All I can do now is prevail upon any sense they may have of What Is Right! Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
The problem all companies face when implementing any type of warranty cutoff is that there will always be someone on the wrong side of the cutoff date...always. If Apple were to extend this to 5 years, guess what? We'd still get posts from users on the wrong side of the 5 year cutoff. Fact is, not all of these GPU units will fail...only a small unknown percentage. Thus, a massive recall doesn't make sense. I know this doesn't help you, but perhaps you have a better understanding, even if you don't like the outcome.
I agree where one is discussing warranty issues like wear and tear and the age of a device. But this is a known and admitted defective part that was the subject of a class action against Apple. They extended the warranty in the face of these allegations. A recall to remedy a defect typically has no expiration date and neither should this as it is not a typical warranty issue.
It isn't doing you one iota of good to argue your case here, Marigmac. I doubt that you'll get anywhere by arguing it in any other venue either, but be that as it may, there's nothing else useful to be said about it here. I wish you luck in your comunications with the higher-ups at Apple.
Same problem here.
Logic board was replaced during the extended warranty period... but the videocard on the replaced motherboard now has the same issue!
and of course we are passed the 4y period.
Faulty parts replaced by faulty parts.... great.
When calling Applecare they tell you to go to a Apple Repair Center to have it replaced.... cost : +/-500 euro inclusive labour and taxes.
nVidia should have the cards replaced with a different part that is not defective.
Sadly in these matters, the makers of mass-market consumer goods do not see a profitable incentive to re-engineer older and probably obsolete products. Hence, replacement parts have the same flaw and will eventually fail in the same fashion. When enough customers gang up in a class action, change may occur, but most times the problem is made to go away (not solved) by doling out new hardware to the complainants. Risk/profit analysis tells the beancounters that this is more cost effective than going back to the proverbial drawing board.
And this is not exclusive of the computer world. For example, in the high-end BMW automotive world, their m54 engine has a design and materials flaw in the VANOS variable valve timing controller: the seals fail after about 2 years and the part ceases to do its thing. BMW acknowledges the flaw, but if you bring in a failing car, the replacement part is identical to the original and will itself fail in 2 years. Yet this year's models have the equivalent part in their new engines and the corresponding part no longer has the problerm, but is not interchangeable with the older engines.
Macbook Pro Nvidia Card post-"warranty"
