Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Yes, both as a defendant, and as a plaintiff.  Too, I understand that Apple is the defendant.  Further, I know that Apple has been sued before, and it has paid out several hundred million in damages.  Finally, Ive read the complain in its entirety.

Exactly, this is the form.

I first called Apple, as I bought it directly from Apple online, so, they are the seller (see also link below: contact your seller). Explained the problem, and the fact that I was aware of law suits in the US, the website mbp2011.org, that more than 10.000-20.000 people already reported this problem, and so on.

Apple took a note, and referred me to the AASP, which seemed to be different from an authorized Apple reseller, this is an authorized service provider.

Apple told me not to go to a specific reseller as they would probably try to fix the problem in their own technical service department, and not through Apple or an AASP. I think Apple told me that the AASP can decide on claims on Apple's behalf, but I am not sure about that.

For the Dutch among you, I went to ICTeam Zuid, in Sint-Oedenrode, but ICTeam has more locations in NL, I believe.

This link may also be interesting: http://www.mymac.support/apple-eu-consumer-law/

Here it says that in Scotland you have a claim period of 5 years from date of delivery, and even 6 years in the rest of the UK.

EU law only states "2 years minimum claim period", but in the Netherlands they use "as long as you may expect a device to function normally". This is definitely more than 2 years in the case of a 2+ k€ MBP.

Hope this helps anyone.

The G-man wrote:

 

Then my question remains: which article of European Consumer Law (or my rights as you call it) are you actually referring to, making them sweat?

I didn't make them sweat. I mentioned the Dutch notion of 'non-conformiteit' and they basically returned a middle finger.

I am joining this unfortunate club of 2011 Macbook Pro owners who have this problem. I bought my 17inch in April 2011, I spent 2200+ euros on this laptop which gave me everything I needed to have from this laptop.

I have been an Apple client for 14 years and also an Apple employee in the past! I have never seen a problem such as this one in my whole experience as a customer and as an employee.

Now I almost can't write just a simple email o few lines of text without having long seconds of delay!! I can't even talk about doing a bit more heavy stuff such as modifying a picture, or actually using the HOT CORNER to see my desktop without having my MacBook Pro suddenly die.

This is a really sad slow death to my Mac which I have been loving all these years. Spending over 500+ euros as the Apple Store told me is really painful because I never caused the problem but I have just been a normal Apple user.

If there are so many users, thousands of users, having this problem, Apple should enable a replacement program of the logic board or whatever component that is causing this as it happened in the past to my self as well with other Apple products.

Mistakes happen, the important thing is to resolve them. Apple has still the opportunity to fix everything the correct way just like they know how to do it. I still have hope that within a couple of months this issue will be resolved!

eezacque wrote:

I didn't make them sweat. I mentioned the Dutch notion of 'non-conformiteit' and they basically returned a middle finger.

OK. To resume then, as I understand it, your Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) took it upon himself to do the repair for free, hoping he would be able to sort it out with Apple by sending them the European Claim Form. Is that right ?

If so, the upshot is to try and find a "friendly" AASP willing ro risk it

I have the same problem, my Macbook Pro early 2011. It keeps on freezing when graphics card switch. Then it wont startup. After multiple tries I can sometimes get it to work. It will work ok but will do random freezes eg when loading Aperture and then won't be able to reboot.

The AASP does not risk anything, as they order the logic board at Apple, using the European Consumer Law Claim Form. So, Apple knows, and Apple approves the claim, before sending the logic board. Otherwise, the logic board will not be sent. The AASP discusses with or advises Apple, so it is immediately (during the repair and test process, not afterwards) clear whether your claim is honored our not.

Hi there. From Montevideo, Uruguay. I´m joining to the group. Some news about Apple? My Apple dealer don't pick up the phone... no more answers by whatsapp... no news at all...

I Have the same Problem. But even whorse: Apple even doesen't want to repair it!!! Not even when I pay! Because i built in a SSD!!! The guy from the Apple store told me I had to build in the original HD again before they will repair it. But for that I must have acces to my broken mac to change the boot disc!!!

The only option is to buy a new Mac!!!

What did I do wrong except buying a Mac at the wrong time?

This is just not fair!!!!

I am so dissapointed!!!!!!

Hello All!  I wish I was posting with better news, but I too have the dreaded GPU Issue with my 2011 Early MacBook Pro. Years of discussion about this and nothing from Apple prompted me to take matters in my own hands and I ended up reflowing the gpu myself. I am now typing this post on my reflowed 2011 MBP.  With better thermal paste, the GPU stays cooler than it did before the reflow and I don't think the logic board is expanding/contacting as much so as to not break the solder. It's three weeks after I did the re-flow and I have put the machine through extensive testing with no symptoms present. It's like having a faster, cooler, happier Mac. All for the price of a couple hours of time, a heat gun, and some thermal paste. Under $40 and a couple hours.

- Still, this is why I bought Macs in the first place, to NOT have to do this. Lenovo or Asus? Windows 10? Both are looking promising.

ALSO: It should also be noted that it is indeed the solder around the GPU that is breaking contact do to the normal expansion/contraction of the logic board during heating and cooling. It is confirmed that the new non lead based solder weakens and cracks with this expansion. The reflowing process re-melts the solder and the application of high end thermal paste on the heatsink keeps the GPU and logic board cooler so as to not crack the solder again. This could be such an easy re-call for Apple to make. I can't understand what has happened to this company. They'll listen eventually.

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My early 2011 17" Macbook Pro is now only able to boot into SafeBoot mode due to the GPU issues being reported here and around the web. luckily I can still get online without the discrete GPU. Appears as though the solder connections on the discrete GPU are cracking due to heat and being lead free. Must be a hardware fix to permanently repair this issue.

I just got a repair from Apple for free.  I have the same problem - MBP 15" early 2011, purchased May 2011, Graphics problem showed up 27 December, 2014.  I wrote a letter pushing the moral angle and was told it would be "unfair" for them to help me.  I called and got the same response until I used the magic words, "Irish Consmer Law", which allows for reasonable performance for 6 years.  When I said that, the person I was talking to suddenly remembered that she had heard of the problem before and even described it for me.  She gave me a list of authorised repair shops, and couldn't have been more helpful.  It is back now, after having the first replacement board be DOA, and I just hope it works, or at least breaks again within 90 days!

I have read before that repairs are only done when the MBP is in "original" state, so a custom built-in SSD has to be removed indeed. I also put the original HD back in, because I knew I would not be helped otherwise. I don't think you need to be able to change the boot disk in the system. Just replace the SSD with the HD and it will boot from the HD.

BTW, I would be able to log in and use the system after the screen froze doing this: hardware reboot (force boot by pushing the on/off button for 5+ seconds). Then, when you get the distorted screen, let it run for some time, until the fans start to go really fast. Sometimes the MBP would reboot by itself then, otherwise, I would do a forced reboot again (pushing the on/off button). Then usually it would boot normally, for as long as it lasted. GfxCardStatus may help you prevent the system use the discrete graphics card.

jrireland wrote:

 

I just got a repair from Apple for free.  I have the same problem - MBP 15" early 2011, purchased May 2011, Graphics problem showed up 27 December, 2014.  I wrote a letter pushing the moral angle and was told it would be "unfair" for them to help me.  I called and got the same response until I used the magic words, "Irish Consmer Law", which allows for reasonable performance for 6 years.  When I said that, the person I was talking to suddenly remembered that she had heard of the problem before and even described it for me.  She gave me a list of authorised repair shops, and couldn't have been more helpful.  It is back now, after having the first replacement board be DOA, and I just hope it works, or at least breaks again within 90 days!

Ok, this is a very important thing! Because to European regulations, Apple (or any manufacturer / seller) is bound to the law. And the law says, "if a product shows hidden defects that were there from the beginning, they have no other option than to repair the product free of charge." You should all know that there is no time limit on "hidden defects"!

So my question to you jr - or to anyone who can add valuable information in this respect - did you get a formal (in writing) confirmation of Apple admitting there is a fundamental problem with the MacBook Pro 15" (early 2011)? Or did they only tell you this on the phone?

The G-man wrote:

 

Ok, this is a very important thing! Because to European regulations, Apple (or any manufacturer / seller) is bound to the law. And the law says, "if a product shows hidden defects that were there from the beginning, they have no other option than to repair the product free of charge." You should all know that there is no time limit on "hidden defects"!

 

So my question to you jr - or to anyone who can add valuable information in this respect - did you get a formal (in writing) confirmation of Apple admitting there is a fundamental problem with the MacBook Pro 15" (early 2011)? Or did they only tell you this on the phone?

The problem here is that you will need to prove that the issue is a hidden defect that was there from the beginning. Apple and service providers are simply hiding behind the fact that you cannot expect a laptop to last longer than three years, which is conveniently the period covered by Applecare.  European law is pretty much powerless, because there is no generally agreed expected lifetime of various products. It is absolutely shocking to find how stores in The Netherlands state that the expected lifetime of computers is three years, while there is no agreement whatsoever on this...