Early 2011 Macbook Pro 15' - Logic Board Failure

Sometimes you just have to distance yourself from a long time old friend because they just went too far! I reached that point. I had a 2008 MBP that had a logic board failure when I upgraded to Yosemite in 2013. That is when I found out my model had a recall also. I wasn't notified of any recall during the recall period. They said I was sol because my recall expired in 2012. Funny thing was, my computer ran fine with no problems until Yosemite killed it. Mac Forums threatened to ban be from forums because I was warning people to not install Yosemite. It fit the description of a poison pill if you notice 100,000 people inquiring about fried logic boards and many noticing it accompanied Yosemite! Now, I did buy a 13" MBP just because I needed to recover 3000 songs and some files I had but that is just so I can prepare to get out of Mac OS. I don't see any reason to buy Mac any longer! I'm even tired of my iphone acting up since the last OS Update. They are more concerned about touting record profits than quality control. Why is it that the 2012 models carry the same issues as my 2008 model does? If you look under IMAC, they also have the same failed logic boards. How ARRAGANT can they be to tap into the "More money than brains club" to offer an $18,000 watch thet will force a surge in Lasix eye surgery just to read it! Also just to inquire out there, I have an iphone 5. Has anyone else noticed performance problems since the last OS Update? My battery is going dead twice as quick and I notice at work when I'm around 8 or 10 others at lunch, I can't connect to anything, sometimes not even receiving mail.

Re your iPhone 5 battery problem..... that's another recognised problem that you may be covered for.

See here:

https://www.apple.com/support/iphone5-battery/

Thanks for the heads up. I checked the link and "No Surprize" but they say my serial # is not within the effected group. I'm getting ready to trade it in for junk price and get a Samsung 6s edge. Lets all try and lower Apples next Quarter Profits and teach them to respect the customers who made them rich!

Yes, I've noticed my iPhone 5 seems to be draining the battery faster and this is after the recall and the fix. Other minor issues like getting stuck in really huge screens, Siri not working all the time or not responsive like she used to be. I'm not an intense iPhone user like some so I don't have much to report. My last (4th) logic board replacement may have left me with a stripped screw. I tried to take the back off to try one of the battery drain fixes and couldn't get it. So it will go in to the Genius Bar soon and they can replace the board again, get the screw working, and then address the battery drain issue if only verbally. It took a very long time for Apple reps (Geniuses) to know enough to talk about the logic boards. They were in denial for a long time. I often wonder if corporate told them not to talk about it.

Early 2011 MBP 15" custom-configured.

Nightmare started about 10 days ago. Had no idea what was really happening until I found this disturbing Apple discussion thread. Out of AppleCare warranty but still in phone support window. Tried everything on the phone but nothing worked. Went into Genius Bar and HW test showed video issue, prompting a video card test--which it passed. Nevertheless, the "Genius" ordered a new logic board b/c of a recently begun recall program (4 years too late from what I read, IMHO). I kept my MBP until the part came back in stock, but by the weekend the computer was inoperable. By then the part was already in house so I dropped it off on a Sunday PM. By Monday late AM a staffer called to say that the "Genius" ordered the wrong part (slower processor speed than what I have) and asked if it would be OK to install that instead (so much for using the serial number to determine appropriate part). Of course I wouldn't agree to it and was adamant about them overnighting the correct part from wherever they could find it, which they did. 33 hours after I got it back the video card failed. Again.

Meanwhile, in the conversation about how they found the part and were getting it the next day, I expressed a good amount of concern about these parts what they were installing. On another thread, an entry as late as 5/12, someone went through this "experience" four times and was hopeful for the last one. The "Genius" assistant told me that since the recall program was begun Apple worked with AMD to develop a more reliable fix for the issue and that the logic boards they were now using would be the new one and everything would be alright. WRONG!

I find it difficult to switch back to a PC after almost 4 years, and the ease with which I can be productive (though, face it, it's still a Windows world) and how much $$ I've invested in digital music playable through AirPlay/iTunes. There is a limit, however, to my patience and understanding, as I'm sure there is with most Apple fans. I'd hate to think there is a worm in that bitten apple.

I just had my logic board (Board, Logic, 2.5 GHz) replaced by free. In the invoice it was stated the cost of $526.50, but in the Warranty Status it was: "Quality Program(E1)". So, they replace it for free. My computer is a Macbook Pro 2011. It was not turning on and the thunderbolt was not working.

I had my failed logic board replaced under the repair program. Two weeks later, the same problem reoccured. My guess is that the board was replaced with a refurbished faulty board and they were hoping it would last until the repair program ends in Feb 2016. I'm going back to the Apple Store today to try my luck at getting it fixed properly. I'm not happy and less than hopeful that they will fix it this time.

Some users report a recurrence of logic/graphics board issues even after replacing the board.

The only remedy that's consistently works is to GBA reball. This involves taking off the original solder, and resoldering the board onto your machine.

http://www.us-tech.com/RelId/856201/pagenum/2/ISvars/default/A_User

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer this type of fix, so perhaps it's best to rely on the repair program.

My 2011 Macbook logic board failed twice. The first time I paid $310 plus tax to repair. Just today it happened again and Apple said they will fix it for free this time AND they refunded me the $310 from the previous repair (which was one year ago).

If you have paid to fix this problem in the past, Apple will now refund you your money! You will need to call Apple Care and provide them with your repair # or case number. They can not refund you in your local store.

I am sure this has been covered on this board already, but I wanted to post it again incase anyone missed it.

http://9to5mac.com/2015/02/19/macbook-pro-repair/

Hello, i'm from Portugal and it's a shame what apple are doing to me...

I have a Macbook Pro 15 inch early 2011 (SN:C0******F8X) , my logic board is dead since January 2014.

When i try to get my problem solved, and I try to explain everything, in apple forums, there was many people with the same macbook with the same problems that i have.

Apple services told me that i have to replace the logic board and I have to pay 980€ !!!!

Of course I rejected... I don't have that money to spend, after I spend 2000€ in my computer...

I had 2 choices, Keep the computer in a drawer or try to fix it in other computer store... I try to repair but it was not successful...

In February of 2015, finally apple recognizes logicboards problems in this models and open a Quality Program to replace it.

Now my computer was analized and Apple does not accept to change my logicboard, because i try to fix it last year... *** =??????

What can i do now?? I have to Pay a new Logicboard when i bought a computer with a falty one??

I think my only option is to go to court...

Shame on apple (and i love their products)

Someone can help me?

Thanks

<Edited by Host>

Mistaken post. See below.

Hi, the only thing left for you to do is to call Apple in Cupertino, California, USA. You will need to speak with Customer Relations and tell them your story. Here is the phone number +1-408-996-1010.

Best of luck to you, Nu.

thank you for your help

Hello,

My late-2011 15-inch MacBook Pro has also been diagnosed with a logic board failure and is unusable. The local Apple Store has quoted me a 650 CAD + tax repair price. Considering I purchased it refurbished online from the Apple Store in December 2012 (sans Apple Care), getting about 2.5 years of use, it would seem to have been quite a foolish purchase. Unfortunately for me apparently the diagnostic tests at the Apple Store concluded that it wasn't my AMD GPU, but rather the logic board itself which caused the failure. I should add that I haven't noticed any graphics issues, only frequent restarts / failures-to-boot-up and applications constantly quitting "unexpectedly" (getting less unexpected all the time).

Have others had the experience of a logic board failure not covered by the February 2015 Repair Program? It sounds odd - as a long-time Apple customer (had my first iPod in 2002) I really wouldn't expect such a total failure of their premium product, and the existence of a Quality program that sounds potentially common-cause (the AMD and lead-free solder heat problems?) makes this sound suspicious. I could add that the Genius reported "no major cosmetic issues" and no one has suggested this may be user-caused.

@Duspin: It is worth trying to call Customer relations in Cupertino? My only interactions so far have been with very firm Geniuses and Apple Support over the phone.

@carl wolf: What's this about a fixed-rate repair plan? Does this work in America Junior also? They didn't mention it at the Apple Store, should I ask them about it, or call Apple Support?

Thank you very much!

Oh, also has this thread been branched over to a new discussion? The link provided on the front page didn't work for me. (Using Safari :-p)