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Macbook Air SSD failure?

I've had my MBA for just under a year, and the SSD failed today. I saw the dreaded white screen. I took it into an Apple store, and they are having to replace the SSD. Unfortunately, they didn't have the one I need in stock. So, it will be a few days. I'll be lost without my MBA. LOL


Has anyone else had issues with SSD failure on MBA? I hope this is not a common issue. Luckily, it is still under warrants. The part was about $800.

MacBook Air

Posted on Aug 1, 2013 8:19 PM

Reply
431 replies

Oct 16, 2013 2:55 PM in response to ksatterwhite

My MBA (bought early 2013) just had its second SSD die. The word from the local Apple store is that it will take ten days to get the replacement part, which is backordered. It is backordered because there has been an epidemic of failed SSD's. And they will replace it with the same Toshiba drive, because if they try swapping in a different model, the MBA performs poorly.

Oct 16, 2013 7:32 PM in response to ksatterwhite

The cheapest solution for anyone with the problem until Apple acknolege this issue to get usb flash drive with 64GB ($30) it needs to support USB 2.0 otherwise MBA won't boot from it. If it supports USB 3.0 it will be useful after you actually boot to the OS. But for booting you need USB 2.0 support not sure why but I tried to have pure USB 3.0 and it doesn't boot from it.



Hope this helps people who need fast and cheap fix for studies or work.


I hope Apple will start admiting their problem and fixing their bad hardware/software whatever caused this issue.


PS: the first boot is slower than booting from SSD but the regular usegage afterwards is not much visible. Only when launching big video files but the OS itself is very smooth on USB 2.0 flash drives.


Cheers,

Oct 16, 2013 8:24 PM in response to Chornox

Maybe the reason they haven't admitted the problem is because they don't know the cause of it? Maybe they're just as clueless as we are because I have yet to see a pattern either. I am subscribed to this thread and I see new people posting everyday. There are too many incidents specific to Toshiba SSDs in 2012 Macbook Air, yet the failures are occuring steadily over a consistent time frame. It would have been much better if all our failures occured at the same time if you think about it because it's easier to notice a trend.


And there are probably more failures than there appears to be because when it happened to me, I thought I was out of luck and just left it alone for over a week because I couldn't afford to repair. I can imagine others did the same and did not bother contacting Apple due to not having a warranty.


Now if they do decide to start doing free SSD repairs, I wonder how they would handle the people who had to pay out of pocket to fix the problem themselves. I was one of the lucky ones without warranty who was granted an exception and I did not have to pay so I feel so bad for those who keep getting denied by Apple representatives because they don't believe it is a widespread issue. I was just as frustrated and felt hopeless as them when I was in their position weeks ago.

Oct 16, 2013 8:37 PM in response to ksatterwhite

My SSD harddisk failed yesterday. Its been 14 months since I bought this and I have no extended warranty. I called up the apple support and spoke to a senior advisor but she couldn't help me out. She said she can only help till upto 45 days after the warranty period. The original part costs $300 and if I want to get the apple store replace it, then its going to cost a total of $500. OWC sells the 120gb one for $189 along with the kit and the case. I am totally lost now. I have my finals next week and I think its either the OWC or trying the 64 gb flash drive. If Apple is reading this or issuing recall, they should do something about it quickly. This is now a big number of people with the same issue.

Oct 16, 2013 9:20 PM in response to gunner2004

Its also not fair for apple to hide behind the 1 year warranty for such a major issue. I found this on the Maryland Attorney general's website.


"Implied Warranty Rights

Implied warranties require that goods be in operating condition and fit for sale, and that they continue to work for a reasonable period of time. Merchants must honor the implied warranty whenever they sell a new or used product.

A disclaimer that a product is sold "as is" doesn't apply to Maryland's implied warranty, except in the case of used cars that have been driven more than 60,000 miles and are more than 6 years old. Dealers selling such a car "as is" must give you a written disclosure stating that the implied warranty does not cover that automobile.

For other purchases, a merchant cannot exclude or limit the implied warranty. If you buy an item, take it home and discover it doesn't work, you can take it back. Or, if you buy an item that breaks sooner than would normally be expected, you have the right to have it repaired or replaced, or to have your money refunded. Any time you purchase an item that doesn't work or stops working shortly after you purchase it, you should contact the merchant who sold it to you. Your purchase is covered by an implied warranty, which means it is implied that the item will work as it is supposed to. If it doesn't, the seller must make good on that promise by repairing or replacing the item or returning your money. This right has nothing to do with the store's return policy. "


ref - http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/tip72.htm

Macbook Air SSD failure?

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