Design fault? 27" 2013 iMac stand just gave up!

You are really out of luck: They discontinued the Late 2013 model on June 18th, 2014 - you must have received the very last one...

And I agree with you: I made a Carbon Copy of the Hard Drive, erased it, brought it to Apple and reinstalled everything. But in times of password managers on my Mac (and pictures that US Citizens consider inappropriate) I would not give it to the store either.

Then I have a double bad luck, because I have 27" iMac November 2013 release as well. Waiting for the snap. 😠

I have a lab of 21 of the new 27" iMacs out of these I have had 7 of them show this defect. My onsite Apple repair shop was able to turn them around in about day once they had the parts. It seems like when it happens to that many maybe there should be some sort of recall in that particular part.

My 2013 iMac had the screen tilt down overnight. (March 25, 2016) Just contacted Mac Media in Peoria, Az (an authorized Apple repair facility) and they said there is a repair something or other from Apple and they can repair it for free. They verified this while on the phone using the serial number. All warranties are expired on this iMac. Just thought anyone looking here would like to know. Repair will take about 5 days as they have to order the part from Apple after I deliver the computer to them.

My late 2013 27-inch has grown progressively looser and looser in that hinge to the point that if my desk is shaken the screen will tilt forward. The design is probably sound, the workmanship might be questionable, but the materials are definitely inadequate. I have heard and read numerous accounts similar to OP's, so definitely not the first report of this issue, as someone else asserted. Perhaps not on these forums (doubt it, though). In my recollection, every iMac stand (and its hinge) has come under criticism.

The hinge failer is not a one off.

Every company we have ruled out 27" iMacs to more the 50% of them have broken and have had the hinge fully replaced.

I would hope for Apples sake that even after a expired warranty these would be repaired for free.

They have known about this for a while and should have recalled all stock prior to getting to stores.

My question to Apple is this part has been breaking since 2013 iMacs until today, why have they not replaced it.

In my opinion, we all should get new Macs, instead of repair. Just because of the scare and anxiety, like many people had. 😁

Same thing - just wanted to add to this, but 539 responses and 118,762 views would tend to indicate a manufacturing fault, design fault or both. ACCC in Australia has dictated that machines need to be operational for their intended useful life (very subjective I guess) but I will be ringing Apple tomorrow morning to book it in. Really appreciate the comments here about asking to get parts in and shorten wait times.

Machine was not being used at the time, and just went bang, then screen dropped / tilted forward suddenly. I do like the tennis ball solution as an interim but will update my solution after speaking with Apple. Very poor design and to have a stand that doesn't last as long as the computer is very poor form!

Apple have already acknowledged this fault.

I bought my 27'' iMac in February 2014 and last week the screen flopped. Looking on line for a solutions - is there screw I could tighten or what? - discovered lots of people with the same problem and an excellent video showing strong metal springs supported only by 2 plastic washers almost certainly destined to fail within a short time. Definitely a stupid design fault which Apple so far - refuse to admit or to rectify free of charge.

My local Apple store in Glasgow is currently closed for renovation, but the Apple repair centre nearby want £99 to 'investigate, repair if possible and to completely overhaul my machine and software'. To repair the fault means taking the back off the machine - risky, they say! Nothing they can find from Apple admitting to this problem.

My machine doesn't need overhauled, it's fine. I will wait until Buchanan Street re-opens and try again to get some sense from Apple.

I covered a brick with matching curtain fabric to use as a doorstop. It fits perfectly on the the mac stand and holds the screen in any position I want. I will leave it there until I can get the hinge fixed either free of charge or at a sensible cost - certainly not £99 to have the same fault happen again in a few months!

I loved Apple machines, but recent so-called upgrades have been down-grades as far as I am concerned - useful editing functions removed and unnecessary fancy stuff and gimmicks marketed as 'improvements'. Still no 'delete all' emails on my iPhone..... Please get your act together or find someone on the same wavelength as Steve Jobs. These machines are tools not toys.

As I understand it, no, there is no adjustment that will help this condition. It is the failure of a plastic washer-like piece in the hinge assembly. If you look back through the more recent posts on this discussion you will see that Apple is repairing this condition at no-charge. However, you do have tout up with the hassle of taking your machine into an Apple store or to an authorized apple repair facility. The repair requires the disassembly of the machine to get at the hinge, not something the average user wants to tackle. If you refer the local Apple team or the folks at the repair this conversation thread I think you will find all charges waived.

Many thanks! I will take my iMac to Braehead - you can park there, Buchanan Street is pedestrianised.

This is at it should be - but is not the info I was given uyesterday.

I am grateful for your help.

I brought my mac 2.5 years ago and I love it but the screen tilt has been broken for about a year 😟 I had no idea so many people had the same issue and you would think that Mac as part of their customer care programme would at least have a recall to fix it since it seems to be a ongoing fault.

I don't change the angle so I have no idea why it broke but I shall carry on using a foam ball to keep it upright! A low tech solution but I don't want them to pull it apart and risk damaging it since it's not in warranty.

Maybe Apple should send out a foam ball to everyone 🙂

Tilt Mechanism on one of our late 2013 screens gave up overnight, having sat on the same desk since new. Apple store trinity, Leeds, UK, charged us £43+VAT to replace the mechanism, £19 for the part, £24 for labour in Feb 2016 (I referred them to this thread and suggested it was a design fault and should be repaired free of charge, they were not interested!!! ) 😠

@ Steved1979

Squeeze 2 thin plastic cards, thickness of a credit card to the bottom and the top, will do the trick. You will be able to adjust the angle of the screen. The most valuable thing that you don't' have to take apart your computer.

Works even better than the original spring that broke.