AMD Radeon 6970M Video Card Replacement Program

Where are you all based? In the UK there's a 6 year claim period (from date of purchase or delivery) on defective hardware:

Apple Products and Consumer Laws in the United Kingdom

This supersedes the 4 year claim period from Apple, but only applies in the UK. For other countries you'd have to check your consumer laws.

I did purchase my iMac during those dates but it just died today...why is it only 4 years after 2011? It's a default, it should be unlimited. Also, I have never been notified of a default that I should go replace it for free. How were your customers suppose to know about this?

Nice try, that program is long since over and your computer (mine is a 2011 too) is now 7 years old. Time to either replace it or pay for the repair. This is not a forum for arguing or debate, it's a technical forum. If you want to take it up with Apple take it to your Apple Store and speak to a manager.

Well it's 6yrs old and yes that is what I will do. I'm sorry but this is the first I have ever heard of this recall lol? I have never received any emails telling me there was an issue and the issue only happened now...How is that arguing? A technical/manufacture default is a default...regardless of when it occurs for the indicidual machine...there shouldn't be a time limit for the recall...

Mine died too just a couple of days ago. I agree that we should have been notified before the program ended. They are faulty and we have the proof. 😟 I wonder how many more users are experiencing this problem this year.

The same as AndyAppleForum, if you are in the UK go through the Consumer Law route. I had my graphic card replaced within the 4 year time period Apple gave but then the replacement card failed again after 16 months and this fell outside their 4 year grace period so had it replaced free of charge again through Consumer Law. God help me if it fails again.

Hi Beena450 - Ive just been to the apple store and they said that because my card was already replaced while under apple care, it's now not eligible for replacement again under UK consumer law, and they wont replace it - your last post seems to suggest this isnt the case?

AndyAppleForum,

That is most def not the case. I first spoke to Apple Support on the phone and they told me about the consumer law. They told me to qualify that I would need to take my mac to another registered apple support store to see if they thought it would fall under the law and if it did then I would then have to take it to an actual Apple Store to have the card replaced. Seeing as it's a 27' mac I was not going to drag it to two stores.

The guy on the phone said he understood and would see if the Apple Store in Stratford would be willing to do both (as it's a conflict of interest, esp if they say no). Took it in, they hmm'd and ahh'd until I pointed out that the known faulty video card that was replaced actually lasted three years. The one they replaced it with lasted around 13-16 months so can they explain that to me and why would I have to pay if the shelf life of a non-faulty card was half that of a known faulty one.

That's when they agreed to either replace the card for free or knock the cost of the card and replacement of off a new computer. I stuck with the repair as I couldn't afford a new one right now.

Hope that helps.

Hey brianshih,

Thanks for the question. If I understand correctly, you want to know about a replacement program. I would recommend that you read this article, it may be able to help the issue.

iMac (27-inch): AMD Radeon 6970M Video Card Replacement Program - Apple Support

sold between May 2011 and October 2012.

If the iMac (27-inch) meets these requirements, Apple will replace the video card free of charge for four years after the first retail sale of the computer.

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Have a good one

Hi brianshih,

Depending on date you purchased the computer, Apple will replace the video card free of charge for four years after the first retail sale of the computer.

Take care

I'm having the same exact issue. It just happened this afternoon. How did we not get notified about this sooner so that we were able to get it fixed while the replacement program was still in effect!