2011 Macbook Pro Logic Board Failure

Apple in Winnipeg, MB Canada said they would not even touch it. A local authorized Apple dealer told me he couldn't even get the part. I'm not prepared to spend at least $3000 to get a newer or new one. Yet.

I do agree though that we should complain to Apple in their Feedback page. I just did, since Apple don't possess a Complaints page. This is the "inspirational" reply I got:

"We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the MacBook Pro Team. If we need to follow up with you on your ideas for improving the MacBook Pro, we will contact you directly.

We appreciate your assistance in making the MacBook Pro a great computer."

I've got the same issue here Arepoli. My late-2011 15-Inch Macbook Pro had the same logic board failure in March 2015.

Apple kindly repaired it for free then. It's just happened again, which shows they replaced it with a logic board having the same inferior quality. It's my work laptop too (IT consultant), so I'm really stuck at the moment. My Macbook still looks brand new.

I just went to the Vancouver, BC Apple Store, and they said it'll cost me $750 CAD to repair, using the same type of logic board as before. Since the last replacement logic board died in just over 2 years, I would be reasonable in expecting it to give me 2 more years at most if I chose the repair. Unacceptable, since my Macbook is still spec'd equivalent to the current models they sell now.

Plus my laptop will soon be vintage, which means that Apple won't repair it or have parts after the end of this month.

Am I angry? Yes! Considering I'm typing here on a 9 year-old Sony Vaio, which, along with every other non-Apple computer in my house, has never had a hardware problem. I used to think Apple products were the best, but not anymore. What makes me angry is the fact that even if we pay for the repair, we're still doomed to have at most (in my case) 2 years of a working computer since they will be using the same duff logic board as replacement.

Considering this is a known manufacturing fault, Apple should really retain replacement (or suitable alternative) logic boards for this model for many more years, or offer to buy back the models with this fault at a reasonable price.

I'm looking at my options now. It might include going to my local media to see if that helps with some resolve, since Apple's not listening.

I'm a bit scared of buying a new Macbook model, since their logic boards are even more integrated. Am I right in saying that their logic boards have everything attached (i.e. soldered) to them, including the hard drive? In that case, if it's not possible to separate them, if the logic board goes then you have to bin everything.

I don't know why the class-action lawsuit let Apple offer support only until the end of 2016. It should have been for longer. There's no way my Macbook is vintage. It still matches the Macbooks sold today and more than meets my needs crunching large databases. At the Apple Genius bar I was sat next to a guy who had a working 2008 iPhone. - Why aren't we getting the same?

Perhaps we need to start up the petition again?

Exactly the same thing just happened with me. Had mine replaced in 2015. Initially they werent going to replace it because it was a late 2011 model. It still had the same faulty graphics card as the models that qualified. I gave them a piece of my mind and they eventually caved in and replaced it. So now what the **** do I do with this. A top of the line model with a high res matte screen that still performed exceptionally well. Throw it out and buy another? I'm fuming about this. I rely on it as I'm a photographer with currently no money.

We have every right and reason to vent here about Apple's faulty logic boards. And about their devious replacement scheme. And to say that a computer that still performs high end tasksas well as current day models is "vintage" or obsolete so now worthless is absurd. Do you work for Apple? Sounds like it to me. How do you think they eventually caved in to public pressure and decided to replace their faulty logic boards...? Through pu lic forums like these. Stop defending the indefensible.

Same problem with a late 2011. Ran without any issues under perfect conditions (on a notebook stand with integrated fan) until May. After the failure appeard my Macbook Pro got tested at an Apple Store and failed the VST test. But since the programm has expired they want me to pay 950 Swiss Francs (about $1000) for the replacement. I can't believe it, paid $3.5K in Dec. 2011 (with extended protection plan, which i never used). 5 Years later the device is e-waste. After all I've read Apple should have started a recall programm on those devices.

I dont expect any feedback from the users here. I'm just trying to get some attention on this issue, since Apple is not showing any goodwill at all on this matter.

Same issue on my end too. Unfortunately I was never aware of the recall or any of the circumstances surrounding the logic board issue with my model. Most recently I had Sierra running on it, and almost immediately after completing an update for Sierra OSX my computer began to get stuck in the restart loop. I managed to get it on and running one day, long enough to back it up--before it permanently gave out on me for good. I too am now stuck with a $3000 paperweight and am having difficulties reconciling my feelings for Apple products, relative to this crummy customer service situation for those of us who spent a pretty penny a few years ago for a premium piece of tech, only to be greatly disappointed by a company we trusted. It's reassuring to see I'm not the only one though--but geeze Apple! (note to Bob: I am completely aware that Apple is not reading this)

Hi Everyone - I own a repair shop, not Apple authorized, and have had a few of these problem models come in. One came in earlier today with the classic defective board issue. When I get one I search online to see if there are any new options to help my customer. Sadly, there are no good options to fix these. I don't like saying "no, and I won't even try" to a customer. It sickens me, actually. It's my only viable answer, however. I can't find a source for replacement boards, at any price, that are reasonably guaranteed to be defect-free. If it's a working pull from an otherwise dead laptop, it's a ticking time bomb. I can't justify the expense to a customer knowing it is likely to fail sooner then later. It's a lose-lose scenario, even if a customer has deep pockets and understands the risks I don't want to be thought of as "that guy who charged me $520 to repair my Mac and it lasted 2 months." I can't stand-by my work and buy another board for $400-something and replace it for free the second time. So instead I offer to backup their data and sell their lcd assembly on ebay so they have a few hundred to put towards something new.

As far as cooking them goes, I've gotten 2 out of 10 to work that way but heard from both owners within 3 months they failed again. So I can't offer anyone hope, just real world experience of what to expect when facing this issue.

That is good to know thank you. I am wondering if we may have a case here as these computers still will sell for almost $1000 used if other components have been upgraded. Do you have a suggestion on a different model or year of Mac that you would suggest? Or alternatively a different brand of computer that is reliable that we would not run into these issues on? TIA!

I'm having the same issue. They have now categorized the 2011 MacBook Pro as Vintage and no longer have the parts to fix them. Except in California, where it is the law. So they have to abide by it and fix the faulty logic boards.

All states need to have this law in place. If you sell something at a premium price and that product is faulty, the problem should be repaired for the life of that product. In our case it is a very expensive MacBook Pro. They have this law in Great Britain as well. Apple needs to extend this fix for the life of the 2011 MacBook Pro. It's the right thing to do.

I had my logic board replaced two years ago, and now I'm having the same problem. Based on the responses in this thread, it seems like a lot of people have run into this identical problem with an identical timeframe. It suspicious to me that so many people's already-replaced logic boards failed only months after the recall ended, and I'm beyond frustrated that Apple has been so unhelpful in getting this fixed. I've taken my laptop to the Genius Bar and spent over an hour on the phone today with AppleCare getting bounced around from unhelpful representative to unhelpful representative, who each concluded that there's nothing they can offer me.

If someone has a solution for this, I'd love to hear it. This really makes me feel like Apple does not give a **** about its customers.

Why such a smug, cavalier tone? Here's the reality: just because Apple declares something "vintage" doesn't mean that they're absolved of their hardware failing to perform as expected. Two years for a logic board is not acceptable. It should not be breaking after two years, yet it did. This is not about the age of the unit, but rather the age of the component. It's not what I "think I deserve," it's what I paid for.

Speaking of "what I paid for," next time you recommend someone "get over it and move on," consider that not everyone is as fortunate as you. I need my laptop for work, but purchasing an equivalent today would cost me three full paychecks, despite working 50 hour weeks. I was educated at a top-20 school, graduated with two degrees, and have been working consistently since I was 15, yet rents are skyrocketing and wages are stagnant. I have student debt. I did everything right, yet I can't afford to "get over it and move on." Just because you were able to sell your crusty dakimakura collection to some Craigslist goblin and saved some money after upgrading your Fleshlight doesn't mean that everyone else has enough money to afford another laptop, so shove your conceited nonsense up your ***.

Apple is the richest tech company on Earth. Why rush to their defense over your fellow man?

mark me down as another fool except I made the mistake of buying another one from ebay as a "parts" machine thinking it just needed a new HDD and it was only when I got serious trying to find my problem that I ran across this. I bought my first one used so I'm only out about $1800 now for a laptop I used for 3 years, well, two now for $2050 and they are basically scrap. I have been a mac nut for 35 years, I have an old Xserve and two other MacBooks older than this and they still work fine-well, actually the one I'm typing this on sometimes grays out the screen and I have to reboot but it's been doing that for years. I am a disabled veteran living on my pension so buying a new laptop of ANY variety is beyond my budget but after my recent experiences even if I could afford a new Mac I'm not so sure I would buy one.

I stated what I did because I see you consuming your energy in a battle which will take you nowhere. Meanwhile, the systems over which you are anguishing have gotten so old, they are on Apple's obsolete list.

I own one of those failed Macbook Pro 2011 models. I got no benefit whatsoever from that recall program. I even had the suspect Mac tested during the last few months of the program. It passed. A few months later, it was quite unusable.

Why such a smug, cavalier tone?

I work hard to be sure my writings are as factual as possible. They do not contain character assassination. I am a geek who is usually so straightforward people sometimes call me "abrupt". I do not sugar-coat what I write. The simple declarative sentences I wrote above do not reflect a smug cavalier tone -- that is something you are reading into it yourself.

What ended up being the resolution to your situation? Did Apple get you taken care of? The 2nd logic board (Apple replaced it last year) in my early 2011 MBP 15" 2.3Ghz just went kaput and the fact that you're in California caught my eye. I'm not, but I have friends out there and my MacBook could find its way out there without a lot of difficulty...