2011 Macbook Pro Logic Board Failure

I have the same computer and the same problem you described. Fortunately I was able to back up my data before it decided to quit booting up for good. I took exceptional care of my Macbook Pro ... Apple diagnosed it as the "video card". They no longer sell parts for this model, and told me it's time to buy another Macbook Pro (at double the price). Seems so very wasteful to pitch the entire unit when only one part needs replacing 😟 ...

This is the third post that I try to post publicly, about the responsibility that Apple has towards their products when they are faulty, hopefully it does not get deleted.

I just took my MacBook Pro 2011 to an authorized service provider to see if by any chance he had a "spare part" that could fix the problem. He did not and not only that, he confirmed that it was a very common issue with this model as the video card that came with this computer is faulty. So, again, it is not a problem that customers need to pay for. I do not think we should be subjected to buy another computer as a consequence of a faulty part courtesy of Apple. The lawsuit ended in 2017 as far as I know, but it doesn't matter, Apple should be responsible of every and any computer of this model that they sold, as they do know and have recognized this issue.

MBP2011ByAppleStayAway--

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately, everything in it is either incorrect, or based on a incorrect assumptions.

It would be helpful if we can find out what was presented in the class lawsuit. Did the experts have the chance to present their findings and what was determined ? I guess Apple admitted that it was their fault since they started the repair program. Can we access the file for that lawsuit and see what was determined for us the consumers ?

To the best of my knowledge, this court filing never resulted in any judgement against Apple. As such, it is completely beside the point.

Without a full trial resulting in a judgement, including judgments about whether information was even admissible, the incomplete information obtained during "discovery" phase is just a bunch of "he said, she said" and has not been judged accurate.

I've noticed that you are trying to stop the debate about this issue and try to protect Apple in this messy situation.

I am doing no such thing. I am adding information that one poster may not have considered.

Would you be able to clarity for the rest of us in this forum : Are you paid by Apple or any of its affiliates or do you have any other benefits from writing your posts in this forum ?

The only real compensation I ever get from participating on Apple forums is the satisfaction of helping users triumph over inanimate objects. I have contributed here since 2001.

For absolutely complete disclosure, from time to time Apple Support Community Hosts have sent senior contributors Apple branded promotional items, such as an Apple hat and an Apple coffee cup. I think that averages out to a few dollars a year in promotional items, not of my choosing. It would be very difficult to suggest that is a bona-fide conflict of interest, or that I am in any way responsible to Apple for what I post.

I see that you are trying to protect the Apple reputation, but I think in this case we, the consumers need protection, we are the victims, not the greedy corporation that Apple became.

Not at all. I am trying to inject some reality into the delusional argument that Apple owes you something because your computer broke, based on some far-fetched Magical Thinking that it must be true because others' broke as well.

Apple extended the warranty for certain types of failures to four years, whether you had paid for Applecare or not. That exceeds their legal responsibility by a very large amount. And yet some readers here continue to bash them.

I believe in my heart that is nonsense, and that I how I call it.

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My computer situation:

I has mine examined in the last few months of the program, when it was starting to behave badly, and it passed, so no free repair. A few months later it would not put anything on the screen.

I considered myself a bit unlucky in that I had to replace it on short notice. Me and my family got a lot of hard use out of that computer. Oh well, it died after all that use.

Then I looked around and found some work-arounds. A few months later, and mine is working again, except it cannot use an external display.

Hello, I have a similar problem with Apple. Here is a letter I sent their CEO with no results, only excuses.

_________________

Complaint Case # xxxxxxxxx861 – Created Jan 16, 2018 after speaking with Mr. xxx and escalated to Ms. xxxx with no resolution.

Dear Mr. Cook,

First, let me say our family are loyal and happy Apple customers who currently own two MacBook Pros, one iPad, one iMac 27”, and three iPhones.

The reason I am writing you this letter is to complain about my MacBook Pro, which we purchased Sept. 2012. Last week, the laptop would not power-up, so I visited your Apple store in Carlsbad California on Jan 15, 2018. After waiting 6 hours to meet with a technician, they took my laptop in the back room and ran a few tests. Later, I was told the problem was major which required a new logic board and a new battery. The total Apple repair cost would be $965.50.

My complaint is that a logic board typically does not go bad so quickly, unless it has a manufacturing problem. We’ve had laptops and desktops in the past at home and work, and never had a logic board go bad after only 5 years of ownership. When we purchased the upgraded laptop, we spent $2358, which is a considerable cost for such a short life cycle.

We would appreciate any assistance you can give us to repair the MacBook Pro or obtain a store credit to purchase a new device.

Thank you so much for your help, Regards

_________ END __________________

I took my 2011 MBP to an authorized Apple repair company at the request of Apple support. It failed the VST but this happened outside of Apple's repair timeline, so Apple is refusing to resolve my issue. Just because Apple sets an arbitrary timeline on how they will fix the faulty parts doesn't make it right. To me, a faulty part is a faulty part. I completely agree with the fact that old computers fail over time, but my computer would be just fine if it wasn't for this faulty part (as confirmed by the technician). If Apple really went out of it's way to resolve this issue as you alluded to in your post, then why couldn't they send an email to all the registered users of the effected models? After all, they have all of our email addresses along with a detailed record of all of our product purchases.

Additionally, Apple states the following on it's own repair program page: "Apple is contacting customers who paid for a repair either through Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to arrange reimbursement." Frustrating as to why they would contact customers who already had repairs and not inform those of us who had the same faulty part that was waiting to fail. Seems like a clever tactic to further delay claims while the clock is ticking on their "vintage" deadline.

I brought my MacBook Pro to a non Apple repair shop who fixed my laptop by cleaning the internals including the fan which was plugged up. He charged me zero $ for cleaning. My local Apple store told me I needed a new motherboard and battery $962. Not good! I almost junked my Apple MacBook Pro which was fixable!

There is legislation ("Right to repair") that tech companies have been fighting both on a legal (lobbyist) and practical front (no spare part nor legal access to schematics), trying to prevent small shops from doing their work.

In the EU consumers have been well protected for a long time and it looks like the battle is brewing in the US.

In practice, the iPhone screen replacement business has been shrunk considerably in the last few years since Apple decided to charge normal prices for it and now it makes sense to get an official repair. In the end, it has been more efficient that legislation or blocking access to parts. Although the latest story about the iOS update disabling non official screens is yet another disappointment.

[Link Edited by Host]

I have zero expectations of Apple doing anything about this, however it's important to read about how common it was. As you're going through it, it's hard to figure out what is happening. My rig also had the Superdrive stop working because of some kind of firmware incompatibility (tons of users experienced the same.)

The sad part is, when the logic board is working, this is a great machine.

I think this, and the last answer are very shortsighted:

It's not Apple's fault that Matthew can't afford the 'best' computer, but it's Apple's fault that his computer broke down and that now he has to buy a new computer.

But to comment on your previous answer about buying tools made for the job, I take an issue here:

Many people using their computers for professional purposes have investment in software, pipelines, knowledge, etc so many companies and people are tied by the software.

Doing unreliable hardware does nothing but take the users hostages since they need to find compatible hardware again.

If Apple was to let people install the OS on regular PC hardware, then mac sales would vaporize instantly in the pro world. Most of us need the OS and we don't care about the hardware, and, through this, we are forced to buy hardware which we know is either unreliable, unsupported on not designed to have a long lifespan or be extended in order to use our software. The problem with this is obvious.

And, as far as looking for a technical solution, I think everyone posting here is hoping there would be one; it's not just a rant thread, I'm sure everyone would be happy to find a solution that makes the 2011 units as reliable as anything from an Atari 800 to a cheap $250 laptop or pretty much any decent hardware put out in the last 40 years, but somehow no one has posted a solution yet.; anyone with creative ideas here?

I had mine serviced, it took roughly 2 years to have the same issue as before.

They replaced the logic board and it worked like before then died shortly after installing High Sierra. I was also a beta tester.

I’ll buy used before giving Apple another dime.

I’m guessing you pick and choose the parts of the thread you can use to insult the person that wrote it? What ever makes you happy I guess.

My issue with Apple has to do with knowing they had a defective logic board with video chips that were ticking time bombs on them and continued to reinstall the same faulty parts. Even the authorized repair centers will no longer touch these 2011 MacBook Pro machines. Many have stated they are not in the business to reinstall faulty parts.

Mine was working great with the exception of this issue. With out this problem my Mac would have kept running for years.

I just wanted it fixed the right way, with working parts. Apparently it’s too much to ask.

That and a working solution is what I’m after. If you don’t have one, then no one needs your input.

Thanks.

Have fun with your trolling fisher man

matthewhobley wrote:

I’m guessing you pick and choose the parts of the thread you can use to insult the person that wrote it? What ever makes you happy I guess.

My issue with Apple has to do with knowing they had a defective logic board with video chips that were ticking time bombs on them and continued to reinstall the same faulty parts. Even the authorized repair centers will no longer touch these 2011 MacBook Pro machines. Many have stated they are not in the business to reinstall faulty parts.

Mine was working great with the exception of this issue. With out this problem my Mac would have kept running for years.

I just wanted it fixed the right way, with working parts. Apparently it’s too much to ask.

That and a working solution is what I’m after. If you don’t have one, then no one needs your input.

Thanks.

Have fun with your trolling fisher man

😕 I was responding to a specific post and addressed the issues raised in that post. I responded to the logic board issue on the first page of this 23 page thread. The tread has outlived its usefulness. This is not a complaint community it is a user to use technical help community. If as I stated if people would like specific technical help it would be best to get focused help on an issue by starting a new thread detailing the issue. If you want to provide feedback to Apple about the logic board you can do so here: Product Feedback - Apple. It does no one any good to drag on about the logic board issue in a user-to-user help community where none of us can help with your logic board problem.

if you have 10k dell computers, your experience may be meaningful; having one not die doesn't mean anything.

and we're not discussing Apple's reliability in general, just the abysmal failure of 2011 and how they insulted their customers with a fake repair done with the same failed hardware.

this thread has not outlived its usefulness because it keeps bringing new victims and out of them, maybe one will come up with a better solution than disabling the GPU, so possibly a tech solution will emerge at some point; while I doubt it, we can't discount it and while this thread may have a lot of rants, the remote possibility of a good solution is worth it.

Usually when I think threads are not useful, I stop reading them..

@pinlight, I agree with your points, but I'm not even thinking about upgrade kits, etc. after all, when you buy something that is not designed to be extended, you accept that fact at the time of purchase.

It makes sense to not support old computers that die of old age. Most of the time the caps break down, joints fail with thermal cycles, etc and these things can usually be repaired, but I don't think Apple should be responsible for this.

Known defects are another story, I don't recall my $ to have defects when I gave them and I expect the product to be similar. Machines overheating, the same ICs dying, etc are not a question of wear and tear and old age, it comes from either design or manufacturing issues and I don't think responsibility should go away: if a flawed product is sold, this should be addressed until there is no flaw, or a refund or exchange was offered.