Apple has just launched a MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues to provide out-of-warranty repairs for MacBook Pros and Retina MacBook Pros sold between February of 2011 and December of 2013.
Affected computers include 15- and 17- inch MacBook Pros from early and late 2011 and both 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro models. Apple's page provides a tool you can use to check your system's eligibility. Symptoms of affected computers include "distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen," "no video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on," and unexpected restarts.
Some users have been complaining about 2011 MacBook Pro GPU issues since shortly after the systems launched. Those complaints continued for well over three years—outside of the warranty window even if you bought AppleCare, at least if you bought the systems at launch—and were more recently the cause of a class-action lawsuit. In August of 2013, Apple kicked off a repair program for iMacs with similar AMD GPUs.
Affected MacBooks can be brought to Apple stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers, and they can also be mailed in. In all cases, you will need to do without the computer until repairs have been completed—sometimes Apple offers temporary loaners as part of these repair programs, but not in this case.
The program will be available starting tomorrow in the US and Canada and will launch in other countries beginning February 27. The program is valid until February 26, 2016 or until three years from the purchase date, "whichever provides longer coverage for you." If you've already paid for a repair that fixed these symptoms, there's a contact link at the bottom of Apple's support page that you can use to ask for restitution.
reader comments
107