In case you missed it Thursday, Apple announced that it has launched a free program to repair certain MacBook Pro systems experiencing video issues.
The repair initiative is for MacBooks that were sold between February 2011 and December 2013 and exhibit distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts.
Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will repair affected MacBook Pros which can be brought in Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, or mailed in.
Affected Models
- MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)
- MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011)
- MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011)
- MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013)
You can use the “Check your Coverage” tool on the Apple Support site to determine whether your MacBook Pro matches the list of affected models. If you’re not experiencing issues, you do not need to contact Apple.
For more details, view Apple’s official statement at: apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/
The Apple statement to which this article links says, “Note: If your MacBook Pro is not experiencing any of these symptoms and is not one of the products affected, you do not need to contact Apple,” i.e., if both conditions are met, you do not need to contact Apple.
If I had one of the listed models and were not (yet) experiencing any of the described problems, I would still want Apple to test the machine. I took my late 2011 MBP 17″ to the Apple Store in Basel, Switzerland, after experiencing the problems described in Apple’s announcement. The laptop did not fail Apple’s tests immediately, but the genius rubbed on the clamshell hinge and noted that the internal temperature was rising. Since I had another appointment I left the MBP. It did eventually fail the tests.
Obviously, anybody who just wants some insurance against his machine’s developing a problem after the program expires might postpone his visit to an Apple Store until the initial peak of afflicted machines ebbs and run some stress tests in the meantime.