On Thursday, June 20th Apple announced that it would be starting a voluntary recall for all 15-inch MacBook Pros sold between September 2015 and February 2017. The recall follows over 30 reports about the laptop's battery overheating causing damage to the laptop and other property. There are also several reports of burns and smoke inhalation caused by batteries overheating or exploding.
It is estimated that over 430,000 laptops were sold in the US alone that could potentially suffer from the issue. Officially, if your serial number is on the list of affected units you should stop using your MacBook immediately and seek a replacement through either an Apple Store, an authorized Apple service provider, or contact Apple Support.
Currently the replacement process has the device sent to an Apple Repair Center for inspection and verification for eligibility for replacement, which can take anywhere from 1–2 weeks. Apple has stated that this worldwide program does not extend the standard warranty coverage of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
How to Check If Your MacBook Is Affected
Apple provided a serial number lookup tool at their recall page. You can check your serial number by clicking the Apple menu → About This Mac. Affected serial numbers are 15-inch MacBook Pro units sold between September 2015 and February 2017.
Replacement Options
- Visit any Apple Store (free repair/replacement)
- Visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider
- Contact Apple Support for mail-in service
Note: The FAA had banned these MacBook Pro models from all US airline flights as a safety precaution due to the fire risk.
Landshark IT is an experienced Mac service provider in Tampa Bay. If you have questions about your MacBook or need service, contact us — we service all Mac models.