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Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Bulging Battery & Free Replacement

Written by RM from NEWRY

Oct 15, 2009

My macbook pro was purchased Sept 06, and I was using the original battery up until today (Oct 09)! My laptop isn't used heavily but i still thought this was pretty impressive when compared to some of the reviews I read on here.

However, for the past few months my laptop has been switching off unexpectedly. At first it started doing this at around 50% remaining battery level, but as weeks went by this gradually rose until eventually I was afraid to even use it for a few minutes without the power cord.

Then about 2 weeks ago I noticed my laptop began to wobble on a flat surface. Soon I realized that it was the casing to the battery! It has gradually got worse over the past few days. I see this is a common problem with this battery from just reading a few reviews. I went to the local apple store expecting to have to fork out $130 for a new battery (especially since my warranty had run out long ago), but they replaced the battery there and then free of charge!

The 'genius' told me that they replace batteries FOC with this (bulging) defect even if the warranty has expired.

Very pleased that I got a new battery for free, but was shocked at how my old battery started to come apart. Surely this could have damaged my laptop if left too long!

41 of 41 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

battery expanded outward

Written by CP from Brookline

Aug 12, 2009

The battery worked well for the first couple of years in the 3rd year that I have owned it the life was very short, to the point where if it was unplugged it would die within in minutes then to seconds. Then the battery just expanded/ballooned out to where it was pushing the hard case I had over it off of the laptop itself. It no longer fits back in the battery slot and is completely useless now. I hope the newer macbook pros have better batteries in them that last longer between charges as well as overall life span.

44 of 47 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Mine just popped as well

Written by RL from Edmonton

Jan 22, 2009

just noticed today the casing of the battery has come unglued. This is dangerous and apple should rectify this immediately. My laptop is no longer on warranty but this is a hazard and should be replaced immediately

42 of 43 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

dangerous battery pack

Written by BR from London

May 26, 2008

My battery back has also overheated and warped - shouldn't Apple warn people who have purchased this item!!!!
There is quite obviously a design fault in this item (Is this legal?) and I am surprised that a company of Apple's brand status doesn't act more responsibly - surely this is a fire risk. In addition all customers suffering this problem should receive a free replacement in or out of warranty.

59 of 77 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Victim of the bowing battery too!

Written by SM from Charlottesville

Jul 6, 2009

After 3 years of having a 17in MacBookPro, my computers touch pad suddenly started acting weird. After blaming my husband for breaking my computer, I noticed the next day my computer was not sitting flat on my desk. Much to my surprise, the entire batter was coming out of the bottom of my computer!
At $129 a pop, Apple needs to dramatically improve their battery design. I am glad that I caught it when I did- who knows what permanent damage would have happened to my computer or my house if it had caused a fire.

40 of 40 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

What's up with these batteries

Written by PG from Los Angeles

Sep 29, 2008

I thought that my battery was an isolated incident. Bulging, overheating..what is up???
I do not feel like going out and spending 129.00 on a new one.

45 of 50 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Horrible Battery

Written by WR from Alpine

May 23, 2009

Just noticed today that my battery was bulging out from the bottom of my Macbook Pro 17 inch. Took it out and found that something had exploded/expanded (probably from the extensive heat MacBook's put out). I then later found out that when my battery was out, my trackpad (which had been not working for sometime) worked again.

Apple needs to figure out this problem. I've had such good luck with all the things I buy from Apple, but they need to fix this horrific problem.

42 of 45 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Apple WILL exchange these sans warranty.

Written by JR from VALPARAISO

May 6, 2009

I'm the same as everyone else - bulging battery and slightly cracked battery casing. It caused issues with my mouse before I did some reading and discovered it was the battery. I called applecare and they are sending me a replacement battery even though I have over 600 cycle counts on the thing. They guarantee them for 300 I believe.

This is not a warranty issue and they WILL replace them for safety reasons. Just call. They will require you to ship the old part but it's on their dime. I think they want to make sure you're telling the truth. hope this helps someone.

43 of 47 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Yet another expanding battery issue.

Written by SP from Dartmouth

Nov 24, 2008

It's almost 2 years to the day since I purchased my 17" MBP. The battery dramatically buckled away from the bottom of my computer. Upon closer inspection I could see that the white material inside the battery had expanded like a balloon. Along with this issue came the problem of random shutdowns when on battery power; in fact it was the random shutdowns that caused me to inspect the battery. Too bad the batteries weren't made in Cupertino.

44 of 49 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Battery is NOT worth $129.00

Written by NM

May 27, 2008

I have had my MBP for a little over a year and was noticing a problem with my trackpad button. When I removed my battery the trackpad button began to work again. When I examined the battery I noticed that the battey was evolving out of its casing.

This is not acceptable and Apple need to fix this problem.

84 of 129 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

17in MacBook Pro Battery Warps!

Written by MB from Durham

Sep 16, 2008

My MacBook was getting extremely hot during use. I even tried placing it on glass surfaces to cool it down and used a cooling stand but nothing helped. One day, my battery just warped and popped. I ordered a second one but as soon as I put the battery on, the computer got just as hot as it use to. The only way I can cool the laptop down even a little is to remove the battery all together. THIS IS A PAIN!

42 of 46 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

2nd battery in 17" MacBook Pro has warped - bulged

Written by BE

Sep 8, 2008

Just replaced the second battery due to overly hot MacBook Pro. I bought this computer in June, 2006. Once the computer overheated and wouldn't shut down. In a panic, I put it in the bathtub (no water, of course) and then gathered my senses and removed the melting battery. I've had bizarre things happening to my computer this time, but didn't associate with the battery, because it wasn't bulging at first. Well, it did warp and the battery was the cause of "weird" (even the Apple Tech was stunned by what I described) happenings. Random applications would open when I moved the cursor over icons, files would not open, but when the cursor moved over folders, they would select and move to the location of their choice. Words deleted without me ever touching the delete button. Lots more....

Is there any chance that Apple would replace/repair this computer? I think it's a
hazard.

45 of 52 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Another bulging battery

Written by RS from Spanish Fork

Jul 8, 2009

I am like so many others on here that have had the problem with the bulging battery. I've had my MBP for less than 2 years. Not only is this battery issue unsafe, it's extremely inconvenient. I use this for work and being plugged in isn't always an option. Now I have to wait for a replacement battery before I can get back to my regular working schedule.

I also am a big Mac fan, but with problems like this and the additional cost, I'm starting to wonder. The reason I've loved Mac in the past is the great customer service and the quality of their products. This just isn't the case with this product. You'd think that with so many people complaining of the very same thing, they'd try to fix the issue. I'm very disappointed!

39 of 41 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Battery Overheating suddenly

Written by DG

May 13, 2008

I've had my 17 inch Macbook Pro for 1 yr. now. I went to my desk to get on my laptop when I noticed the laptop was sitting lop-sided. I checked it and found the battery had overheated and put a "tumor" on the bottom of the laptop, similar to the review on May 8 by another user. Why did Apple not warn users of this problem? It could have caused a fire!

48 of 61 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

This Battery is not good

Written by MB from Corona

Dec 14, 2007

I have had my battery just over a year and even with the extended warranty I have to buy a new one. System shutting down, skin of battery peeling up, and same issues as everyone else.

39 of 43 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Bulging battery, just like the others

Written by JW

Jul 11, 2009

I'd noticed my MBP not setting level anymore, and figured I was just missing one of the little laptop feet. I took a look today and noticed that the battery was bulging out with the aluminum backing coming off. Needless to say, I shut the machine down immediately and am posting this from my PowerMac G5. Dear Lord, Apple. First I'm a victim of the known issues with the Nvidia card, and 4 months later I have this issue! I didn't pay $3600 for a machine to have issues like this!

34 of 34 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

Third battery gone bad

Written by CM from Salt Lake City

Mar 10, 2009

In two years time, my 17-inch MacBook Pro has gone through three batteries and I'm now buying a fourth. Each time, after a few month's use, the battery has swollen up, bulged from the case, and started to split along the seams. To say the least, I'm very unhappy with the quality.

34 of 35 people found this useful

Rechargeable Battery - 17-inch MacBook Pro

WHAT A LETDOWN!!!

Written by CA from South Jordan

Apr 7, 2009

Computer shuts off with no reason, battery now is bulging

You know I am always trying to preach and convert to the mac. I have gotten all my family on a mac, my inlaws are next, my office has gotten 6, but I have to admit I have been let down on this issue. If it was just me I would say "hey stuff happens", but since this has happened to so many and now me, I feel let down, not only did they tell me Im out of warranty, but they would not replace it even though its an obvious manufacture flaw, and a very well dangerous one. Apple did not resolve anything just aggravated me.

37 of 42 people found this useful