In this space I invite people to use the comments to let everyone know that they personally have had a macbook air with a problem hinge that has pulled out. Please only comment on this page if you have had this problem.
EDIT: Apple has admitted the problem and is fixing it.
My right hinge broke this morning. I live 3 hours from the nearest Apple store. Since it doesn’t appear Apple will fix this issue without charging me $800, I’m just going to wait and see if the left hinge breaks as well.
My hinge broke when I closed my beloved MBA for the last time before selling it. I retured it to the shop (an APR), who destroyed it even more (bent away/peeled off the plastic completely) and told me it wasn’t covered by warranty.
I didn’t accept this and wouldn’t take back the broken MBA. Called Apple support, who said they would investigate and call me back. I was prepared for a real fight, but less than a week later they called me and said it was covered by warranty.
The technician at the shop called me two days later and said the top lid (screen) and hinges had been replaced. He had also got an OK from Apple to repair another MBA under warranty, so it seems things are beginning to go our way.
Oh, and by the way: This was in Sweden.
I bought my MacBook Air in Feb. 2008. A week ago my left hinge broke. I live an hour away from the nearest Apple store, so I’ve been trying to find the time to make the trip to see about getting it fixed. Today, the right hinge went also and the screen now is unusable since it lies flat. I called and got a quote of $700 to fix it. I treated this Mac like a baby (no dropping, etc.) and am pretty upset that this happened and that the repair is so expensive – $700 for a few hinges!
Cheryl: Do not accept this. Demand that your case is elevated to level 2 support. Send them pictures. Tell them that in Sweden, this is covered under warranty. That is Apple Warranty, the same all over the world.
Also, make it absolutely clear to them the hinges did not break due to excessive (backwards) force. My hinges broke when i closed the lid.
This IS due to a design flaw, nothing else.
I had the same problem, here in India. The guys at local apple shop are quoting around $800 for the repairs.
same thing happened to me today. just opened it as normal and the right hinge just popped out. on the phone with the guy now, sending me to the macshop in london (uk). will keep you informed!
I ended up sending mine to missionrepair.com. Mission Repair contacted Apple who agreed to provide a replacement top-half. I just had to pay Mission Repair a couple of hundred dollars labor for the repair.
I purchased Macbook Air in Feb 2008. I noticed the loose hinge problem within the first few months. This gradually worsened and finally in Oct 2009 the right hinge broke when opening the computer. Approximately two months later the left hinge broke. A Google search quickly produced numerous, identical complaints. I called AppleCare and they quickly agreed that my computer (a first generation MB Air) suffered from defective hinges. They agreed to repair it at no charge. They shipped a box via next day air. I received it the next day, shipped it out and received my repaired computer a couple of days later. They replaced the clutches, hinges, LCD, antenna, magnet and bezel. It seems perfect at this time.
I trusted that Apple would fix the default hinge. They fixed the hinge alright and removed my hard drive (without my knowledge or consent) that was working perfectly fine when I brought it in. Apple eventually found my hard drive, returned it already erased & told me it was my responsibility to try to recover the data through a data recovery service (quoted cost $900-$3,300 noting data might not be recoverable). I am beginning to wonder if it is my original hard drive. I also believe that Apple damaged my hard drive while fixing the hinge. The Apple customer service has reached beyond deplorable.
To date, I went through the Better Business Bureau (BBB), written all the Board of Directors and have contacted numerous employees at the store and corporate level. The final response is that Apple, Inc will take no responsibility for the mistreatment or take action to resolve the situation. How much energy and time does someone have to expend to for a company to do right by its customers? I have also filed complaints with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. Any other ideas?
Looks like I’m a victim of the cracked/broken hinge. I thought I heard a little click this morning then when I went to close my MBA an even louder click.. Turned it over and it wasn’t closed tightly on the right side as the right hinge is slightly raised when opened and something plastic looks/ sounds like its ready to crack completely…. I’m afraid to close it!
Thanks so much for the link to the Apple Hinge Support site. I made an appointment with the Genius Bar at my local store for tomorrow morning.
I’m wondering if they will fix it on the spot or if I will have to leave it there??
Kim, make sure you back up your data before you take it in! I don’t want you to lose your hard drive like I did. ~Kristen
I had this problem as well. Thanks so much to this website for giving me the guidelines to getting this repaired! I printed out the front page of this website and the support document on apple.com and took it into the store. I had to wait 3 weeks for the repair (there were no parts in New Zealand or Australia – I’m in NZ) and it was all completed free of charge. Got the computer back today and they’ve replaced all entire LCD display, bezel, hinges cable and so on.
I’ve had my macbook air since 2008 december. The same thing happened to me in 2010, closed the lid, and the hinge broke with a snap. I took it into the apple store and they said they would have someone look at it but most likely the repair would be covered. A week later I received my repaired Macbook. Repaired at NO COST to me.
I have recently experienced the same problem and my hinges are stuffed. My MBA now acts like an ipad where it lays 180 degrees flat. This has also affected the screen display to where the screen no longer shows colour but shades of pink and yellow.
I am going into Apple in Sydney today to see what they say.
i have a macbook air with a broken right hinge. same thing as you guys. broken plastic then little metal parts fall out. Apple said they would repair it for about $600 which is for a new screen and install. the problem i have now is that i dropped it after hinge was broke so it looks like the drop did it but thats not how it happened.
Richard,
Please let us know if you get any further with apple. My MBA was purchased in 2008 and only just developed the hinge issue (Mid-March). After a round of calls back and forth with apple I was informed that after February of this year apple was no longer honoring the “extended” warranty. I was told by a support “senior adviser” that there was nothing that could be done. He said that even someone higher up denied the request for an extension. I told him and still feel that since apple was willing to admit that they needed to “extend” the warranty (due to a faulty design) that those of us who took care of our MBA and only just developed this issue shouldn’t be thrown under the bus.
Hey guys great news, i brought my mb pro back to apple with the broken hinge blog on my screen. Showing the problems everyone is having and its on theyre Apple support page. Lol.
Before i could finish explaining the issue genius stated that he know of the problem and looked up to see if my computer was covered. It was and not only are they gonna fix the hinge, they are also fixing the broken wire that goes to the camera and replacing the entire screen which was bent from when it flopped open and fell off the top of my television.
All you havr to do is state that you are aware of this defect and they fix it for free. If not, they dont let you know and you have to pay. Thank all of you for your help. Pass it on.
Go to small claims court and you will win,. The same thing happened to me. They were supposed to repair cosmetic damage, sent my laptop back with the hard drive out of it. I tested it and it was blank. They erased all of it. This looks like awhile ago, Did Apple ever resolve this??
No, Apple never resolved this. I wrote the BOD at least 3 times and went through the Better Business Bureau. I still have the hard drive they removed albeit I don’t believe it is mine. They said that it might be erased. I thought about small claims court. If I did that I wouldn’t have been able to participate in a class action suit which I was hoping for. Since that time, my computer has gone through 2 more hard drives where I backed up my data and Apple didn’t charge me. The computer really has issues. Apple has assured me that the new MacBook Airs are better. And, why should I trust them?
I brought my MBA which was bought in may 2008 to a local service provider in my country. They informed me that this was a known issue but doubted that it would fall under the warrant from Apple. They did send an email to Apple and Apple denied the claim saying that the warranty had expired.
I have a friend who had the same problem in 2011, she brought the computer to the same service provider that repaired everything free of charge. Its interesting because it was the exact same factory defect only it appeared sooner, maybe I should have treated my computer a bit more roughly in order for this defect to appear sooner.
Now my local service provider is ready to repair the computer for around or over 1000 $. That is something I can not accept, any comments or advice?
Go to a different apple store.
I brought my MBA in to the Apple Store on Stockton street just prior to the apple care expiration at the end of 2010 as the screen was flopping around. They said it was fine and there was nothing they could do to help. Turns out it was recalled. The hinge finally broke recently. i brought it in today, and was told they would not fix it because it was over 4 years old. I called the 800 customer support to see if there was a soul that might listen. I was incorrect in my thinking that a Genius might have soul. I asked if they could mail the parts and I simply do the repair…nope. Whatever. Horrible experience. Mediocre product in a shiny case. No more Mac for me.