Swollen battery, 17" MBP

My 17" MBP has been sitting on the desk without power attached for the past 30 days while we were moving. I went to turn it on today and the battery was so swollen and expanded that it deformed the metal housing and had forced it's way out of the battery bay.
Of course, the MBP is exactly one month out of warranty. Called Apple but gave up after holding/explaining the issue over forty minutes to two different people and being put back on hold for yet another person.
Made In China. No thanks.

Same thing happened here:
MBP 17" 2.16 Ghz, swollen battery after little over a year of use. Talked to tech service in Caracas who were very concerned but told me that the MBP 17" is not under warranty and the battery warranty extension does not cover my battery, and that they will not accept it for repair/exchange.
Apple: these batteries pose a real health hazard. It is not that the battery stopped responding, it began deforming (badly) and that is not "normal behavior" under any circumstances.
I do not have a number for support in Venezuela and there is NO email support (I can't find it anywhere). I have no way to deal with the issue locally and there is no replacement for sale in Venezuela, so I now have a very expensive (and fragile) desktop computer, plus I have to figure out a way to get a new battery in a reasonable time frame.
I have been an Apple user/advocate since 1987, there are 2 Apple computers at home plus an airport router and was planning on buying another computer and airport exteme. Now I am looking elsewhere since there is no way to talk to the company locally and shipment costs to the USA will render any warranty useless.
I am very disgruntled since I know the battery swelling is a very well known issue, that the company should have a repair/exchange policy on these issues, and they should have some channel to communicate other than a phone number (none for Venezuela) inaccesible from outside the USA, but all I have been able to do in order to fix my problem was talking to a wall.
I hope this forum is monitored by Apple and somehow they will deal with the issue. Otherwise, I am sure that, reports of Apple branded swollen batteries will pop all over the internet.

Similar Messages

Swollen Battery MBP mid 2010

Hello.
Today I've noticed that my battery in my MacBook Pro has swollen. The battery doesn't work for about a year so I worked on the cable all the time and I bought a new one and replaced it. My question is: Is everything ok with that? I mean am I doing something wrong? I don't want to destroy the new battery maybe with broken charger or something? Have someone got this kind of problems with the battery?

Please see http://store.apple.com/us/help/recycle#battery. If you do not have a close by Apple Store, you may be able to mail it, if you contact the closest Apple/AASP location via phone. To reiterate, do not use the SWOLLEN battery under any circumstances.

"swollen battery" cause track pad problem?

I got my 17" MBP in June 06. All was fine until recently when I started experiencing the battery problems listed so many times here. Random shut downs, random battery readings, and finally, a bulging battery. Swollen out of the compartment. First call to Apple resulted in my being told their was "no documentation for this problem, first I am hearing of this".....I needed to "see a genius". Lo and behold, the discussions, where I found loads of documentation, as well as other websites. Called Apple back, and am being sent a new battery....HOWEVER....I inquired as to my track pad clicker not working properly, which started the same time as the battery problems..asked if this could be due to the "swollen battery" since it sits on the flip side of the track pad....again, I was told of "no complaints about that"........now again, I have found similar complaints in the discussions, but only a few. Is anyone else having this problem???? Please tell of any track pad click problems.
I don't think this has anything to do with the update to OSX 10.4.9....I think it has to do with the age of the battery.....most problems seem to be happening around the same age frame of battery.
I am new to discussion posting....please have patience if done incorrectly.

I was very glad to read this topic. I also am having trouble with my click pad on a 17" MBP bought in July 06 and am needing to replace a really swollen battery. I was planning on taking my computer to the nearest Apple store today but it is quite a distance. I hadn't thought about calling -- your post saved me a long drive:) I was wondering if I precipitated the battery problem because I tend to always have my computer plugged in. Just read that that's not the best thing for the battery.
MacBook Pro 17" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Bulging trackpad, swollen battery? Help!

The trackpad of my 2010 MacBook Pro has suddenly - and most ominously - bulged upwards! From looking around online, I believe that it's due to a swollen battery. I asked my local Apple Authorised Service provider about this and they say (1) it'll cost upward of $400 to service and replace the battery and trackpad (2) Apple doesn't replace swollen batteries free even though it's a manufacturing defect.
So here are my questions:
(1) is it true that apple won't replace the battery even though it's a defect?
(2) Would it be safe to carry the laptop on a long distance flight? Will the air pressure affect the swollen battery in any way? I don't want it exploding! I live outside the US, but will be traveling to the US soon so thought I might have better luck with the Genius Bar in CA.
(3) any words of advice on what's the best option in my case? My laptop is nearly 4 years old, in otherwise great condition and working well.
Would be grateful for any help! Apologies if this has been handled elsewhere - am afraid I'm a bit of a doofus at all things IT....

First open the MBP and take out the battery. You will need a #00 Phillips driver and a #0 Triwing driver to extract the battery. The Triwing driver is difficult to find. Check Amazon. Once removed, the trackpad may be functional.
Monappl wrote:
(1) is it true that apple won't replace the battery even though it's a defect?
It is not that unusual for an old battery to expand. It has lasted 3 -4 years of service which is not out of line. I doubt that we are dealing with a 'manufacturing defect'.
(2) Would it be safe to carry the laptop on a long distance flight? Will the air pressure affect the swollen battery in any way? I don't want it exploding! I live outside the US, but will be traveling to the US soon so thought I might have better luck with the Genius Bar in CA.
If possible, take the battery out as I suggested. The airplane ride should have no effect, but the battery may just expand more regardless.
Ciao.

Swollen Battery (2007 Macbook)

I recently went with out using or charging my 2007 MacBook for about a week, and when I want to use it I found that the battery was 100% dead. So I plugged it into the charger over night, and in the morning there was no progress the light on the charger was still green. So then I left it on the charger all day and came home to find that the battery was swollen, and still no progress. What do I do?

Wingfield_95 wrote:
Is there any safe way to power it up with out using the battery and just the power supply?
Absolutely NOT, NO
Don't dare use it in its current state
thats lithium pack swelling. Turn it off, dont dare use it in its current state.
keep it in a cool place until you can get it into the shop.
Contact Apple ASAP for appt. for replacing the battery.
ComputerFixer
You can remove the battery from the unit
Dont, dont, dont recommend a user remove a swollen battery
Off-gassing /swelling of a battery has no bearing on the AGE of the battery, and Babowa rightly didnt indicate that was the case.

Swollen battery after only 5 months ?!

So I've had my MacBook Pro 13 inch mid 2012 for like 5 months and while using it today the trackpad went all funny and it wouldn't click nor would it work properly it would just start doing it's on thing on it's own , anyhow I tried pressing on it etc to get it back to how it originally was , and then it did , but then a couple clicks later it went back to being stubborn and not clicking so after Abit of googling , I came by all these threads about MacBook Pros battery swelling and was wondering if that may be the cause and how I could find out if it is WITHOUT OPENING UP MY COMPUTER . As I don't wanna void my warranty ! Cause not long after that the whole trackpad became stuff and it wouldn't click it work at all really and I feel as though my battery had swelled , cause it sounds like what everyone else with a swollen battery has gone through . So anyway I've made an appointment with the Genius Bar at the apple store on Wednesday , I have 7 months full warranty left , do you think they'll check it and change the battery or what ? Thanks

So anyway I've made an appointment with the Genius Bar at the apple store on Wednesday , I have 7 months full warranty left , do you think they'll check it and change the battery or what
Yes. Don't open up the bottom enclosure. As you said, messing with it could void the warranty. Usually, battery swelling problems apply to older models, but it could be the case. Whatever the underlying issue is, they will address it when you bring it in - free of charge under warranty.

Swollen battery and 'replace now'?

So in the last week or so, the battery of my macbook pro 7,1 (bought feb 2011) has started to swell, making it impossible to right click/drag items. Then today, it starts to show 'not charging: replace now' notification. I know that in case of swollen battery, they replace it even if it's out of warranty, but perhaps they won't because the cycle count is over 1000 already.
Do I need to bring in my laptop to nearest Apple store? Problem is I have misplaced the receipt.
Could I just come in and ask them to order a replacement and will they install it for me?
Anyone has any idea how much it costs to replace the battery here in Australia?
I'd like to call a support/helpline, but there doesn't seem to be a number that I could call and I'm not covered by the online support because apparently from my serial number, it's manufactured over 5 years ago (?? go figure).
Thanks.

An appointment at the genius Bar at an Apple store for an evaluation is free, in warranty or out.
Many of the batteries run about US$130, that one may be a bit higher.
They will do what they can, but do not expect miracles such as a free battery for a five-year old computer. If they feel it is a safety issue, they may have more latitude.
Apple wants you to be a happy customer, if possible. Folks who scream and threaten to sue everybody will never be happy customers, so they are unlikely to get a break.

Swollen battery is normal?

Greeting all!
Recently I found the battery of my Macbook Pro is swollen so I called Apple technical service to seek for assistance, the technician told me this is normal as the battery have been used for two years so it is normal for it to be swollen.
I just wondering if this is true? According to my own knowledge a swollen battery is abnormal especially it swollen to being a size that affect the use of track pad as well as changing the shape of the battery cover.
Indeed I purchased a new battery to replace it, however I still wants to found out the truth.
Thanks all!

iVmichael wrote:
It might be common, but it's not 'normal' for a battery to do that. If it swells and damages other components then it's a serious fault with the item ...
Unfortunately, it is normal for lithium chemistry batteries to swell up under certain circumstances that are all too often encountered in normal use. In particular, charging the battery fully while it is hot (like when a laptop is being used) will over time cause it to swell. The same thing can happen if a nearly fully charged battery is left in a hot environment like a car in summer. (See for example this article for a simplified explanation.)
Part of the problem is there is a "sweet spot" temperature range for charging these batteries -- too low a temperature & they won't charge fully; too high, & they will swell. Typically, the range is only ten or twenty degrees, & the optimum charge rate varies a lot over this range, making it nearly impossible to design a charging system that perfectly optimizes battery service life, charging times, & charge levels for every user environment or workflow.
Apple seems to have opted for a bit less service life to minimize the charging time & maximize the average run time between charges, which (all things considered) is probably a pretty reasonable tradeoff.
BTW, if you think I'm just apologizing for Apple, you should know that I found out this stuff the hard way, only after the battery in my 2008 MacBook (which I don't use much) had swollen up enough to interfere with the trackpad's operation & I too had to pay for a new battery. I now know that if I'm not going to use the MacBook for a few days or more, I need to store it with a battery charge of around 50% to optimize its service life, & to be careful about charging it when its hot. Even so, the new battery probably will start to swell after three or four years, no matter how careful I am.

Swollen battery not being replaced by Apple

I have macbook with swollen battery, quite dangerous since the casing of the battery is coming down, so when I keep it on my lap, it is not flat anymore. Battery is woking, and I have taken great care over the years to keep the battery charged/discharged cycle going.
I spoke to Apple support and they said they need to get it checked with service center and they will replace it. I went to service center, and the service personnel said I need to have Apple talk to them directly!!! So, I could not get anything done at the service center.
I then spoke to Apple support again on phone and now they say, since the computer is outside 3-year window, we understand that it is dangerous, but we like you to pay for the battery replacement!! I have to pay for the replacement of battery that is functional!! I certainly do not want to pay for battery because I have a working battery, but Apple refuses to replace it even though it is dangerous to use!!!
I am quite certain this is wrong from Apple, please advise what should be done.
Thanks.

Yeah the batteries being swollen aren't good at all....but you will have to pay for something like that for any company really. It's not under warrenty so yes u will have to pay for service charge. It's either that or get a new laptop.
The battery isn't "unsafe" if it's swollen. It swells to reduce built-up pressure, which yes bends the case. But you have to understand that companies don't give out free things for repairs all the time. It's like me going to ford with my '06 focus and saying my gasket went...replace it for free pls...but they will laugh because i'm out of warrenty.
On the other hand I hope you get something resolved.

Swollen battery in Applecare that Apple won't replace

I've got a Macbook Unibody which is still covered under AppleCare, and I discovered that the battery has swollen and became slightly bigger, enough for the battery cover not to close properly. The battery has only 200 cycles and is still on 84% capacity, and I have AppleCare until November 2011, so I thought it was a battery defect and took it to my local Apple reseller. (no Apple stores here yet )
So, after two days I was told that they had checked my Macbook and found the cause for the battery to swell up: there was a lot of dust on what seems the output of the processor disippator (a place I wouldn't be able to reach myself to clean, as I would have to disassemble it), and that dust caused the processor to become hotter (even though I hadn't noticed it) and that too much heat caused the battery to swell up.
But the funny thing is: Apple won't authorize the battery replacement, because they say it is not a battery defect, as it was caused by the processor heating because of the dust that got there by "normal usage" and I couldn't clean by myself. They told me I should have got there by the time I noticed my laptop becoming hotter than before so they could have cleaned it, but now it was just too late.
So I was left with the laptop and the swollen battery again, after I refused for them to charge me for the battery a little bit more than the price that I could get it from the Apple Store.
Does anyone have any experience with swollen after normal usage batteries? Will the battery swell up more if I keep using it? Is there any way I can try to convince Apple to give me a new battery? (after all, batteries aren't supposed to swell up, aren't they?)

The problem here is that you are relying on a third party's service. Swollen batteries are not all that uncommon. While people sometimes have difficulty getting a replacement if their warranty has expired or if their battery has gone beyond it's standard cycle count, in your case neither applies. In almost every case that this has happened where the cycle count was low and the machine still under warranty, Apple has replaced these batteries. You may not have a local Apple store, but you should give Apple a call:
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/phone_contacts.html
Explain your situation to them as well as the unhelpful support from your local reseller. Typically, they can mail you a new battery.

Swollen battery on macbook pro 17"

swollen battery on macbook pro 17", laptop running hot, can I remove the battery and still use my computer with ac adapter? Also, what is normal temp for laptop?

Yes, you can remove the battery, but if we're talking about a unibody system, you'll need to take it somewhere to have it removed. The batteries are locked in by a rather unique screw. That's because the under side of the battery is soft and can be easily punctured.
But you can have it removed and keep on using it. It will obviously shut off immediately if power is lost, but otherwise there's no issue. And a normal temp is that the system should only feel slightly warm to the touch.

Swollen battery under warranty APP will not replace?

Grabbed my laptop last night noticed it sitting a little funny on the desk, flipped it over and found the battery protruding from the compartment by 7 or 8 mm.... Lots of hits for "swollen battery" on google, so i called up apple care and guess what. They said i should buy a new battery, because the APP does not cover "consumables" such as the battery. Furthermore the rep also said that it was a chemical reaction related to the end of battery life that causes the swelling, and that the swelling is part of the design so that the battery does not damage the rest of the computer... Seriously? Apple designed their batteries to swell up when they are consumed?
I wrote sJobs a quick email to see if i get anywhere from the top down, but im pretty ****** off that my $250 extended warranty is useless when it comes to "swollen batteries"
Any other suggestions out there?

Not true, not true, not true.
You might be able to throw a fit and convince a rep to replace a battery, but that means they're making an exception, NOT covering something that the warranty is supposed to cover.
Batteries are consumables. They are good for so many charge cycles after which they are considered consumed. AppleCare absolutely covers batteries with defects, but not batteries that are simply used up.
What AppleCare told you is 100% accurate, it is not that batteries are intended to swell, it is simply a possible chemical reaction for that particular model.
If your battery is over 300 cycle counts (check in System Profiler > Power), then your battery is worn out.
AppleCare covers batteries for one year or 300 cycles, whichever comes first, for models before late 2008. After that, the number of cycles before a battery is considered consumed is higher, because the batteries are different models/designs.
When you purchased and registered AppleCare, you accepted the terms and conditions. Whether you took the time to read them before spending the money, I have no idea. You can review them here if you don't believe AppleCare: http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/NAAPP_Englishv5.3.pdf
The T&C States:
b. Limitations. The Plan does not cover:
[omitted]
(ix) Consumable parts, such as batteries, except in respect of battery coverage under APP for iPod or unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials and workmanship
{quote:title=Literature at http://apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html also states:}{quote}
Battery Lifespan
For Apple notebooks with removable batteries — such as previous generation MacBook and MacBook Pro computers — a properly maintained battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 300 full charge and discharge cycles. You may choose to replace your battery when it no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs.
At any rate, this is common practice across almost every computer manufacturer who sells extended warranties, unless you purchase a plan that explicitly highlights battery coverage as a feature of the warranty. Some, like Best Buy's Black Tie protection, limit battery replacements to one per the duration of the warranty. I am sorry that this was not apparent when you purchased the warranty. Keep in mind you always have the option to call AppleCare and cancel your protection plan for a prorated refund.

Late 2008 MacBook 13": Could old, swollen, battery affect my touchpad?

Hello all:
Late 2008 13" MacBook, Aluminum, 10.6.8
Symptoms:
For the past 6 months my battery (original from new) fluctuates between 85% and 35% health (iStat Pro), and only holds a charge for 45 minutes, tops.
My model still has the removable battery, underneath the easily removable cover, held with a latching system.
The cover is now not flush with rest of body, bowed slightly outward in the middle along the latch line (inside edge, away from edge of body.)
At about the same time, I noticed that my touchpad has taken on a life of its own, sometimes cursor skitting across the screen, at times all I have to do is touch the trackpad and it responds as if I initiated the "click" function by pushing down.
Today, it just seemed to stop functioning. Moreover, I couldn't even get a forced quit, even with wired mouse plugged in.
Now, the only way I can get a click response is by pushing down HARD on lower center of touchpad. This is new today.
Two-finger scrolling still works fine, it's the click function that has gone wonky.
It's been really hot today!
I've read on other fixit forums that this is a textbook symptom of a swollen battery, and the bulging cover sure seems to indicate this. I just figured that there was 5+ years of gunk and dog hair finding it's way into the contacts of the touchpad, but it looks to be a sealed component.
Before I flip out and take it to the closest MAC repair shop, not easy in southern Spain, and let them mess about with it and wipe out years of data, could it be as easy as replacing the batt?
Can I still find original or reliable OEM batt?
As it also looks like only one screw holds the touchpad in place, and I am WAY out of warranty, can I still find original Mac parts for the touchpad if this needs replacing too?
Many thanks in advance.
Steve
PS: Tomorrow I'm gonna go buy a 1TB USB drive and back up my HD, too!!!

Bryan:
Ever so cool post. I am going into the local Apple Store tomorrow, here in Marbella Spain. I can't imagine they will honor a warranty problem 5.5 years after the fact, lappy bought in NYC, and registered, but sure worth a bit of insistence. I did buy an AppleCare policy back in December 2008. BTW, all, well worth the money!
I did do an experiment by removing the batt, but still plugged in. The access cover closed beautifully and flush, as if nothing wrong, but the trackpad still stiff and only responsive to "click" commands if I pressed HARD in a very small sector, middle bottom (facing the keyboard.)
Once informed, I had a look at the batt, and sure enough, she's bulging in the middle, exactly where the cover bulges. Funny that.
I will give it my best shot, but I can't imagine that Apple would cover replacement of the touch(track)pad after all these years.
How long ago did you report, and get satisfaction, from your similar (identical) problem?
Best,
Steve

Screen lifting, maybe swollen battery, safe to use?

It's not really visibly noticeable, but a screen corner on my iPod touch 2g is lifted ~1mm. I squeeze that corner and can feel it give; other corners don't. I suspect a swollen battery, but battery life is normal; gets a little warm when charging but I unplug and cool before charging again.
Do you think screen will fall off? Is it safe to use (danger of exploding) if it's a swollen battery? iPod is a little more than year old, so it's out of warranty

If you have an Apple store nearby, take it in, or call customer support.
I had a swelling MacBook battery and the Apple store replaced it, "No Questions Asked", even though my MacBook and battery were 3 years old (2 years out of warranty).
They take swelling battery issues seriously.

Bent frame caused by swollen battery?

Hi,
Wanted to know your opinion about two issues I've got with my 1 month old iPhone 5:
1.
The iPhone which was in a hard-case from day one - magically developed a bent on the left frame side.
Yep, a well keeped device that never suffered any damage (never fell, no one sit on it).
Since this bent is only on the left side (the right side is perfectly straight) - It might be a swollen battery.
But hey, its a great thing that the battery is non-replaceable so I have no idea to tell right?
Apperantly, my warranty voided, it doesn't matter if its the battery's fault or mine.
2.
I live in Israel, so iPhone are being officially sold through the local carriers.
But guess what, they're only selling phones and providing warranty replacements.
If your phone is borken - they won't fix it.
Apperantly Apple has no repairing service for iPhones in Israel (they're only selling the devices).
Apple representative basically told me that I have nothing to do with the phone - so my only alternative is 3rd party labs.
Yep, that's Apple official policy. They're only selling iPhones through resellers, They're not providing repair services.
Your iPhone got broken? Well, buy a new one because no one will fix it.
Maybe someone here have an advice what to do?

Support for the iPhone in Israel is provided by the authorized cell carriers. See:
http://www.apple.com/il/support/iphone/contact/
I don't read Hebrew, but all four have what appear to be iPhone support pages on their web sites. If you purchased your iPhone from one of those four carriers and that carrier refuses to provide service, try calling Apple Support Israel at (44) 0844 209 0611 and ask for assistance in getting your problem resolved. You may have difficulty convincing anyone that a bent frame is not due to user damage, but you can talk to them and see what if anything you can work out.
Note that no service provider repairs existing iPhones; Apple's policy is to replace the iPhone entirely.
Regards.

Swollen battery, 17" MBP

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