An AppleDefects reader sent us the above picture of his white MacBook, with the case cracking much in the same fashion as others that we have reported on. Here’s the story that was attached to the image:

I received this macbook last fall. The first one had so many problems it had to be replaced. This crack only appeared few days ago

Are the MacBook cases slowly degenerating or are the cracks the result of something else, such as poor plastic quality or even abuse?

While nobody expects the cracking MacBook problem to be extremely widespread, it is occurring often enough for a Flickr group to be created on the subject. Thus far there are 20 different pictures of cracking MacBooks, most of them show cracks near the palm rests, with some having entire pieces of the palm rest breaking off. One discussion shows pictures from a user who claims his case cracked again within two weeks of having the case repaired.

Check out the gallery for more:

Visit the CrackedMacBook Flickr Group

The Apple Core has posted a story about some unfortunate hairline cracks that are appearing on a users MacBook case:

How many of us honestly look at the back of our laptops? Well I did tonight and what do I see- stress cracks around the hinges, around the vents, and all along the back edge! Just look at the pictures! I’m never rough with my MacBook. It lives inside a messenger bag with a suede interior, and if it’s not there, it’s on my desk.

Apple is going to cover it, since the machine is only 7 months old. I’m getting a new bottom casing and LCD bezel. I’m interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this problem, and if Apple did in fact repair it.

Cracks appearing on the MacBook are rare but not unheard of, we have several reports of MacBook cracks on our site.

An AppleDefects reader pointed us to these images, showing a MacBook case cracking at the wrist support. The accompanying text to the above image is:

Defect in MacBooks? Front right lip is cracking just under palm rest. The other side is starting too. Maybe pressure from hands there, and a weak lip? Think Apple will replace?

Another flickr user took the matter into his own hands, securing the cracked area with a piece of tape:

This does not seem to be a widespread problem, although there are several more images on the photo sharing site flickr and various complaints on Apple’s Discussion Boards. It’d be interesting to discover what exactly is causing the cracking, could it be abuse or poor plastic quality? In the odd event you discover your MacBook’s case exhibit signs of cracking, it’d be advisable to contact AppleCare.

Apple’s MacBook case has been in the limelight in the past, mainly for the mysterious and grotesque case staining and discoloration that was found on a sizable portion of early MacBook’s. Apple has since changed the composition of the plastics, and resolved the problem.

A user in our Forums has alerted us to a new complaint with some MacBook’s. Apparently the case on some MacBooks has begun to crack in the front around the battery. The blog Engadget explains more:

MacBooks with exteriors starting to crack and distort the chassis under normal usage conditions. A couple of users on different forums are reporting cracks in nearly identical locations of their week 23 MacBooks, but it’s still yet to be seen just how wide spread this one really is..

…we hope Apple has a solution to this one waiting in the wings.

There are threads on MacNN and Apple’s Discussion Boards on the problem. It is unknown exactly what is causing the cracks, but some have suggested a bulging battery is to blame.

Discuss this in the forums

A lively discussion at MacRumors.com has spawned from a claim that a MacBook died, or ’exploded’ after attempting to hook up an external hard drive:

I tried to reboot my MacBook, and that’s when things got weird. I get the white screen with the little tune. Then, small vertical colored lines appear in the center of the screen, spreading out to both sides. It then freezes on a hippie-looking multi-colored screen.
I now notice a little bubble on the bottom of my MacBook, approx. 1 inch away from when the screen starts (pretty much in the center). There are cracks in the plastic around the bubble.

Several pictures of the MacBook were posted, none of them particularly high quality, but they do show something clearly wrong and abnormal. It looks like a slight burn or crack to me. Here is the story the user attached to a flickr picture. 

After sending it back to the store for various flaws (random shutdown, excessive heat, a key that didn’t work, etc.) my macbook came back. Two weeks later, the logic board/graphic chipset blew up inside, creating a bubble and cracks on the bottom of my macbook.

Discuss this in the Forums

Numerous MacBook users are reporting a very disturbing problem regarding their new MacBook’s… the machine is randomly turning itself off! Several videos have surfaced to document this unfortunate phenomena:

Video: Click here to watch a MacBook turn itself off

Video: A very obnoxious video of a MacBook turning itself off

Apple’s discussion boards have a several threads about the issue as owners get more frustrated. Speculation is all over the board, with some users suggesting it is heat related - I personally disagree with this theory, because a specific user claimed his ‘incredibly hot macbook runs at 70c and turns off’. Well, for what it’s worth: my MacBook runs at 95c and doesn’t turn itself off.

I don’t see this is a widespread problem, unless it is something that develops over time with use. The tech savvy individuals out there may recall the horrible Dell Inspiron 1000 series who’s thin layer of solder would gradually heat up and crack, causing numerous problems with power stability - resulting in the machine shutting itself off at random.

Discuss this story in the forums

Coverage is growing on the MacBook discoloration issue. Even Cnet is weighing in, comparing the nasty staining to the infamous ipod nano scratches and the cube cracks. Thankfully, Apple is now addressing the issue by replacing the top cases of affected MacBook users. One wonders, have they changed the formulation of the plastics to prevent the discoloration, or are the stains simply going to reappear several weeks down the road on the replacement? We’ll see.

A user on Apple’s discussion boards is reporting that the finish on his Black MacBook is inappropriately peeling. PaulNYC describes as follows:

“Today, to my great fudge, I noticed that right above the isight the LCD bezel has begun to flake! It’s very very small, but it looks like there is an extremely thin layer of translucent rubber coating on top of the black”

He then goes on to mention that Apple is replacing his MacBook for the issue. Further in the thread, rickyv notes:

“The first time I checked [the MacBook] out was at the Apple store in San Francisco. I lifted the Macbook and saw a big area–about 3 inches in diameter–on the bottom where the matte surface peeled off. It was ugly shiny black. ”

It appears the Black MacBook peeling problem is rare, few complaints and even fewer pictures have surfaced as evidence.

Discuss this story in the forums