Lawsuit Burns Apple with Claim that MagSafe Adapters are Prone to Fire
Posted 05/06/2009 at 3:09pm
| by Florence Ion

A recent lawsuit
claims that Apple has neglected a fatal flaw in the MagSafe power connectors for the recent generations of MacBooks.
The
joint complaint, filed in Northern California, claims that the MagSafe
cable that comes bundled with the MacBook and MacBook Pro will
inevitably fray at either one of it’s connecting ends, which
contradicts with Apple’s mantra that the adapter is “durable.” The
plaintiffs believe that increased daily use, especially winding the
cable around the power adapter’s pop-out guides, can destroy the cable
over time, and that Apple is aware of the problem but has not fully
addressed it by initiating a safer design.
The party of three
who’ve banded together to file a suit against Apple explained that that
they had to buy replacement adapters for ones that needed a replacement
or were showing signs of needing to be switched out. In each incident,
the plastic sheath on the cable melted away, exposing bare wiring. One
noted that the heat was enough that it might have caused fire damage to
his home if he hadn’t paid attention to the warning signs, including an
instance where he almost burned his hand while accidentally brushing
the power brick.
The trio also referred to numerous examples
of similar occurrences online. Meanwhile, Apple only asks customers to
visit a certified Apple service location if an event like this does
occur, though most visits end up in an $80 purchase of a new MagSafe.
The
plaintiffs want class action status for their claim so that they may
represent anyone who may have bought an affected MacBook. Additionally,
they have charged Apple with violating California business codes, as
well as breaching warranties.