Pattern in G4 motherboard failures?

[Aflaaaak]

My G4 has a serial number starting with 506, purchased in July. I'm hoping I don't have the dreaded motherboard issue, but after living through a similar situation with my then new, iPad Air 2, I'm worried, but trying to maintain my perspective. In that case, I had recently bought an iPad Air 2 for my family's Christmas present. To learn more about the device, my first iPad, I joined the Apple iPad Forum on Apple's website...similar to joining Android Central to learn about my new G4.

The Apple iPad Air forum was utterly bombarded with people who's new iPad Air 2s (within a certain serial number range) were stricken with an audible electrostatic POP under certain circumstances, with some units frying. The thread became hundreds of pages long, and you'd think every iPad Air 2 was going to pop. Of course Apple denied anything was wrong with their new flagship iPad. People were PISSSED! I started testing mine and making plans to return it when the inevitable pop would come to my unit. It never did, as most of the millions of iPad Air 2s never did. I realize product forums can be a concentration of people looking for solutions...not necessarily indicative of what will likely happen, just what could. Trying to keep this front and center as I read about these G4 motherboard problems and look at my serial number.

What I'm curious about is out of the units within the serial number range that do fail, is there a connection? I remember reading about a lot of folks having problems with their phones getting really hot. Someone else in one of the threads on the MB problem suggested maybe heat is what killed off these motherboards and wonder if that's the connection. Don't know what caused these phones to heat up in the first place, but the end result is regular high heat+tiny electronic components in small spaces = shorter life span. So, how many of you that have had a MB fail in your G4, had earlier problems with your phone heating up to an uncomfortable level on a regular basis? Could this be a predictor, or just a random, unconnected symptom? Were there any other problems your phone started to have before your MB went south? Don't want to tempt fate, but I have fortunately not had any heat issues with my phone. I have had occasional issues with my touch screen not registering taps to wake from sleep and not recognizing my knock code, but then I have never cleaned my screen either (no screen protector though), and the Volume Down camera activation is only working 75% of the time...hoping these will be fixed with the system reset I plan to do when MM upgrade becomes available on Verizon.

 

[srkmagnus]

I’ve heard that oftentimes devices ending with a certain range of serial numbers could be found to have common issues. I’m not sure if that’s entirely true. However, if you suspect there is a problem with the device it may still be within the warranty period and I’d suggest contacting LG for a repair or replacement.

 

[Almighty1]

Normally, I thought it was only when they do recall would they specify a certain date range as not all are affected but some are and just for safety reasons, they will just recall everything in that range. Similar to the Vitamix blenders as shown here:

ProductEntry

 

[maclancer]

I don't think the G4 issue is big, like Almighty1 said, if the issue was big. You will see LG recalling the G4 and have no see it. It appear to be minimum the affected devices.

 

[jkayakj]

When I went to the sprint store to replace my phone there were 5 other people with the same issue as me ( the bootloop) and the sprint repair tech said that he had been seeing a steady stream of people with this issue.. So I'd say it's a rather significant issue considering this was just 1 small store, then it's all over the forums etc. Enough people have had it or complain about it that there should at least be an official mention of it and what to do about it if it happens, if not a recall...

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Aflaaaak]

The Apple popping iPad issue followed a lot of the same path...device issues seemed to fall within a range of serial numbers, made at a specific date range, with over 1200 responses in the thread on Apple's forum. Apple never recalled them, though most didn't fail like the G4 phones are...they just made an annoying POP. To this day, mine never popped. Guess I'm trying to reassure myself that just because my phone is within a date range, doesn't mean I will have a MB failure. On the downside, I had two other things that were within a particular serial number range that had a known defect (Canon ELPH camera and a Panasonic Plasma TV) and they failed just like everyone else's .
Only LG knows the failure rate, and would hope they issue a recall if this is as widespread as it's starting to look. It would take the guesswork out of it for us as to if or when it will fail, and get us (hopefully) new G4s, manufactured after the defect was fixed.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Just for ****s and giggles, I asked a Verizon Rep on Chat if she'd heard of the problem, and of course said no. She said she would submit the info for Verizon to mull over .

 

[Mooncatt]

I don't think the G4 issue is big, like Almighty1 said, if the issue was big. You will see LG recalling the G4 and have no see it. It appear to be minimum the affected devices.

There were reports that there was a recall on the Sprint version. Not sure if it was the same issue or not.

 

[jkayakj]

There were reports that there was a recall on the Sprint version. Not sure if it was the same issue or not.

I heard that the sprint recall was for a screen related defect. But never heard a confirmation either way... That being said it was actually a good thing that sprint had seen a lot of the issue, I walked in and they replaced it without me even having to convince them. ( although I'd still prefer to have the phone working)..

One thing I did notice though is that my old g4 would reboot randomly whenever I put load on the cpu. This happened since I first got the phone..if any of you seem to have this happen to you occasionally I think your phone is at higher risk of bootlooping... I think the reboot is related to the issue that caused the bootloop ( replacement never reboots randomly)

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Jim_in_VA]

load on the cpu ... how?

 

[jkayakj]

I would say for me it was rebooting when constantly switching between apps or loading a large document etc

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Almighty1]

When I went to the sprint store to replace my phone there were 5 other people with the same issue as me ( the bootloop) and the sprint repair tech said that he had been seeing a steady stream of people with this issue.. So I'd say it's a rather significant issue considering this was just 1 small store, then it's all over the forums etc. Enough people have had it or complain about it that there should at least be an official mention of it and what to do about it if it happens, if not a recall...

Posted via the Android Central App

The Sprint issue is known and I think there was a official recall for Sprint models only. Other variants can either fail or not fail depending on your luck even if it is not within that range. Mines is still fine and made in May 2015 but that's probably because I have the CTT throttle mod so it runs cooler.

 

[Almighty1]

The Apple popping iPad issue followed a lot of the same path...device issues seemed to fall within a range of serial numbers, made at a specific date range, with over 1200 responses in the thread on Apple's forum. Apple never recalled them, though most didn't fail like the G4 phones are...they just made an annoying POP. To this day, mine never popped. Guess I'm trying to reassure myself that just because my phone is within a date range, doesn't mean I will have a MB failure. On the downside, I had two other things that were within a particular serial number range that had a known defect (Canon ELPH camera and a Panasonic Plasma TV) and they failed just like everyone else's .
Only LG knows the failure rate, and would hope they issue a recall if this is as widespread as it's starting to look. It would take the guesswork out of it for us as to if or when it will fail, and get us (hopefully) new G4s, manufactured after the defect was fixed.

Dont even talk about Plasma's as I bought a Pioneer PDP-4330HD in 2002... there was a recall in 2003 saying the power supplies might fail and they would send techs to fix the problem for free except I lived in a cramped apartment so servicing the tv was not easy. The tv finally died in 2009 due to the PSU problem and as you know, Pioneer exited the Plasma Display Business or tv business for that matter so when I contacted them in 2011, they said they can no longer service it because they no longer had the parts. What they did instead after 4 years of bothering them was they ordered me a new LG 65EF9500 65" UltraHD 4K OLED that arrived on January 5, 2016! LG in the TV department has good support as they will basically send a new OLED panel and a tech to fix it. Many people on avsforums are not happy and they keep shipping those new panels in a crate to swap out which is 140 lbs when the entire tv is 46 lbs and as long as you had one repair, they will refund your purchase price including taxes in full as it's handled by VIP Support. The mobile side seems to pretend the problem doesn't exist.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Dont even talk about Plasma's as I bought a Pioneer PDP-4330HD in 2002... there was a recall in 2003 saying the power supplies might fail and they would send techs to fix the problem for free except I lived in a cramped apartment so servicing the tv was not easy. The tv finally died in 2009 due to the PSU problem and as you know, Pioneer exited the Plasma Display Business or tv business for that matter so when I contacted them in 2011, they said they can no longer service it because they no longer had the parts. What they did instead after 4 years of bothering them was they ordered me a new LG 65EF9500 65" UltraHD 4K OLED that arrived on January 5, 2016! LG in the TV department has good support as they will basically send a new OLED panel and a tech to fix it. Many people on avsforums are not happy and they keep shipping those new panels in a crate to swap out which is 140 lbs when the entire tv is 46 lbs and as long as you had one repair, they will refund your purchase price including taxes in full as it's handled by VIP Support. The mobile side seems to pretend the problem doesn't exist.

I can see why LG would throw a lot more CS resources at buyers of a $6,000.00 TV than a $400 smartphone .

 

[TNCattleDog]

LOL... my Panasonic Plasma died suddenly of the 8 blinks of death 29 days after the warranty expired. Lots of posts on forums about the issue and how to repair it but panasonic would not repair it. (Authorized service center quoted $350 to $450 for the repair) Best Buy also refused to take it back but in the end after several consumer complaints gave me back 50% of the cost towards a new TV.

My LG washer also died suddenly just a few months out of warranty. The motor has a 10 year warranty but the part that broke was a "sensor on the motor assembly" so even thought the tech replaced the entire motor assembly, it still pretty much cost me a whole new washer to have it repaired. Two months later my LG fridge.... yes, just out of warranty too... died. Again, a well known and documented issue, but LG balked on it too and sent out the same repair company that fixed my washer. The tech shook his head and worked it out so the fridge was repaired under warranty. After complaining to LG and the BBB, LG finally gave us credit for part of the work that was done on the washer... but not all. (Asian) Consumer electronics quality control SUCKS. I guess everything is "disposable" now...


David

 

[maclancer]

LOL... my Panasonic Plasma died suddenly of the 8 blinks of death 29 days after the warranty expired. Lots of posts on forums about the issue and how to repair it but panasonic would not repair it. (Authorized service center quoted $350 to $450 for the repair) Best Buy also refused to take it back but in the end after several consumer complaints gave me back 50% of the cost towards a new TV.

My LG washer also died suddenly just a few months out of warranty. The motor has a 10 year warranty but the part that broke was a "sensor on the motor assembly" so even thought the tech replaced the entire motor assembly, it still pretty much cost me a whole new washer to have it repaired. Two months later my LG fridge.... yes, just out of warranty too... died. Again, a well known and documented issue, but LG balked on it too and sent out the same repair company that fixed my washer. The tech shook his head and worked it out so the fridge was repaired under warranty. After complaining to LG and the BBB, LG finally gave us credit for part of the work that was done on the washer... but not all. (Asian) Consumer electronics quality control SUCKS. I guess everything is "disposable" now...


David

Damn and I thought LG quality was good... that makes me think no to buy any LG product again, even thought I am using a LG G3 and not issues so far.

 

[Jim_in_VA]

G4 dated 05/15 ...working perfectly, no issues at all

 

[Aflaaaak]

Generally speaking, even "durable" appliances like refrigerators and washer/dryers are only made to go 10 years max. now (according to the repair guy who fixed the oven on my 1950s vintage stove)., not the 30+ years they used to. The Maytag washer/dryer set I bought in 1992, which has all mechanical switches, is one of the last runs of reliable, repairable, appliances. Like you guys said, new crap has electronic sensors, touchpads, or computer boards that go out, and a lot of times, the stupid part is half the cost of a new machine , and there isn't much an average tinkerer like myself can fix. I replaced the drum rollers and a burner igniter on my dryer, and a hose on the washer myself, but that's it...and they were cheap . My mom's Coldspot fridge is 1974 vintage, and still running.

My 2011 50" Planny plasma TV's problem was a simple QC issue - the screws holding one of the boards to the chassis weren't Loctited down, and the vibration from the speakers caused it to loosen and short out, giving me the dreaded 7 Blinks of Death...luckily it was "only" a $250 fix. But, my two year old Panasonic BR player is now freezing on almost every Netflix movie we try to play .

Hoping I will escape this G4 MB problem, and not a matter of when, not if. I like my phone and want to hang onto it, but realize nothing, especially Consumer Electronics, lasts forever. Just wanted to have it last close to our old LG Accolade, which is on Year Five. My fantasy was to replace the phone in a few years, and only because it feels too slow.

 

[Tsukiyomi]

My wife and I both got our Sprint G4's at the end of June 2015, both s/n 506. Hers died yesterday (running extremely hot & the bootloop thing). They're both leased but Sprint won't do anything because we stopped paying for the warranty (funny how having a 2 year contract and owning the phone at the end of it was less expensive than signing a new one with a phone that you give back at the end...). Personally I'm pissed that they wouldn't even swap our phones when there's a known issue/recall.

Anyway, long story short - two other people came into the Sprint store today while I was trying to get my wife's dealt with (bear in mind this is Sunday lunchtime) both with the same frozen screen problem, both with LG's bought last summer. The Sprint store associate told me they've had people in pretty much every day for a couple of weeks now with this same issue.

Again, I'm mad that protection plan or not, the phones aren't being swapped for newer models when there's a known fault. This isn't user error or a glitch or a rogue app that doesn't like the phone. It's (from what I understand) a mobo issue. In the meantime I'm just counting myself lucky that my wife's went first which gave me a chance to back everything up from my own. In their defense, LG have said they'll replace it under warranty, but that's still going to take a couple of weeks. We moved from 6 years with Samsung and love the G4 but this experience has been off-putting to say the least. Also 16-year customers with Sprint and we're now probably heading elsewhere once this lease expires.

 

[anon(782252)]

My wife and I both got our Sprint G4's at the end of June 2015, both s/n 506. Hers died yesterday (running extremely hot & the bootloop thing). They're both leased but Sprint won't do anything because we stopped paying for the warranty (funny how having a 2 year contract and owning the phone at the end of it was less expensive than signing a new one with a phone that you give back at the end...). Personally I'm pissed that they wouldn't even swap our phones when there's a known issue/recall.

Anyway, long story short - two other people came into the Sprint store today while I was trying to get my wife's dealt with (bear in mind this is Sunday lunchtime) both with the same frozen screen problem, both with LG's bought last summer. The Sprint store associate told me they've had people in pretty much every day for a couple of weeks now with this same issue.

Again, I'm mad that protection plan or not, the phones aren't being swapped for newer models when there's a known fault. This isn't user error or a glitch or a rogue app that doesn't like the phone. It's (from what I understand) a mobo issue. In the meantime I'm just counting myself lucky that my wife's went first which gave me a chance to back everything up from my own. In their defense, LG have said they'll replace it under warranty, but that's still going to take a couple of weeks. We moved from 6 years with Samsung and love the G4 but this experience has been off-putting to say the least. Also 16-year customers with Sprint and we're now probably heading elsewhere once this lease expires.

You should definitely push for Sprint to swap the phone for you. It's definitely a known issue. You could also call customer care and threaten to take your business somewhere else. You shouldn't have to wait a couple weeks for LG to fix it, especially when you don't own the phone, you are leasing it.

As far as switching goes, I was a 17 or 18 year customer with them until December. I switched to T-Mobile and its been a good switch. More data, lower bill. T-Mobile just approved my reimbursement (2 ETF fees and 2 phones on Easy pay). They will pay off those Sprint leases also.