The kinda-official LG G4 bootloop thread

[DJCBS]

I got back from my retailer, and have some bad news.

I can't get it replaced, because they didn't have the EUR model in stock and they allow only one warranty replacement unless exceptions can be made.

I also saw a stack of phones that were going to be sent off for repairs. Nearly all of them were LG G4s.

My confidence in the phone is already diminished. Gonna be ordering a Galaxy S7 Edge soon or waiting for the Note 6.

I really liked this phone when I first got it. Unfortunately, it's been a series of issues 6 months after.....

Again?
Dear Lord...that doesn't bode well at all for LG. If the G5 gives them half as many problems as the G4 gave, LG might as well close the store.
I haven't used the G4 since I got it from repairs (it's now a glorified remote control until I find someone who wants to buy it) but seeing that even repaired and replaced ones keep giving problems, I'm glad I got the S7.

For all the crap I've given Samsung over the years, the S7 is being a very positive surprise to me.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Again?
Dear Lord...that doesn't bode well at all for LG. If the G5 gives them half as many problems as the G4 gave, LG might as well close the store.
I haven't used the G4 since I got it from repairs (it's now a glorified remote control until I find someone who wants to buy it) but seeing that even repaired and replaced ones keep giving problems, I'm glad I got the S7.

For all the crap I've given Samsung over the years, the S7 is being a very positive surprise to me.

I seriously don't understand why their quality control has been inconsistent. The stack of failed G4s already diminished my trust and confidence in the reliability of the G4 and pretty much most LG phones in general.

I'm not fond of the G5 because I think LG focused way too much on the modules (or 'Friends') and frankly, the reduction of the battery capacity from 3000mAh to 2800mAh is really disappointing to me. Yes, it can be replaced, but after seeing the S7e, I think I prefer a huge battery that's sealed rather than a small battery that's removable.

 

[fonejacker77]

My eur h815 s/n505 bought last June just died the boot loop death on Saturday. Recently i noticed a few random restarts when it was doing nothing (in my pocket or sitting on a table). I did manage to get it to power up for a minute by reinserting the battery, but it just froze and has died permanently now. Will have to wait until Tuesday to call LG due to Easter Monday. Hope they can give me a new replacement with a new warranty. Loved my G4.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[KPMcClave]

I've been on the Galaxy S7 Edge for about 10 days now. I jumped in large part because of my lack of trust that my 507 serial # refurbished G4 wouldn't also bite the big bootloop eventually.

At the time I switched, and when booting the G4 since, I haven't had any issues (of any kind) as yet with the refurb.

Under normal circumstances, I'd sell the G4 on eBay. Under these circumstances, I may have to take the $130 trade in quoted on Verizon and run! Does anyone know if having a refurb effects trade in? I've gone through the online form questions to the point where I was ready to submit and nothing suggested it's an issue, but...

 

[Aflaaaak]

I've been on the Galaxy S7 Edge for about 10 days now. I jumped in large part because of my lack of trust that my 507 serial # refurbished G4 wouldn't also bite the big bootloop eventually.

At the time I switched, and when booting the G4 since, I haven't had any issues (of any kind) as yet with the refurb.

Under normal circumstances, I'd sell the G4 on eBay. Under these circumstances, I may have to take the $130 trade in quoted on Verizon and run! Does anyone know if having a refurb effects trade in? I've gone through the online form questions to the point where I was ready to submit and nothing suggested it's an issue, but...

Wouldn't that be the ultimate irony if, after Verizon forces you to take a refurb to replace a defective phone you bought new, says a refurb wouldn't qualify for a trade-in??

 

[jhilker]

Got my 2nd replacement today, S/N 510. Hoping this one will be the one!

 

[Inders99]

I really liked this phone when I first got it. Unfortunately, it's been a series of issues 6 months after.....

My feelings exactly, I'm done with LG for a while. I'm hoping for the boot loop issue which will push me over to the S7.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

My feelings exactly, I'm done with LG for a while. I'm hoping for the boot loop issue which will push me over to the S7.

I'm actually half-hoping for it to still work so I can sell it for a decent value once I get either one of the 2 Samsung phones.

 

[fonejacker77]

Has anyone had issues with a repaired H815? Mine is getting picked up to go to LG tomorrow. They said they only repair in warranty which means mine will be out of warranty in June and I'll still be paying this off for another 12 months. Or does anyone in UK or Europe know where we stand on being sold faulty goods?

 

[Guatiao]

Has anyone had issues with a repaired H815? Mine is getting picked up to go to LG tomorrow. They said they only repair in warranty which means mine will be out of warranty in June and I'll still be paying this off for another 12 months. Or does anyone in UK or Europe know where we stand on being sold faulty goods?

In my case, my G4 is a US version, and after two tries at repairing it, it's working as it should so far. It has been some 3-4 weeks now.

 

[tardus]

I've been on the Galaxy S7 Edge for about 10 days now. I jumped in large part because of my lack of trust that my 507 serial # refurbished G4 wouldn't also bite the big bootloop eventually.

At the time I switched, and when booting the G4 since, I haven't had any issues (of any kind) as yet with the refurb.

Under normal circumstances, I'd sell the G4 on eBay. Under these circumstances, I may have to take the $130 trade in quoted on Verizon and run! Does anyone know if having a refurb effects trade in? I've gone through the online form questions to the point where I was ready to submit and nothing suggested it's an issue, but...

I'll keep my 505. I have Squaretrade if worse comes to worse. I'm just keeping all my data on the sd card, and I have contacts, calendar, settings etc on Google cloud.
I'm still not convinced that all G4's - 505 - 508 or whatever will go bad. If 25 % failure rate - that would explain the handful of irate people with 2 bootloop failures. Statistically not a big deal. But sucks if it happens to you.

 

[Aflaaaak]

I'll keep my 505. I have Squaretrade if worse comes to worse. I'm just keeping all my data on the sd card, and I have contacts, calendar, settings etc on Google cloud.
I'm still not convinced that all G4's - 505 - 508 or whatever will go bad. If 25 % failure rate - that would explain the handful of irate people with 2 bootloop failures. Statistically not a big deal. But sucks if it happens to you.

I have a SN 506 and no problem, yet. That's the point. I did what you did, but no one can choose the time their phone fails. What if you need it for an important work call, and you have no landline or backup cell, or you're out of town? I don't know what the failure rate is, but Android Authority oficially spoke to LG about it, so don't think it's insignificant. Also, resale value for a "flagship phone" should not be what it could have been...
LG admits G4 bootloop problem is a hardware fault, will repair affected devices - Android Authority

 

[Aflaaaak]

For what it's worth, I sent an email to Consumer Reports to see what they think of any possibility of an official recall of all G4s, not just the ones after they fail...

"I purchased a LG G4 Smartphone in July 2016. It was my first smartphone, so I joined the Android Central website community to learn how to use it.
In the last few months, a large number of people have had Motherboard failures with their G4s, and apparently LG has admitted there is a manufacturer defect causing the problem, and even Verizon has admitted it, which they almost never do. The problem causes the phone to become stuck in a never ending attempt to boot up, which it never does. The phones must be repaired or replaced. Phones affected seem to be mostly made with serial numbers beginning with 506 or earlier, which mine is.
My phone has not experienced this catastrophic failure yet, but feel like it's only a matter of time, and I'll be without my primary form of communication, which makes me very concerned. Of course I back my phone up, but I can't choose the time it fails, and that might be at a very unfortunate time.
The reason I'm writing is that without any kind of mandated recall, I can't get my phone replaced with a newer manufactured one because it hasn't failed, yet. Is there ANY kind of Recall process for consumer products, similar to cars, where a manufacturer has to proactively fix ALL all units of defective models, even ones that haven't failed yet? Apparently, LG hasn't decided angry customers aren't enough of an incentive :-(. "

 

[vinyfiny]

FYI my repaired Sprint 508 from LG is working fine with no issues at all after a week of heavy use. It seems cooler when doing the same tasks I did previously, although it doesn't seem to be charging as quickly. My battery life seems the same. It was about 7 business days turn around time between mailing the phone off and getting it back: mailed it off Thursday and got it back the following Saturday.

 

[Mooncatt]

Is there ANY kind of Recall process for consumer products, similar to cars, where a manufacturer has to proactively fix ALL all units of defective models, even ones that haven't failed yet?

Mandatory recalls are due to a safety issue that could cause personal injury. That's why cars seem to make the news when there's a recall. I know Wal-Mart has a recall board for consumer products in every store. Read over those and most often you'll see some link to being a personal safety issue. I don't think there's an official/governmental way to force a recall in this case.

As frustrating as it is, the boot loop problem isn't a safety issue, so I doubt you'll ever see any sort of full recall. Any recall would be at the sole discretion of LG.

 

[KPMcClave]

Maybe I'll just hang on to mine as my backup. I don't regret jumping to the S7 Edge, but I certainly don't dislike the G4.

 

[vinyfiny]

I'd like to get an S7 Edge, but seeing as how I have a working G4 now I can't justify spending the money. I'm actually pretty interested in the G5 mainly for the wide angle lens and it's smaller size, but I'm worried about LG reliability now which is a shame.

 

[Aflaaaak]

Mandatory recalls are due to a safety issue that could cause personal injury. That's why cars seem to make the news when there's a recall. I know Wal-Mart has a recall board for consumer products in every store. Read over those and most often you'll see some link to being a personal safety issue. I don't think there's an official/governmental way to force a recall in this case.

As frustrating as it is, the boot loop problem isn't a safety issue, so I doubt you'll ever see any sort of full recall. Any recall would be at the sole discretion of LG.

I agree the LG issue isn't a direct safety threat like on a car, but then aren't there some car recalls over things that aren't just safety-related?I thought the importance that smart phones have become to people's livelihoods, it might warrant looking into

 

[odbobo]

I've had the G4 since November and loved it, no problems at all. Resisted the Marshmallow update because if it ain't broke ... today, I got the dreaded bootloop I've been reading so much about. S/N is 510. Verizon is overnighting me a replacement but it's a bummer. Hope the replacement lasts.

 

[Mooncatt]

I agree the LG issue isn't a direct safety threat like on a car, but then aren't there some car recalls over things that aren't just safety-related?I thought the importance that smart phones have become to people's livelihoods, it might warrant looking into

I know there are occasionally service bulletins and such where they will fix a non-safety issue, but they don't have the same notification requirements and are optional to to issue. The only problem I can think of where it would receive the same recall attention as a safety issue is if it's something not meeting a regulatory requirement. The recent VW issue with their diesel engine emission controls comes to mind.