Surface Pro 4 Bulging Battery / Screen. 3 1/2 years old.

Anonymous
2019-06-30T14:34:09+00:00

So, like many others on this forum, we have a Surface Pro 4, in which the battery has decided to self-destruct, destroying a £1,700 machine.

The screen hasn't popped off, but the battery has swollen enough to prevent the hinge from opening as it should and for the glass on the front to be very distorted, and it registers random screen input, all the while running hotter than the central heating.

I've spoken to support. They unhelpfully told me that because my warranty is up, I would have to pay several hundred pounds (£333) to replace the machine with a refurbished unit. To me, this is completely unacceptable. These devices are clearly flawed by design. This issue is too wide spread for it to be a coincidence. The batteries used in these devices are obviously flawed, and when I suggested as such, Sean L, the person dealing with my case, stopped responding (A few days after that, I wrote to Microsoft's twitter support who confirmed that the case had been closed. Thanks Sean L.)

If the device is dangerous (as suggested by the agent who I spoke to on the phone in the first instance) and it does catch fire while we are away this summer, and it subsequently burns down a multi-million pound Cambridge University building? What then, Microsoft? You'll wish you'd just replaced it then, won't you.

Surface | Surface Pro | Power and battery

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-08-30T04:00:07+00:00

    Having the same problem.  Started getting random screen input several weeks ago on a Surface 4 purchased in 2016.  Support suggested disabling touch screen drivers to stop the random screen activity, then reset the machine to factory state.  They thought it was a software issue.  Then I noticed the screen bulging on the left side.  Now I'm back to using a 12 year old Toshiba laptop which runs okay (on AC at least).

    I too would have been happy with a good deal on a Surface Pro 7.  Kind of PO-ed that they washed their hands of this problem.  I always figured the battery would degrade over time and not hold a charge.  I did not expect my Surface to become a FIRE HAZARD.

    I never thought about UbreakIfix.  There's one in my neighborhood.  I'll check them out.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-08-30T13:00:41+00:00

    I have given up with Microsoft support. The CSR's have been helpful but no way are Microsoft going to budge from there position of $450 to replace like with like once the device is three years old despite being fully aware of the problem.

    When one spends $1800 plus on a device I don't think its unreasonable to expect it to function safely for four years or more. This swollen battery issue, by Microsoft's own admission, means you should discontinue use of the device so if you are not prepared to accept their very bad deal the device is only fit for the trash can.

    I would be happy to accept a trade in value equivalent to the $450 replacement cost to buy a newer machine but Microsoft don't listen to that, they just offer you a paltry $115 trade in and stick to their entrenched position so I have decided to move to Lenovo and will never buy another Microsoft device.

    However, if anyone is considering class action against Microsoft I would jump at the chance to join he suit.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-09-02T03:46:28+00:00

    Since this issue has been well-known for some time, I think a class-action lawyer or two would have already jumped on this if there was a case to be made.  I, too, would be happy to join.

    I decided to bite the bullet and get a Surface 7.  Still the best machine for my needs.  I hope they figured out how to make them right since my Surface 4 and I don't have another time bomb on my desk.

    Be well

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-09-15T15:10:54+00:00

    I purchased my Surface Pro 4 in February 2017 an having same issues.   I think this warrants a class action lawsuit.   

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-09-15T15:22:08+00:00

    I purchased a replacement battery online($50) and took my SP4 into a local Iphone screen repair shop and they replaced the battery in my SP4 for ($40) and now the SP4 is working fine but I will never buy another Microsoft product again...fully loaded SP4, top end model, and it's been nothing but problems, numerous replacements with the bulging screen being the latest from a well known Microsoft defective battery.....

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