BestbuyBest Buy has recalled 5,100 third-party replacement MacBook batteries after at least 13 reports of the batteries catching fire.

Both the black and white varieties sold between September 2008 and June 2012 -- unit numbers MC-MBOOK13B and MC-MBOOK13W -- have been recalled and Best Buy will give customers replacements or a Best Buy gift card. Best Buy did note that they were not the only company to sell the batteries.

Gizmodo received this statement from Best Buy:

After receiving reports from customers of these lithium ion batteries overheating when charging, we believe the right thing to do is to contact our customers and ask them to return the product for replacement or for a Best Buy gift card. While we are only one of many companies that may have sold these batteries, we feel they are a potential fire and burn hazard and want to keep our customers safe.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission page about the recall says the batteries are for the MacBook Pro, but they are in fact replacements for the black and white plastic MacBooks.

Top Rated Comments

iMikeT Avatar
157 months ago
Word of advice form a former Best Buy employee, don't buy anything from Best Buy, ever.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbeagle Avatar
157 months ago
If you're shelling out even $89 for a battery let alone $129 for a computer that is 7 years old then I think there are greater things that need looking at.

It's like an old reliable car. Pay $2000 to fix the engine, and keep the reliable car you know the 'bugs', buy a used car for more than $2000 that you know nothing about or buy a new car for $15,000.

Same with my reliable white macbook. Bought it in 2006. I got a new battery for it earlier this year. This macbook will serve me well for another few years, and save me a lot of money for 'better' things like vacations.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
termite Avatar
157 months ago
Totally worth the $1.82 you saved going with the non-apple batteries.

For my MacBook1,1 (which is only worth $100), OWC sells a new battery for $89 and Apple sells it for $129. That's somewhat more than two-bucks.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WhoDaKat Avatar
157 months ago
Totally worth the $1.82 you saved going with the non-apple batteries.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlgolson Avatar
157 months ago
Snip
Thanks for coming in and saying everything I was going to say!

If you bring a bulging battery into the Apple Store, managers will quietly freak out and replace it in my experience.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JSenders Avatar
157 months ago
MMMMM, reliable Apple Batteries, are you guys kidding?

My BlackBook has an original Apple battery which has blown up (expanded) to the point where it interferes with the track pad operation.

The top case of the laptop has broken down to the point where the edge has chipped off about 40% of the way around.

I recall Apple batteries being responsible for a number of MacBooks catching alight in the past.

Apple have side-stepped their own safety recalls in my case, implying that batteries expanding to the point where the machine cannot function and the case disintegrating to the point where i have to keep the housing intact with 100 MPH tape and glue are not safety issues and should not be repaired free of charge. These issues were fixed free of charge for many owners in the USA but in Australia they tend to look at you as if you are an idiot when you mention product safety recalls.

I admit I have had very few problems with most of my Apple gear, (12" & 14" iBooks, 15" & 20" G4 iMacs, 17" PowerBooks, MacBook Pros 08, 09, 11, G5 2x2 Tower, iPod touch, iPhone 3GS, 4S) but the early MacBooks were *LEMONS*

I used to work for Apple, you clearly don't understand the policies and procedures. First of all, the top case chipping had/has a quality program for it in place. Any non-unibody Macbook that has chipping on the top case and/or bezel can get a free replacement as long as it is under 5 years old. So if you didn't get your top case replaced in that time, boohoo. Second, regarding batteries, it is true that some batteries expand when they reach EOL and that is totally normal. I have seen this happen on EVERY model Macbook and Macbook Pro, even Macbook Airs. If the machine is under warranty, then the battery as well as anything that was affected by it (trackpad and/or top case typically) then that would also be replaced. However if the machine is out of warranty and the battery that has expanded is not under a separate warranty (purchased off the shelf within a year) then it is repaired at cost and is NOT covered. All I can say is that if you notice your trackpad feels stiff and your Macbook isn't sitting flat anymore, then you ought to pull your battery out and take a look at it to see if it is bulging. If it is, replace it immediately.

Now here's the deal. Geniuses won't swap batteries for free that are out of warranty (or anything really) because they are not allowed to. They would have to get approval from a manager in the form of a CS code to cover the repair. However there is one way around it. Non-unibody MacBooks, non-unibody Macbook pros, and the first generation of unibody MacBook Pros (as well as the 2008 aluminum Macbook) all had removable batteries, meaning they are a boxed part that can be bought off of the shelf. Geniuses still have the power to do a POS swap, or a return. This requires no approval from a manager. I used to do it all the time when we were behind at the bar because it is quick and easy. If you push them hard enough, they know they have this option and will swap it just to get you out of their hair. Also if you claim to have bought it off the shelf within the past year but you don't have proof, sometimes they will just swap it. I used to do it to make people happy after they took away all of our power to swap anything at all that was out of warranty. Keep in mind if you have like 900 cycles on your battery, you definitely didn't buy it off of the shelf within the past year :-)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...