Nintendo DS Lite Hinge Crack Problem

[xwar]

I was just surfing the net when I saw this:

Nintendo Oblivious To DS Lite Hinge Crack Problem - Pay $50 To Get It Fixed!

http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=8482

So I checked my DS, and low and behold I had the exact same problem!!! I'm pretty pissed, because I've tried pretty hard to keep it in mint condition, and now there's a definate crack on the hinge. Anyone else notice this?

[obernewtyn]

damn that sucks...50 bucks is alot...if mind had cracked, I'll just leave it the way it is...probally buy a game or with with 50 bucks instead.

[Jucius Maximus]

That looks nasty... fortunately mine has not cracked like that. I think the problem might be accelerated if you are opening and closing the unit by pushing/pulling on one end of the top half instead of applying the force right in the centre. Some badly designed notebook computers have the same problem if you are applying the force on the edge instead of in the middle.

[ledorky]

I thought mine was cracked but on closer inspection, it's just the hinge area. Very very thin lines. I hope it doesn't develop into a crack but I don't really care if it does so long as it doesn't affect the screen functionality.

[Tsukagi]

those r some pretty big cracks, does it sound different when u open/close it??
i'm usually soft on mine when i open/close it.

[TenzoR]

yay original DS ftw, don't have any problems with it :)

[xwar]

those r some pretty big cracks, does it sound different when u open/close it??
i'm usually soft on mine when i open/close it.

I found that it creaks a little bit. Most people wouldn't even notice it. I hadn't even noticed it until I read the article.

Even if it's small, it shouldn't crack like that. I haven't used my DS all that much and have been extremely careful. Frankly I'm anal and just can't stand the crack just being there ...

I have one day left on my 30 day Futureshop warranty. I'm going to get it exchanged today.

[Tofu Drift Shinji]

Yup, I've got a cracked hinge on my DS Lite too. It's a small comfort to know that I'm not the only one with this probelem.

A few people are speculating that the problem occurs when you open up the top screen fully flat (to the second notch). I've done that a few times myself.

If only this had come to light a few days earlier... then I could have gone back to BB to get a new one.

[kcjchan]

Problem only seen on white NDS lite, I've heard from various sources that other colors don't have this problem, maybe a problem with the plastic mould involved with the white NDS casing. The other thread already has a speculated diagram of what's causing it, and it seems that over time, the problem will appear no matter how careful you're handling the NDS lite.

[Insane_Pikachu]

OMG after reading this article, I took a look at my ds lite and i have this big crack..wow wtf...is it possible i can return this or something T___T!

[conman7331]

get the first version DS,, heck i STEPPED on mine and i notice nothing different,

I weigh over 200 Lbs to

[D-Sisive]

yup my sister has a crack in her ds lite, caused by opening it flat __ too much

my cousins isn't crack but she opens it only to the first position __/

[ringtone797979]

i got a crack on my ds lite too. so i went back to futureshop for return. too bad they didn't have stock so that they refunded to me. one more thing, i bought it for over 30 days but they still refunded to me. that's very good. :)

[Kurtz7834]

This is obviously a design flaw and Nintendo should be replacing the units, no questions asked. Fat chance of that happening though.

[xwar]

This is obviously a design flaw and Nintendo should be replacing the units, no questions asked. Fat chance of that happening though.

I called them. They told me $50 US to get it fixed.

Mine cracked and I hardly used the damn thing. I never bend the screen flat .. not once, so it's definately a design flaw.

[kcjchan]

I called them. They told me $50 US to get it fixed.

Mine cracked and I hardly used the damn thing. I never bend the screen flat .. not once, so it's definately a design flaw.

Those people over at Nintendo's tech support are even blaming users for breaking their own NDS I've heard. That's a sad thing for a company with such a good reputation, unlike $ony....

[ledorky]

Those people over at Nintendo's tech support are even blaming users for breaking their own NDS I've heard. That's a sad thing for a company with such a good reputation, unlike $ony....
Sony's rep is so bad, they can only go up. Nintendo is being silly with this.
They should fix the issue (users do the shipping). Hinges should not crack. That says design flaw, right there. Sad, Nintendo's sterling rep is now taking a beating :(.

[xwar]

I just returned it to Futureshop with no questions asked. They didn't have any more in stock so I drove to the Best Buy and grabbed a new one. So I get another 30 days of warranty ... I will monitor this one closely.

[Allen84]

there might be a reason why this is happening.

I believe these are happening to the "Made in China" DS's (thats what you get from cheap labour :lol: Quality control is not up to standards i guess)

and the "Made in Japan" ones do not suffer from the crack hinged, as why people with imported DS's are not seeing this problem.

[kcjchan]

there might be a reason why this is happening.

I believe these are happening to the "Made in China" DS's (thats what you get from cheap labour :lol: Quality control is not up to standards i guess)

and the "Made in Japan" ones do not suffer from the crack hinged, as why people with imported DS's are not seeing this problem.

You're wrong, the Made In Japan white NDSlite also suffers from this problem.

[Blunt]

Crap... I just looked at mine and I have a small crack too.
I got it at ToysRus. Oh well.. out comes the crazy glue.. :lol:

[Tofu Drift Shinji]

I believe these are happening to the "Made in China" DS's (thats what you get from cheap labour :lol: Quality control is not up to standards i guess)

In case you haven't noticed, almost everything is Made in China. Just because their workers aren't paid what we are paid here, it doesn't mean that they can be generalized to have bad QC. The majority of computer components are manufactured in China, and I don't see fissures in the circuit boards or hardware exploding every day. Sure, 10-20 years ago, China could be typified as shoddy labour because they didn't have manufacturing technology or infrastructure, but now, after heavy foreign and local capital investment, lots of brand name electronics are made there and are probably no less reliable than ones that are made in the US.

Like almost any company, Nintendo probably has a set of specifications for their subcontractors to follow to the T. If their spec is faulty, problems like this can arise on a massive scale. I don't even think that the manufacturing QC could even predict a problem like this would occur. I'd be even more inclined to believe that Nintendo couldn't have predicted this either, but I don't think that should absolve them from fault here.

[kcjchan]

In case you haven't noticed, almost everything is Made in China. Just because their workers aren't paid what we are paid here, it doesn't mean that they can be generalized to have bad QC. The majority of computer components are manufactured in China, and I don't see fissures in the circuit boards or hardware exploding every day. Sure, 10-20 years ago, China could be typified as shoddy labour because they didn't have manufacturing technology or infrastructure, but now, after heavy foreign and local capital investment, lots of brand name electronics are made there and are probably no less reliable than ones that are made in the US.

Like almost any company, Nintendo probably has a set of specifications for their subcontractors to follow to the T. If their spec is faulty, problems like this can arise on a massive scale. I don't even think that the manufacturing QC could even predict a problem like this would occur. I'd be even more inclined to believe that Nintendo couldn't have predicted this either, but I don't think that should absolve them from fault here.


Well said, and most of us won't be able to afford a lot of things if the Chinese workers weren't paid extremely low wages. I'm sick and tired of people coming out to say everything Made In China sucks. Would you be able to produce anything decent if I only paid you $1 or less an hour? Given their wages you should THANK them for producing something than to keep complaining about it. If you actually went to China to see the conditions these poor people have to work in, you wouldn't say another f*cking word about all stuff made in china is crap, you would be speechless from the tears you're shedding.

[Corizzle]

I open mine fully all the time and no crack, I won't do that anymore though

[B0000rt]

I caved and went and bought another one from FS.

Used the $15 off coupon, but I gotta return the old one with the bestskinsever on it, so I lose $10 from that so in the end I saved only $5 :(

[ferkel]

whats the crack gonna do? is the DS lite going to fall apart?

[tonychau]

can you still return it if you bought on launch day June 24 from Futureshop?

[x86asm]

can you still return it if you bought on launch day June 24 from Futureshop?
June 24?

[xwar]

can you still return it if you bought on launch day June 24 from Futureshop?

You get 30 days, so yes.

I got mine on the 19th, successfully returned it yesterday (the 18th).

[buddhaboy12]

No crack on mine... good thing too since it is an import (Navy Blue), hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime ;) *knock on wood*

[GTAdiscountStudent]

that's a small problem. get over it ppl. the ds works, it's not like the crack affects it in anyway...some of you sound like you're about to have heart attacks.

[d_jedi]

Is this only a cosmetic problem? Or could it develop into something more serious?

[yuwing8]

if it's for $1000 laptop, i'd cry. but for $150 gameboy, who the hell cares! :lol:

[botai]

found a tiny crack in mine.... but whatever.. i'll worry if it gets bigger

[B0000rt]

Is this only a cosmetic problem? Or could it develop into something more serious?
Noone knows.

[ledorky]

It's only cosmetic.
But for the anal out there, Nintendo is offering free repairs.
Go contact customer service (see kotaku).

Now would Sony do something like this for free? I highly doubt it. They'd be claiming it's a feature.

[blackice168]

http://www.dsfanboy.com/2006/07/20/nintendo-answers-hinge-claims/



Being a part of the Joystiq network, we here at DS Fanboy feel humbled every day, to have both incredible readers like yourself, and to be in charge of finding and reporting on all things Nintendo DS. However, when we reported on problems of the hinge sort, we knew we would not be able to command the presence that Papa J does and contact Nintendo for answers, so we left the task of sending an appropriately-titled WTF Nintendo?! email up to them. Nintendo's response reads:

"In the U.S., the reported number of small cosmetic cracks in the plastic hinge of DS Lite systems represents less than 0.02 percent of the total units sold. This cosmetic issue in no way impacts the gameplay or integrity of the DS Lite. Nintendo stands behind the quality of our products and encourages DS Lite owners to contact our Customer Service Department if they are not happy with the functionality of their systems."

Honestly, Nintendo may have fudged up the numbers a bit. That percentile deals with only the reported cases of "hinge crackage" and not the actual ratio of unharmed-to-cracked DS Lites. While I cannot speak for the other bloggers here, my DS is without harm. Whether this is due to how I open it (see: like a book) is unknown, but I do treat it very well. Regardless, we feel that the warranty should cover this issue and collectively wag our finger at Nintendo.

[Canadianpsycho]

My Ice Blue import is going strong :)

[xwar]

It's only cosmetic.
But for the anal out there, Nintendo is offering free repairs.
Go contact customer service (see kotaku).

Now would Sony do something like this for free? I highly doubt it. They'd be claiming it's a feature.

Wow, it must have changed since I called a couple days ago .. they flat out refused to fix it for free, and blamed me for ruining the DS.

[tmpz]

I see a tiny tiny crack forming, just like everyone elses. Going to get an exchange at TRU. :|

[Tofu Drift Shinji]

Wow, it must have changed since I called a couple days ago .. they flat out refused to fix it for free, and blamed me for ruining the DS.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/nintendo-capitulates-offers-free-repairs-for-cracked-ds-lites-188778.php

It's time for me to call Nintendo up too. Does anyone know the number to Nintendo of Canada Customer Service?

[ElvishMerchant]

Nintendo generally offers a 1 year warranty. The problem with something like this small crack on the hinge (as opposed to say dead pixels) is that if Nintendo publicly announces that they will repair (or exchange for a new one) any system with this problem, all of the cheap bastards out there (you know who you are) will just break your DS's in that spot after 11 months to get a new one (possibly in another color) and Nintendo will take huge losses. It's bad enough that people are intentionally bricking their system with bad firmware to return it over a tiny crack. For the record, I've looked at a lot of DS Lite's and the problem isn't that widespread... only 1 out of the 10-20 I've seen had it, and that person did not treat their system well at all. The problem with forum threads like this is that only the people with the problem post about it, the other don't care. Anyway, the point I'm getting at is that Nintendo is a quality company that stands by their products... if your DS Lite legitimately was cracked through normal use, they will most likely exchange it for you, but don't expect them to put out a press release saying "learn how to get a brand new DS Lite every 11 months now!!!".

[kcjchan]

Nintendo generally offers a 1 year warranty. The problem with something like this small crack on the hinge (as opposed to say dead pixels) is that if Nintendo publicly announces that they will repair (or exchange for a new one) any system with this problem, all of the cheap bastards out there (you know who you are) will just break your DS's in that spot after 11 months to get a new one (possibly in another color) and Nintendo will take huge losses. It's bad enough that people are intentionally bricking their system with bad firmware to return it over a tiny crack. For the record, I've looked at a lot of DS Lite's and the problem isn't that widespread... only 1 out of the 10-20 I've seen had it, and that person did not treat their system well at all. The problem with forum threads like this is that only the people with the problem post about it, the other don't care. Anyway, the point I'm getting at is that Nintendo is a quality company that stands by their products... if your DS Lite legitimately was cracked through normal use, they will most likely exchange it for you, but don't expect them to put out a press release saying "learn how to get a brand new DS Lite every 11 months now!!!".

I thought that if you treat your NDS lite like some drug addicted biatch then it would use up all the crack, so no crack would be present on the NDS itself. :lol:

[ledorky]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/nintendo-capitulates-offers-free-repairs-for-cracked-ds-lites-188778.php

It's time for me to call Nintendo up too. Does anyone know the number to Nintendo of Canada Customer Service?
Should be in the box. Don't tell me you threw away the instructions?

[ejings]

that's a small problem. get over it ppl. the ds works, it's not like the crack affects it in anyway...some of you sound like you're about to have heart attacks.

some of us like to take care of our property. i like my stuff in good cond. not cracked or broken... and yes it does affect gameplay. just like ds lite vs original ds.. i never had a ds, and would have never gotten a lite if it didnt come out.. games are they same, but gameplay is different.. and you probably don't know what im talking about cuz you just dont care bout anything.

[sfu_lifer]

some of us like to take care of our property. i like my stuff in good cond. not cracked or broken... and yes it does affect gameplay. just like ds lite vs original ds.. i never had a ds, and would have never gotten a lite if it didnt come out.. games are they same, but gameplay is different.. and you probably don't know what im talking about cuz you just dont care bout anything.
How does a little crack affect gameplay? It's on the hinge and it's not like the hinge all of a sudden falls off during gameplay.
Let's admit, it's cosmetic. Sure it sucks and really Nintendo should replace it since obviously it's a problem with those assembling it too tightly. But to claim it affects gameplay is ludicrous. You can learn to ignore it :cheesygri

[B0000rt]

Lol check this out:

http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=8632

[xwar]

Lol check this out:

http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=8632

Omg haha, that's pretty damn funny.

I agree that's just a cosmetic crack, but if your ipod's scroll wheel started to crack a bit just from normal use in a matter of weeks, wouldn't you be pissed?

[Spare-Flair]

Lol check this out:

http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=8632

Idiot news story. Maxconsole is too dumb to realize that Nintendoworld in NYC is NOT OWNED OR OPERATED BY NINTENDO. It's just a random private videogame shop that choose to specialize in Nintendo products.

[kcjchan]

Idiot news story. Maxconsole is too dumb to realize that Nintendoworld in NYC is NOT OWNED OR OPERATED BY NINTENDO. It's just a random private videogame shop that choose to specialize in Nintendo products.

WRONG!
http://www.nintendoworldstore.com/

That is the official site for Nintendo world, and if you click on Careers at the bottom, it takes you to the official Nintendo website with listings of open positions.

[xwar]

WRONG!
http://www.nintendoworldstore.com/

That is the official site for Nintendo world, and if you click on Careers at the bottom, it takes you to the official Nintendo website with listings of open positions.

owned!

[Crotchety Old Man]

Nintendo Responds to DS Cracks (http://ds.ign.com/articles/719/719927p1.html)...

"In the U.S., the reported number of small cosmetic cracks in the plastic hinge of DS Lite systems represents less than 0.02 percent of the total units sold. This cosmetic issue in no way impacts the gameplay or integrity of the DS Lite. Nintendo stands behind the quality of our products and encourages DS Lite owners to contact our Customer Service Department if they are not happy with the functionality of their systems."

[kcjchan]

owned!


Indeed, I didn't even know until I checked Wikipedia and then the official link to Nintendo World....

[duckling.]

Sorry for digging up a really old thread but I felt that I had to express my sorrow to the public by showing a picture of my newborn baby:

http://prismatic69.easter.ne.jp/ds.jpg

[Headhunter]

Maybe I missed it, but do the new colours have this hinge problem?

[kcjchan]

Maybe I missed it, but do the new colours have this hinge problem?

Never heard of this problem with the black. The pink does crack as well, at least the Asian release did.

[baseline]

actually while surfing around I did see a black one with the crack in a picture. It'd be tough for me to find the link now though...

[thedon]

Sorry for digging up a really old thread but I felt that I had to express my sorrow to the public by showing a picture of my newborn baby:


if ure near a nintendo repair center just bring it in and they'll give u a new one.... at least thats what i did.
the new one seems to be built better cause i've been using it alot more and it has no signs of cracking yet

[ferkel]

if ure near a nintendo repair center just bring it in and they'll give u a new one.... at least thats what i did.
the new one seems to be built better cause i've been using it alot more and it has no signs of cracking yet

do you have to call Nintendo first before, or just drop by the repair centre to exchange?

[tmpz]

I think you can just drop by. It says "Walk-in" service at Progress Ave.

I'm planning to go there some time soon, but please let me know how did it go :)

[ferkel]

I think you can just drop by. It says "Walk-in" service at Progress Ave.

I'm planning to go there some time soon, but please let me know how did it go :)

Where's this place on Progress Ave? I know NESA services Nintendo... but they're in Markham. My screen is acting up now along with the cracked hinge...

[GuiltySpark]

Where is this Repair centre? I have a DSL that has a cracked hinge still under warranty (aren't they all?)

*EDIT* (don't you love answering your own question literally 10 seconds after you post it? ;))

National Electronic Service Association (NESA)
480 Hood Road, Unit 1
Markham, ON L3R 9Z3

(Walk in service is also available in Scarborough for your convenience:
24 Progress Ave
Scarborough, ON M1P2Y4
M-F 8:00am-5:00pm
This location is for walk in service only)

[AloneInACrowd]

When I called nintendo, they didn't want to honour the warrenty because they said I caused it because the crack got so bad that the top screen is lose. Finally I argued my way into a return, but they said I could drop it off at the Markham location. So I went out there only to find out they were completely out of DS systems, with 8 sitting in the shop waiting to be exchanged.

The woman took my name and number and would call me when they had some in stock. It's depressing, cause I don't like using my DS right now. :(

[bang]

According to joystiq.com Nintendo will fix it for free.
But I don't really want to send my DS Lite away and be without for however many days.

[D-Sisive]

Where is this Repair centre? I have a DSL that has a cracked hinge still under warranty (aren't they all?)

*EDIT* (don't you love answering your own question literally 10 seconds after you post it? ;))

(Walk in service is also available in Scarborough for your convenience:
24 Progress Ave
Scarborough, ON M1P2Y4
M-F 8:00am-5:00pm
This location is for walk in service only)[/B]


hey anyone dropping it off at this location, see if they have any other colors

my sisters white one is cracked at the hinge too, would be neat to be able to exchange it for a pink one

[GuiltySpark]

^
^
I may try it this week..I'll let you know.

[D-Sisive]

^
^
I may try it this week..I'll let you know.


all the way from Colburne, quite a drive @ 100+km distance lol

keep us updated

[GuiltySpark]

I'll be in the neighbourhood picking up a car ;) I'll keep you posted.

[quikkid]

According to joystiq.com Nintendo will fix it for free.
But I don't really want to send my DS Lite away and be without for however many days.

For five dollars extra you can get the replacement in advance, you ship yours in when you recieve the replacement.

[thedon]

According to joystiq.com Nintendo will fix it for free.
But I don't really want to send my DS Lite away and be without for however many days.

just go to the nintendo repair center in richmond. they'll replace it on the spot for u. though i had to wait a day when i exchanged mine cause they were out of stock

i don't think u need to call a head of time but i did. it helped ne ways cause they'll give u directions to the repair center.

[AloneInACrowd]

Also asked about the colour exchange, they said they probably wouldn't be getting the other colours for exchange for awhile so no dice.

So maybe if you return it later you might have a shot? No guarantees.

[tmpz]

Also asked about the colour exchange, they said they probably wouldn't be getting the other colours for exchange for awhile so no dice.

So maybe if you return it later you might have a shot? No guarantees.

I was planning to do that. I guess I'll wait a while. New replacement = new warranty anyways. Thanks for the info.

[Tycho81]

Out of curiosity,
what all is needed for the replacement? receipt, box, etc?
and the scarborough (progress) location is NESA? yes?

Mine has been progressing slowly, but has been getting worse. time to get it replaced (the casing is starting to loosen a bit).

Has there been anyone that's actually gotten a replacement from there?

also. is it something you need to contact nintendo about first or can you just walk in with a cracked ds and get a new box?

[tmpz]

Warranty based on Serial number, so when you bought it, it tells the system that this DS has been bought.

I'm pretty sure you dont need a receipt, but just in case if you have one.

[AloneInACrowd]

Still outta stock at the Hood Rd location...It's getting ridiculous, they told me a week ago Wednesday and still nothing, my frigin top screen is flopping around it's gotten so bad.