Xperia Z - micro USB port weak point

[Becky]

The micro USB port on my z has stopped receiving charge and won't even allow the charger to be plugged into it any more.

The port is uniform in shape which doesn't allow you to know which way round to plug the charger, so you have to guess. Guessing places stress on the pins inside the port. In my case, they seem to have suffered because of this (imho) design fault. USBs can only be inserted one way round, so the user needs to know which way to insert it.

I am wondering if this will be a common weak spot on these phones once they have been in circulation a while?

[MissMonkeyMoo]

Add me to the list too - sent my phone to Sony for repair as it stopped charging and I have been told that I have damaged it and that it has liquid ingress so it is beyond economical repair and won't be replaced as it is not covered by the warranty.  Have reported this to BBC Watchdog, have also contacted the vendor that I bought the phone from to start proceedings.  They have said it is nothing to do with them, but I have stated that it is their responsibility as the phone is NOT damaged and it is a design/manufacturing flaw and under the Sales of Goods Act they are responsible.  I am waiting a call back from a manager there, but have told them I will be sending my claim to them in writing and that I have no issue with taking this further through the small claims court if necessary.  An insurance advisor also told me that Sony AND Samsung both use the 'liquid ingress' excuse a lot when they don't want to admit liability to a fault.  I am determined that they will not get away with this, it is disgusting that so many people have had these issues and yet WE are all getting the blame for exactly the same problem!  Don't give in - if we all make enough noise something will get done!

[vinesfav]

Hello Everyone,

if anyone can tell me how to fix my xperia V cos the place where the charger go in came off like the inside of the charger hole the line thing came off and i was thinking if this problem can be fix so can u tell me if this is repairable please i dont want to buy other phone cos this phone have many thing inside

[Australia]

Hi, 

I'm from Australia and have had this same issue.

My company who will fix my phone wants to charge $300 AU to fix the phone and Sony is refusing to cover it as it is reported 'physical damage' how did you magange to convince Sony to pay for the repairs?

[Australia]

After reading all of the previous comments on this post it is clear this is a common issue for Sony.

What I want to know is how we are going to do something about it.

I am in Australia and Sony is refusing to pay the repair costs. 

Who do I report this to? I am willing to take this all the way.

There is no way I am willing to pay the $300 that it will cost to fix it when it is CLEARLY a manufacturing/ design fault.

I am a very careful person however the plate can be bent so easily.

Never buying Sony again.

[stamfli]

Hi I'm yet another VICTIM!

Had my Z since September. Had a charging problem and returned phone to O2 shop. Before sending it off for repair the assistant suggested it could be a faulty USB cable, tried a new one and as it started to charge gave me the new cable free and sent me on my way.

Over the last few weeks I had the odd occasion where I'd left phone charging ok to find battery hadn't charged. Then after charging one night I withdrew the cable to find that the internal connector was still retained in the cable connector! Clearly the connector was faulty and causing the dodgy charging. It Must have been cracked to eventually pull off.

I took it back to o2 who sent it off for repair under warranty to be told it wasn't a warranty repair and I'd have to pay as it wasn't covered.

I had to go to the shop to arrange collection where we argued with o2 customer care who argued that it wasn't a warranty repair yet Sony Warranty states whole phone is covered unless it's deemed 'physical damage'. This was also backed up by Sony Experia Care on the phone. Like others on this blog, I was told to send it to their repairers for 'assessment' and in the course of the conversation they do not acknowledge that there isn't a common fault with the Z, they didn't know about this blog nor the topic with 15 pages of complaints even though Jeff of Sony Xperia Support has posted a reply on it albeit feebly on page 1 nor do they acknowledge that there are complaints to BBC Watchdog nor a facebook campaign.

Reading through the blogs I see that there is a reply from Mobile Device Workshop stating ''  This is a very common issue on this particular device, it is a shame that Sony do not accept this repair under warranty. We can successfully repair the device with a brand new genuine part. This repair is NOT BER (beyond economic repair) as Sony warranty repair centres claim, the part costs us around 60 pence to buy and we offer a complete repair service including the parts, handling, fitting, testing and return delivery by 1st class recorded post for only £29. The reason we are offering such a competitve price is that we feel Sony is being unfair to their customers''  It would be interesting to know how many of these repairs enquiries they have had.

I have always had Sony Ericson and laterly Sony phones, I love them including my faulty Z However the lack of customer service and feeling of distrust I now have for their warranty and repair / replacement procedures has me questioning that loyalty.

Had this been a car as opposed to a phone, Even if the risk of failure was marginal, the product would have been recalled and repaired with the offending part redesigned and replaced free of charge both as a safety issue( these ports can get very hot!0) and a GOODWILL gesture

[Cazbandicoot]

Hi All!!

I'm yet ANOTHER customer who has received a perfectly awesome Sony Xperia Z phone (had it for about 18 months) except that it has this horrendous design flaw and Sony don't want to take responsibility for it!!

I just received my repair quote back from Telstra today: $350. Can't I buy a new phone for that amount?? One that's NOT a Sony and doesn't have this design flaw?? I'm not buying a dock just so I can keep the phone!! I'm not THAT attached to it.

I've joined the Facebook group and I'm telling Telstra that I expect Sony to pay the repair bill. If they're not going to pay it, maybe Telstra will help out?? I've been with them for over a decade (nearly 2!) I always replace my phone at the end of my contract (this one is due for "renewal" in November) and go on another contract with Telstra, so I'd be very disappointed if they let me down too. I'm very brand loyal and not sure I can defect on TWO brands in one day!!

I also don't want to pay the $50 assessment fee!

[MDJB]

Please may I have your business details seeing as Sony seems not to be trusted with the repair, incase I need to send my phone off for the same repair! 🙂

[johnsol]

I agree with you it is a defect same thing happened to me.  I am now paying on a phone that I can not use for the next year and a half.  I know ha e to go without a phone until I can afford a new one.   I will never buy anything from sony again since I can't even trade in.  Thanks sony I am now paying for a phone I can't use and can't afford another one.  Good job

[Mikesoft98]

Guess what? I also have the same problem with my Sony Xperia Z.

Last Sunday evening I plugged my mobile into charge before I went to bed, to find that the LED icon didn't light up. A closer look revealed that the phone wasn't charging at all. It appears that the charging socket on the phone is broken and I have absolutely no idea how this happened. Considering that a flap covers the socket during the day, it's bizarre that it should suddenly break. On reflection the phone has always had issues when charging (sometimes it would take a few attempts for the charger to register with the phone).

Phone is currently sent off to repair by Sony. Still waiting to hear back to see if the fault is covered by the warranty but, after reading forum replies, fear accidental damage may be raised! This phone is clearly a victim of poor design and cheap parts. Not a happy customer at the moment, I hope Sony makes things right.

Keeping my fingers crossed. Otherwise I'll kick up a fuss with Sony, have a little tantrum with Three and speak to some of my friends in tech journalism in the UK. From the looks of it, the first Xperia phone was a nightmare for Sony. 

[Mikesoft98]

No surprise here. Just called Sony repair and apparently this design fault is not covered by warranty. They want to charge £45 for repair. I grant, the repair could be larger but this is not the point. The mobile model clearly has a design fault and now they want to charge me for it. I'm fighting it but could potentially have to wait up to 30 days now.

Not a happy customer.