Nintendo has acknowledged the that a small percentage of Nintendo Ds Lites outer case may crack around the hinges. I looked online to see what can be done about the cracks and found out that Nintendo will fix the crack for free, maybe.
I called Nintendo Support (contact info at the bottom) about my cracked DS and the nice customer rep asked me a few questions like “was the DS Lite dropped, or was the DS Lite opened too far back? Then she asked me when I bought the DS and asked for the serial number on the back of the DS then she checked the system to see if the DS was still covered under the warranty. With my serial she knew exactly when I bought it and where I bought it (Toys R us). It turns out I bought it less than a year and was still under warranty, yay for warranty.
So now I have to send in my DS for their technician to check and see if they will fix it or not. The phone rep said their technicians can see if the DS lite has been bent back too far, and if that was the case they may not fix it. They will just ship it back to you with reasons why they didn’t fix the DS. If they do not fix your cracked DS and you want it fixed it will cost you about 55 bucks, ouch that hurts.
So that’s where I’m at right now they sent me an email with instructions on shipping and tracking info and the current turnaround time is about 14 to 21 business days. Hope this information can help some of you with the same DS Lite cracking issue.
To contact Nintendo about cracked and broken DS Lite plastic casing and hinge go to their support site here and under DS Lite select ” Plastic Housing and Hinge Issues” and from there you can call their number for assistance. Good luck.
ouch brother I feel for you. I guess you were one of the 14% of DS lite users who experienced the cracked hinge problem.
omgosh, I just called to Nintendo about DS lite cracked hinge, and the c.s said I still have my warranty if I don’t, I have to pay $75. Then he said I can have a walk-in service to fix my DS that I have to pay for $25 + tax = $56!! And I thought they will fix it for free!?!?!?!?! :[
why don’t the want us to get it fixed for free I really think this sucks balls that my ds has a crack and they won’t fix it for free. what should i do?
same for me, mine has never been dropped and i recently noticed the crack. i called and they want 75 bucks to fix it. im going to tell them it affects gameplay because it kind of does. its a lil harder to open it up and it feels like the entire hinge is going to break off now. hell it wont even stay open to the right angle anymore. hope that bitching about it will get em to fix it for free.
That is TOTALLY UNFAIR! And here’s some interesting information for you! I have the exact same kind of ds lite as in the picture *a crimson and black one* and GUESS WHAT I looked closely at the pic and my ds lite has the SAME EXACT CRACK IN ITS HINGE IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT AND IT LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ONE IN THAT PICTURE TO THE POINT! They wouldn’t take back my ds to fix it before the warrenty and then the last time I asked my brother to call them for me and they asked him when my warrenty was over with and it was to late! They held it off for all of FIVE MONTHS when it could’ve been replaced!!! Now I’m waiting to get enough money to buy the new DSi for a replacement… but I still have to keep my DS lite until I migrate all of my poke’s from emerald to Diamond… Still it agrivates me that the american nintendo people would do that! Well just thought that I’d inform you about the same exact crack in my ds lite and the one in your pic (dunno if that’s yours or not but… yeah…) Sorry for the long message!
Sorry, forgot this but my ds also smashes down on my thumbs when I play new super mario bros! I tried keeping it open without falling with a rubber band but that some times made it WAY WORSE! I wonder if they can be sued for not fixing them for free when it’s their fault for not making sure they’re all ok! PLUS the only time I dropped it was when it was about five inches away from the floor, and the floor was CARPETTED!!!
my ds has a hinge crack to and i got it on christmas 2009 will they still fix it for free?
Oh yeah, for sure cause it’s still under the one year warranty.
I have had my LE pokemon DS for less than a year ….and now has the same crack……had the crimson one before ….and it had the cracked hinge also….They fixed my crimson one for free…but i called yesterday ……and now they want $75 upfront for my newly cracked pokemon one……and its still under warrant …….RRrrr…so mad …..I’m reporting to the Federal Trade Commision…….Because it wasn’t from something that I have done…..its has never been dropped ..ect….
Ive had my DS since August 2008 will they fix it 4 me?
Now its September 2009
Yeah, I had 2 DS’ awhile back and BOTH had the broken hinge issue. I called Nintendo too and they wouldn’t fix the problem. So I used both until the hinges completely broke and now no DS’ anymore! Does the DSi or XL have this issue?