Loading ...You might have caught our coverage at the end of May of the seeming problem Samsung was having with their LNT-xx71f (LNT-5271F specifically) panels having dead pixels popup out of the clear blue after a few months of use.
One of the readers, TiVoHD, pointed out that it’s a known issue and referred to as “delamination”. There doesn’t seem to be a direct cause for the problem besides a manufacturing/quality issue on Samsung’s side that is allowing the flaw to sneak through.
To further back the theory was the fact that Chris Hunkele had been two Samsung LNT-5271f sets in 4 months for exactly the same problem (first one swapped out, 2nd one had the panel replaced under warranty) and Chris found out on AVS Forum that Samsung was doing replacements of the xx71f series using the new A650 series in some cases.
Chris tried to get Samsung to replace his 71f series with a A650 but they wouldn’t budge, sending out a panel-replacement crew instead.
NOTE: Chris did mention that the techs told him the replacement panels are produced by a 3rd party and not by Samsung. This might imply that replacement 71f panels may not suffer from the delamination as easily.
NOTE: I had that wrong, the original panels were 3rd party (the ones with the defect), the new ones are done in-house by Samsung.
Chris recorded the whole panel-replacement process and we are waiting on an update from him of how the image looks after the replacement. In the mean time, check out the gallery:
Update #1: Here’s Chris’s take on the process:
The whole process took about it 15 minutes, at one point there were 3 people working on it, with screw gun clutches ratcheting away like a nascar pit crew. The local repair tech was very knowledgeable, and fully aware of the defect. She explained that the first hardware revision’s panels were made by 3rd party, but now made in house, and that the replacement panel was one of the new ones. My tripple ball effect is still not fixed, but that more of a firmware issue. She did mention that Samsung is pulling 120hz from there line up.. It’s giving them too much trouble
Also to note the slight flashlighting has gone away with the new panel.
Fingers crossed, no more issues.
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November 29th, 2008 at 9:24 am
i am having the same problem with “delamination” with my LNT4671? Samsung is sending someone out…??? I have had it one year w/no problems…do you think it’s the same malfunction?
November 29th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Mari,
Very possible, the repair should do the trick, just keep an eye on the repair and make sure the work is warrantied and keep a tight eye on it after the repair is done. Hopefully you should be all set.
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hi there-
I have the same tv with the same problem. Can you please ask Chris if he had to provide the serial # for the tv at any time to the Samsung people: over the phone initially or to the Samsung “pit crew”?
Note:
asking because the sticker was removed when I bought it used.
Thanks!
January 24th, 2009 at 9:53 am
@Anonymous,
Yes I had to provide the serial number to Samsung when I called.
I searched all the informative threads on the tv to see if there is a way to pull serial from a menu with no luck.
Check out this thread on AVS forum, pretty useful for our TV’s:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=893827
Samsung might have some unlisted method, let us know what you find!
April 1st, 2009 at 4:17 am
I purchased a Samsung 42 inch in October of 2007. Last week started out with one dot and now I have 8. I find out these are dead pixels. Called Samsung told them the tv is 1 year and 5 months old. They will not do anything. I am MAD!!!! I told them I will contact every newspaper radio station and Better Business Bureau. this is not right. I called the store where I bought it and they told me $900 to repair it. They are CRAZY!!! People should not be able to get ripped off like this.Now I see over the reviews that there was a problem with Samsung TV’S that year. Why have they not been called back for returns? This is not right.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 am
Called Samsung again on 4/1/09 told them about the problem with these tv’s that were all made in 2007. I was tol that Samsung would not take care of any of my reapirs it was my problem. I know have 10 dead pixels. They are going on a daily basis now. This is bad business. I have contacted the tv news station also on this.
May 8th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Seems I am now having this problem with my LNT5271F as well. Made in 12/2007 so I am guessing it’s one of these problem 2007 units? If I get the panel replaced, what panel should I ask for so I don’t have this problem again?
May 8th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
According to the tech who did my replacement, all the new panels sent out by Samsung should be the new revision.
May 8th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Thanks for that info Chris, very helpful. Might I inquire what I might expect to pay to get the panel changed-out? Just looking for a ballpark figure here. I am based in Chicago, got the name of a Samsung certified repair center from Samsung.
May 8th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
When i was talking to the owner of the repair shop, i asked that very question.. her response was you would be better to just buy a new tv.. Im sorry I don’t have a number for you, hope that helps. If the Tv is no longer under warranty, I would see how far up the chain of command that you could complain. I’m not looking forward to the day something goes wrong on mine, i paid a lot for it
May 8th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Well it’s only going to cost me $100 to find out my options. Paid $3k for the set 15 months ago. Could run $400-$700 is what the guy coming to look at it said it could run me.If it’s sub $500, I would do it (I guess)…if it runs cloer to $1000…no chance. Didn’t seem like complaining to Samsung got anyone anywhere….but I might try that. The television is not even two years old.Samsung should hold some responsibility here in my opinion.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I have the same problem with our 2007. It started with 4 dead pixels, now there are almost 20! I am also very, very mad! Samsung basically told me if I don’t have an extended warranty, I’m out of luck.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I also have 20 or so dead pixels on my LN-T5265F manufactured in Oct. 2007.
It started out with 3 dead pixels two days ago and don’t know how big of a problem this will be. Called Samsung support number and she told me that she can’t do anything since it’s out of its 1 year warranty. Is there anything I can do here? Is it true that I paid almost $2000 for less than 2 years of HDTV experience? I wouldn’t buy Samsung HDTV anymore if I need to buy new tv after 2 years. It supposed to be running over at least 10 years.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Terry,
I’ve seen *a few* folks have luck with out-of-warranty repairs by calling back and discussing with Samsung, but I think the chances are slim to none honestly. This is one of those “you either live with it, or get a new TV” situations.
Do I think that sucks? Hell yes I do, but I don’t think you can get them mobilized in any other way.