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General discussion

Mitsubishi DLP Television WD-57831 Class Action Lawsuit

Jul 25, 2007 11:43AM PDT

Hello,

Is anyone interested in getting in on a class action lawsuit against Mitsubishi and their (known?) defective DLP televisions? I've seen numerous posts regarding lamps, ballast boards, DLP engines, total rebuilds, poorly assembled thermistor sensors, air flow problems, useless repairmen, etc. etc.

I too am experiencing the joy of making 3 Diamond Card payments as well as HD cable programming payments all for a television that stopped working back on June 30, 2007 and has had 2, now a pending 3rd, unsucessful attempts by incompetent "authorized repair centers" to fix it. ITS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD!!! Randomly replacing parts without performing electronic troubleshooting is totally unacceptable.

Anyway, please let me know if anyone would be willing to sign some papers and get this thing going.

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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WD-57831
May 21, 2008 7:08AM PDT

I purchased my WD-57831 in March of '07. Received it in April of '07. Periodically throughout the year I'd have the issue where the TV would give the message that it was not receiving enough ventilation and to make sure nothing was blocking the vents. The Tv sits all by itself with nothing blocking it. Now, as of 5/08, the lamp blows. A little over a year. I KNOW my family does not watch enough TV to blow the bulb already. Reading through this forum today, I find out that Mits covers the aforementioned issue. Can this issue cause the lamps to blow prematurely as well? Just curious because when we call Mits about the ventilation error, I'll ask them to replace the lamp as well.

Also, add me to this list. dulles@gmx.com
Thanks.

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The answer is YES!
May 21, 2008 8:13AM PDT

Your problem is the thermal sensor and yes, this causes overheating which causes the lamp to blow. Your model (WD-57831) had the thermal sensor warranty extended by two years by Mitsubishi. The link to the info from Mitsubishi is on this forum on page 22 ... the post # is 324. In other words, YES, I would definitely tell Mitsubishi they also owe you a replacement lamp due to the thermal sensor defect. One more thing ... be prepared for frustration ... the Mits Consumer Relations call center is located in THE PHILLIPPINES (yes, you read it right). Their # is 800-332-2119. If you don't get the desired results, call Irvine, Calif. (headquarters) direct (909-825-7280, ask for Vigil White). It may also be to your benefit to send an e-mail to mdeaservice@mdea.com outlining all your problems with the error messages, lamp burn-out and thermal sensor. That way you'll have everything in writing to back you up. GOOD LUCK! One more thing ... if there is any possible way you can purchase an extended warranty someplace, DO IT. This problem you are now experiencing is only the beginning with these Mits DLP TVs .... I'm afraid you are in for a lot more disappointment in the future. Ask me how I know??

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thank you
May 21, 2008 8:41AM PDT

gohorns, thank you for your prompt and detailed reply. I agree, reading these forums, I am definitely not looking forward to the future of my TV. I will probably start saving for a new one now...

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Well then ....
May 21, 2008 10:12AM PDT

If you plan to start saving for a new TV, I would consider an LCD. We just bought a 32" Vizio LCD (they have excellent ratings by the way) for our bedroom and the picture is actually clearer to me (with HDMI) than my Mits WD-52725!! Or maybe it's just because I'm so DAMN PISSED about all the problems I've had with the Mits?? Plasmas are an option too of course but for the price, I'm finding the LCDs have a great picture with a much lower price point than the plasmas (we paid $587 for our 32" LCD). Vizio just came out w/ a 52" LCD (Model # is GV52L -Vizio Gallevia LCD), for $1800 and I'm seriously considering getting it. You can check it out on the web. Sam's and Wal-Mart sell them believe it or not, and the Dell website carries Vizio too (although I'm not sure if they carry this specific model). I'm sure you can find them @ other places as well. Best of luck to you .....
-Vicki Galloway

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I am scared now!
May 21, 2008 8:57PM PDT

I have a WD-65732 and it gave the error message "TV will shut down in a few seconds. Please check if the air flow is blocked." I bought the t.v 15 months ago and had no problems til now. Of course my cheap *** did not buy the warranty. I checked out Mitsubishi's site and found out about the extended warranty for the issue I currently have. Yippie I thought, because I dont have to pay for the repairs. Then curosity got to me and I found this forum. Lets just say im beyond disappointed with my 15 month old purchase now. Its more like depressed. Ive read all the issues these t.v.'s have and the horror stories. Its sounds like my nightmare is about to begin. Im going to go to the local Mitsubishi dealer where I bought from and try to convince them to give me an extended warranty. Im going to print this forum out as evidence that my model is probably a lemon. They should at least give me a fighting chance on not making the t.v. a money pit for my family in the near future. After all I did paid $2700.00 for quality! Well so at least thats what I thought until read this forum. I will take your advice that you gave others with contacting Irvine and such. I really hope this doesnt turn out ugly for me. If there is anything else you can add for advice, I will greatly appreciate it.

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update
May 22, 2008 1:22AM PDT

Ok. My wife is a 1000 times better and handling these types of issues than I. So I put her to the task of calling Mitsubishi. Happy Anyhow, at first they didn't want to send us a new lamp because the warranty expired a month ago. I had my wife point out that the lamp wouldn't have gone bad if the thermal sensor hadn't been an issue. They agreed and are sending us a new lamp. After that is installed, they will have a technician come to the house and repair the sensor. My wife was on the phone approximately 10-15 minutes with them. 800-332-2119

I'm wondering if word spreading is giving Mitsubishi the heads up that they need to try to repair these debacles.

I'm still saving for a new TV just in case...

Thanks for this wonderful thread. This armed us with how to approach Mitsubishi to have them fix this TV.

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DO THIS!
May 22, 2008 2:21AM PDT

I strongly suggest you find some way to purchase an extended warranty on your TV. Argue your case with Mits .... using the thermal sensor problem as ammunition. I'm telling you, this is only the beginning of the problems inherent with these TVs. If (when?) your DM Module (chassis) goes out, the cost to repair it is $1,223!! It's such a shame that these TVs have such a multitude of defects .... because when they do work, they are great! Plead your case and do your best to get Mits to allow you to purchase an extended warranty. Truthfully, even if we get a new TV out of all this, with all the new technology out there (i.e. more parts to break), I think it will benefit us to always buy the ext. warranty when investing in electronics such as these. Besides that, the darn bulbs run around $250 a piece! Just my two cents ...

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WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE!
May 22, 2008 6:42AM PDT

Just thought I'd tell you ... I finally "lost it" today w/ my warranty people. The TV tech came out to the house to try to fix the current problem ... couldn't fix it and ended up taking my 52" (WD-52725) with him to the shop. The more I thought about it, the more infuriated I got. SO ... I called the warranty folks and DEMANDED my money back or a new replacement TV. WOULD YOU BELIEVE THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE TV FOR ME?? Now I don't have it yet ... they have to locate one .... but I told the lady I wanted the latest and greatest and biggest I could get because I knew it would be WAY less than what I had originally paid for my 52" ($3200 in Jan. 2005). Anyway, she didn't seem to have any problem with that and I also told her I would definitely want to purchase another extended warranty on it and she said when the TV arrives there will be instructions on how to do that. I hate to get my hopes up because I've had nothing but a big hassle with the whole warranty file-a-claim process, but I have to admit, I am gloating just a little right now. Anyway, I know you didn't purchase an ext. warranty but I think if you pursue things like I recommended to you earlier and try to get Mits to sell you one, then you'll be good to go. Will keep you posted on anything else that develops. Again, best of luck to you!
Vicki

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My Replacement will be here 7-10 days
May 22, 2008 6:55AM PDT

The paperwork is finally going through today, but as far as latest and greatest???? I wouldnt necessarily call it that. The best offer I was given through Mitsubishi for my replacement was the WD-60735, which I am sure is a fine replacement of my 52725. They would not replace it with anything else without me paying some. They also said that no local dealers would do any kind of exchance like that, so they have to drop ship it directly. Which is unusual since this is Dallas. I think that if I really wanted to push the issue more, I could get something done locally, faster, and maybe even a better TV, but I am just happy to be where I am right now. I thought about complaining but realistically, any TV has to be better than what I have, and I am sure the newest line of TV's are better than what I spent 3500 bucks on nearly 4 years ago, not to mention, the cost of DLP has dropped significantly with the increasing sales of larger sized LCD/Plasmas, so it is most likely the equivalent line of TV. I also got the warranty I had on my previous TV transferred to the new TV to extend to it's original timeframe, but am definitely going to purchase the extended, extended warranty. Happy I guess beggars cant be choosy.

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Fantastic - Good for you - WD-60735 - WOW!!!!
May 22, 2008 7:17AM PDT

I didnt even get that!!! You must be a great negotiator. I am hoping that have fixed these chronic problems in the newer ones that the first generation was having..
When you get your new TV - you will NOT believe the picture - especially, if you use a HDMI cable and when programs are broadcast in HD - WOW!!!! Like a kid at Christmas. Good luck and keep me posted.

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Suggestion ....
May 22, 2008 11:26AM PDT

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth (so to speak) but have you thought about asking your warranty folks to consider giving you a new WD-57833 (without you having to pay any extra for it)? It is obviously a 57" screen but a later model than the 60" they are currently offering you .... it currently retails for around $2,000. I am just beginning this process w/ my warranty people and told them in no uncertain terms I would not accept anything less than the newer model WD-57833 .... or BETTER! AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AND AGREED WITH ME -- AMAZING!! (of course do I have the new TV in hand yet? HECK NO!!)

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I dont think its a later model
May 22, 2008 11:54AM PDT

According to the Mitsubishi Website, the 60735 is the newest line to be released. They just released it a few weeks ago. This is the website for the press release dated April 7, 2008

http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/img/633950/Mitsubishi%20Digital%20Electronics%20America%20Introduces%20New%20Line%20of%20HDTVs%20Creating%20a%20New%20Dimension%20in%20TelevisionPressRelease.pdf

I did mention the Diamond Series 57833 but they were not willing to go up to the Diamond Line since I didnt have one before. I actually tried to get the 52" LCD, but they wouldnt do that either. So, all in all, I took what I could get, which will be better than the non-working chassisless TV(remote holder) that sits in my living room now, plus warranty coverage for nearly 20 months, and I will simply purchase an extended warranty for another 4 years or so, and hopefully at that point, I wont feel so bad that I spent 3500 bucks for a TV and still have something that is guaranteed through 2013. What it comes down too is that I spent over my head to purchase the 52725 expecting Tube TV shelf life, and got left over bread shelf life. Happy I clearly learned my lesson in not trusting anything that is said by the salesman, and will never buy new technology like that again.

I can say that Mitsubishi did finally step up to the plate and do whats right, at least in my opinion.

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Extended warranty
May 29, 2008 8:01AM PDT

I called Mitsubishi today about getting an extended warranty after purchasing my Wd-65732 15 months ago. The rep told me i was elegible to get an extended warranty up 18 months after buying the tv. She is sending the paperwork for me to fill out right now. This is good news for me because I thought I was out of luck on being able to get it. Hope this info helps those who are in that 18 month window and didnt get an extended warranty.

P.S.
A tech is suppose to come out tomorrow to replace the airflow sensor. The rep told me there will be no cost to me for the service call along as the they are an authorized Mitsubishi tech.

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Are you sure your 52725 wasn't Diamond Series?
May 22, 2008 12:16PM PDT

I thought the only 52725 Mits model was the WD52725 (which is a diamond series TV ... that's what the "D" stands for ... and it appears your replacement TV may still be a diamond series also). I guess it doesn't matter @ this point if you're happy with what they offered plus like I said, AT LEAST they're working with you. The reason I thought the WD57833 was a newer model than the WD60735 is because the 57833 costs around $2000 and the 60735 costs $1799. Either way, I'm happy for you that you will soon have a new TV in your possession and that you'll finally be able to put this nightmare behind you. Please keep all of us posted on the final outcome. Best of luck to you!

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The 52725 was not diamond
May 22, 2008 1:10PM PDT

I tried to see what the WD stands for, but nothing shows why it is titled that. I can only imagine it stands for Wide Display or Wide DLP. If you go to www.Mitsubishi-tv.com you will see all of the DLP Tv's are tagged with WD prior to the number, regardless of whether they are the Diamond series or not, so the D means something other than Diamond. There were three models at the time the WD-52725 was released. The WD-52525, WD-52725 and WD-52825. The WD-52825 being the Diamond series.

The WD-57833 is last years Diamond series model. The 2008 models do not come in a 57 inch or a 60 inch in the Diamond series or I would have pushed hard for one of those. The only new Diamond series models are the WD 65835 and 73835, and are tagged at $3399 and $4699 respectively. Not to mention they arent even available as of yet. Given that I understand my TV is nearing 3 and a half years old, and with standard depreciation, sometimes going with a cheaper newer model is better than just one that costs more. I learned that the hard way with the TV that is currently sitting in my living room.

I was debating between arguing for the 2007 Diamond series 57833 model or the 2008 regular model, but I figured I would go with the newer of the two models since the 2007 models are not getting terribly good reviews and have hopes that Mitsubishi has corrected some of the problems that were chronicled in said bad reviews. Either way, it cant be much worse, assuming it turns on when it gets here. Happy At least one would hope.

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WD52725 Chasis & Light engine Failure
May 29, 2008 3:11AM PDT

I was on this thread a few weeks ago, as my WD52725 TV(that I purchased for $2800 in June of 05) was shutting itself off intermittantly. Since then it has been in the shop for 2 weeks. The authorized repairman told me the TV is scrap and he could not fix it, citing a new chasis and a new light engine may be required to get it running; however he suggested that it is not worth the repair cost. "Buy a new one" he says.
The TV is not even 3 years old yet. I do not have an extended warranty. I will be contacting Mitsubishi. What are the chances they will help me. A $2800 DLP should last much longer than 2.8 years.......

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Help with Purchasing Extended Warranty ...
May 28, 2008 1:28PM PDT

Killerdc ... learned today I am officially getting the same replacement TV you got (WD-60735). According to my (former) warranty company, they ordered it from a website called Foto Connection ... only cost them $1100 (unreal). TV should be here in 10 days or so. I am wondering if you would mind telling me if you purchased the extended warranty for your new TV (I'm sure you did!) and if so, where you purchased it from. Did you find it online through a search engine or something? I definitely want to make sure we are covered on the new TV. It was recommended by someone to try to purchase something called a "Replacement Extended Warranty" which guarantees replacement of the TV if anything breaks (i.e. no more never-ending claims/repairs). Am interested in hearing your recommendations and who you may have purchased your ext. warranty through. Thanks! -Vicki

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Re: Help with Purchasing Extended Warranty ...
May 29, 2008 2:51AM PDT
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Extended Warranty
May 31, 2008 11:37AM PDT

I called Mitsu on Friday to see what they charge for extended warranties. For some reason, the price varied even within the same model. LOL, thats Mitsu for you. She gave me price ranges and said it depended on what my serial # was. Anyway, the price for a 1 year extended was somewhere between 130-150, 2 year 250-300, 3 year 450-480. I left my sticky at work with the exact figures on it, but that is what it came down to essentially. Most likely I will not even buy much of an extended warranty this time around simply due to the fact that I do not want to continue with DLP and the fact that the cost of the extended warranty is nearly 1/3 the price of the TV which is pointless to go 3 years.

I am going to call Warrantech, my current company and see what they offer next. See to me, when I paid nearly 4000 bucks for my TV, 450 bucks for 5 year extended warranty seemed like a good deal, but not for a 1500-1600 dollar TV and only 3 years.

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Replacement delivered
Jun 5, 2008 7:25AM PDT

Got the replacement WD-60735 on Tuesday afternoon and I have to say it looks way better than my old one and is much bigger. I still have not gotten the extended warranty as of yet, but for those of you who are having problems, do not give up hope. Keep pounding Mitsubishi with your complaints and document your problems well. This will make things as easy as possible.

I will post the extended warranty situation when it gets resolved.

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Mine will be delivered tomorrow!!!
Jun 5, 2008 2:07PM PDT

Got the call today that my replacement TV will be delivered tomorrow (same as yours, the WD-60735). Killerdc, I had posted earlier and asked if you would e-mail me so I could tell you something about my replacement that I preferred not to post here. If you get a chance, please drop me an e-mail @ vickigalloway2004@yahoo.com. On another note, I too will be interested in hearing what you decide on for your ext. warranty since it is a given we will get one for the replacement TV. Thanks for keeping all of us informed about everything here. Had it not been for this forum, my husband and I would probably still be sitting here with a dead TV and who knows how many more repairs.

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You won't believe ....
May 24, 2008 2:49PM PDT

My TV repair tech says preliminary checking of the latest problems with my TV indicated ANOTHER CHASSIS FAILURE (this would be my 3rd replacement other than the original chassis)! MIND-BLOWING. Just thought you'd like to know .... will continue to keep you updated ...

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mitsubishi DLP televsion complaints/class action lawsuit
May 26, 2008 9:13AM PDT

We bought a Mitsubishi WD 62825G (62 inch Diamond Series) in November of '06. We paid 3,800.00 plus tax and was never told by the salesman how frequent the lamps would need replaced, much less the cost of the lamps. The timer light is now flashing, I called Mitsubishi, they told me to unplug the T.V., then push the reset button. I did that and the T.V. came back on for no more than 10 minutes, then off again. I called American where we bought the T.V., they sent a repairman out who said it may cost over $300.00 for capacitor replacement or over $900.00 to pull chasis and send back to Mitsubishi to repair and even after this, it still may not fix it. He told me I would probably be better off buying another T.V. My husband and I cannot believe we have had this T.V. for approximately 2 1/2 years, paid this much for it and that's all they can say. We thought we just got a lemon, but we now see we're not the only ones. Please count us in on the suit!!! This is just inexcusable. J and D M.

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Mits WD-57831 - Diagnostic code to determine lamp hours?
May 27, 2008 2:03PM PDT

I just installed my 1st replacement lamp (13 mos. on original), and would like to know hours on original lamp. I read somewhere there is a diagnostic code that can be punched in from the remote to determine this. Can anybody help me with this? We bought the TV in April 2007, and it sat in the box for 2+ months while waiting for a wall unit. I would bet it has maybe only 9 months of avg. use!!! I have been keeping up with all the posts and am not happy. Once again, thanks for any help.

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Lamp timer
May 27, 2008 2:28PM PDT

See post 167 - he explains it very well how to check the timer.
Do it just like he says and you'll see total hours for the TV, not the bulb itself.

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lamp timer correction
May 27, 2008 2:37PM PDT

Sorry - that should have been post 157 dated 2/10/08

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Lamp hours
May 28, 2008 4:18AM PDT

So I checked the lamp hours and need help interpreting the info. This is what is listed across the bottom of the screen:
14966 00100 00000 00000 00035

I believe the first number is total hours since new, but what is the hours of the lamp installed friday of last week? Thanks!

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heres the code!
Aug 13, 2008 10:16AM PDT

hello, you have to hit the menue key then punch in 2470,to exit press
exit..

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Same story ...same TV
May 29, 2008 3:30AM PDT

I have a Mitsu 52in. DLP TV with the same issues ...totally dead TV despite changing out the bulb, and no relief from anyone I have asked on repairing it. Is there a class action lawsuit being initiated, has anyone had any luck in finding a fix?

Thanks for any help!

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Drum roll please .... TV fixed for now
May 29, 2008 3:47AM PDT

After 4 visits from my local repair shop, 1 new bulb, all of the capacitors replaced on 2 bwds, last week a new module bwd replacement seems to be the ticket the Mit 52725 model has been on most of the week after not lasting more than 5 minutes before the bwd replacement. I'm now just waiting to see if Mit will help me with the $800 bill. Good luck and thanks for all the troubleshooting help.