Mitsubishi DLP Television WD-57831 Class Action Lawsuit

Thanks wes, I had the sensor replaced early on - the resolved the initial false overheating issue. The bulb thing is an altogether different animal.

I bought this used 3 years ago and it worked well for near 18 months. Then the bulb expired. To date have tried 3 replacements at avg. cost of $108 each. Result is super low light, and constant flashing error lights.No service calls as yet.

I was able to clean according to directions in the user manual, but that has not made a difference.

No shortage of screaming by owners all across the Internet. What a monumental public relations disaster for Mitsubishi.

Is the model number WL-82913? If so, you might check out
http://www.bulbtogo.com/rear-projector-tv-/-rptv/lamp-for-mitsubishi-wl-82913-rear-projection-tv/prod_5773.html

I had the same problems 2 bad lights and now a sensor shutting down the TV.Called mits they said they will replace up to 3 years the sensor but not labor. Had to call Costco to find out when I bought it turns out it was Oct 6 2006. I mentioned that when I purchased the TV I wanted an extended warranty and they had told me they do not offer that BUT if I ever had a problem or did not like TV I could return it, which they confirmed in my phone call So I packed up TV, brought it back after 4 years, they gave me all my money back. Their new policy is 90 day return. I then purchased a 60" Sony with a blue ray DVD surround sound plus new phones and other stuff for the house and came out of Costco having to pay $1.67 out of my pocket.
Gotta love the place. So if any of you bought your TV way back when from Costco they are honoring their old policy that was in force at time of sale
salute

All of the repair people, including Mits, that I've called are trying to tell me that I need a new light engine. I tore it down last night and I did not have any build-up like many here. Thanks for the instructions, btw!

Anyway, I'm getting a very strange outline on certain types of color situations. I actually figured it was a light engine/cleaning issue by what I was reading but like I said, that does not appear to be the issue. I have had no warning lights and the TV works well for about 5 mins until I get this "pixelation" issue. The TV was purchased at the beginning of 2007 and I'd like to get another year or two out of it. I've contacted Vigil White and left a message however, I'd like to make sure what could be causing this before I fork out for a bunch of replacement parts.

When I first turn on the TV it has a nice picture...

http://a.imageshack.us/img338/6365/mitstelevisionissues001.jpg
By andradab at 2010-08-16

After about 5 mins the picture degrades considerably. Still viewable, but extremely annoying.

http://a.imageshack.us/img338/6365/mitstelevisionissues001.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Looks like a light engine is going out. If the picture quality continues to get worse the longer the tv is on then that would be my guess. Mits has tons of issues with there DLP tv's.

Thanks for the reply. I've got an email out to Vigil White with these pictures. Sorry, I thought this page allowed images. At least one other person said their unit did this just before the lamp went out. I'm crossing my fingers either way!

It does get worse to a certain point, then it stabilizes to this:

http://yfrog.com/9emitstelevisionissues001j

Not sure about anyone else's TV, but this is one of the many ways my TV looks while the light engine is going out.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9281/solarizedtvimage.jpg


Oh yeah, TV started turning itself on lately too. Not off...on. I hope that's caused by something other than the light engine or bulb and can result in a new set.

Mine is crisp for the first few minutes..

Before:

http://img375.imageshack.us/i/mitstelevisionissues006.jpg/

After:

http://img338.imageshack.us/f/mitstelevisionissues001.jpg/

Don't buy another Mits buy something else. LCD or Plasma's are better anyway plus a different brand name better companies.

I disagree with the poster above. This TV has been great. After 3 1/2 years (with the exception of the last week) has performed flawlessly...not even a single bulb change. On top of this the PQ is on par with LCD of today...and it's over three years old! Mits is ahead of the curve for sure. They sometimes just put things to market a little to soon. That said:

Quick UPDATE:

Mits (Vigil White ) has agreed to have a technician look at the TV for free as no one seems to know what is causing my issue. It could be a number of things according to the engineers and they appear to very interested in an official diagnostic.

Contrary to popular opinion, the communication with these guys has been VERY positive. They have responded within the time frames that were promised; and, to be honest I'm surprised that they have gone to the lengths they have in order to resolve my issue, considering it is outside of the extended warranty period. Granted, a TV with only 2500 hrs (regardless of it being only 3 1/2 years old) should not cost more to fix than what it was worth new...IMO.

I will update this thread as we proceed. Thanks to everyone who has provided information. As consumers, we have an added responsibility these days to be informed. Not only to our wallets but to the environment. The "throw-away" mentality that is so prevalent was created by industry at the hands of consumers. Which means we also have the power to reverse it.

Cheers~!

Great for you as you're one of the few that has been or will be taken care of by Mits. For the thousands of others that have complaints regarding DLP tv's that got nothing done with their TV's I take it that you can help them out. Just start at the beginning of this thread and contact each one of them. While you're at it you will see an Attorney's name on here that you can contact as well so you can help those people out too.

My family has owned Mits tv's for years. The first big screen lasted 10 years. Their second one is on around 10 years no problems either. My DLP big screen light engine went out around the 2 year mark. Many others have the same problems as well as numerous problems with the bulbs going out left and right thus the reason Mits came out with the laster DLP. Plus module problems etc.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but my opinion of mits has changed. I had to run through hoops to get stuff taken care of and speak to people who couldn't even speak english. Then when I did get a hold of someone at Cal Irvine location they basically laughed and hanged up on me.

I have a Panasonic TV with no problems and caring English speaking customer support. My next big screen will either be a Panasonic plasma or an LCD made by Sharp. Mits got out of the Plasma and LCD market as they can't compete.

I'm not interested in a p!ssing match. Maybe I should have been a little more discreet with my reply to you.

I'm not questioning the validity of the complaints from previous posters, but you have to remember that the customers that have had GOOD experiences are not likely looking/posting in these threads. So for every hundred or so that complain here, there are at least that many HAPPY customers (probably many more). The majority of people you find complaining are generally looking for a venue in which to air their frustration. I'm not condemning that, either. I actually EMBRACE it!

I approached these guys with a firm understanding of how I wanted to resolve the issue. I felt I was fair in my requests and communicated them accordingly...sometimes there has to be a good balance of patience and persistence. I researched ALOT, and in the end the legwork payed off.

AS far as your comments regarding helping EVERYONE, you should consider that I really had no obligation to post my experience. Just letting some folks know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

You're entitled to your opinion. Doesn't mean that we are going to agree, because it's obvious that we don't.

And no one said you were questioning the validity from previous posters.

For you there was light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean there is for everyone else. You can see that from the posts on here.

Let me add...I also did not use the potential legal action, which according to this thread was thrown out)as leverage, nor did my very first post post ask to be included in the class action without having followed Mits protocols. I'm not exactly thrilled that I had to go through the whole process of speaking with those scripted advisers in Jackassikstan, but I did not let that detour me either.

Face it, most people don't even know this sight exists. The fact is Mits was totally irresponsible in selling this TV when they KNEW the technoligy was flawed, and then they've completely failed to stand behind it. For me it was a $6,000 nightmare which went on for 2 years until I gave up and threw the TV away. Don't be so condisending to all of us who can't afford dispposable T.V.'s...If you don't want a PISSING match, don't start one...

It's not like I haven't "been in your shoes" I'm just posting my experience, and the outcome, which happens to be favorable in this circumstance.

As stated I don't underestimate the tribulations of others. However, I do feel that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach things. Reading through some of these posts, it would appear very few people have actually followed the necessary steps; I'd venture to guess that many others simply got frustrated and gave up. Like I said; It's a combination of patience and persistence.

Patience and persistence. You don't know how much I went through or others to get things done as you're speculating on that. You're stating that others on here probably gave up. Many of them probably did after getting the run around with Mits outsourced support over in the Philippines and/or Taiwan.

There was 2 Lawsuits against Mits in California over problems with these TV's and I personally spoke to one of the Lawyers. I heard that someone was filing a case back east as well. Now if Mits was taking care of everyone there wouldn't be enough complaints coming in for Lawsuits to be filed. You can keep responding to me, but you're not going to change my opinion on this company.

I can appreciate your argument, but I'm not here to change anyone's mind about Mits. In a nutshell, I'm simply providing feedback from an experience.

I've thought about it, and maybe I was a little over zealous to post such a positive review. I'll take your advice and reserve judgment until it is resolved.

Ill update as it develops.

Thanks.

Hello everyone. I have been using Cnet for years, but this is my first time on the forums. I stumbled unto this one when I googled about defective Mitsubishi tv's.
I have a WD-65833, only 2 years old, and already junk. I had strobbing in the upper left of the screen, (light engine?) then the infamous BGLOD. Long story short, many emails were useless and the one phone conversation I had was not fruitful either.
I was also one of the unlucky owners of the SXRD Sony tv's with the optical block problem. I finally got a satifactory resolution to the Sony issue through a facebook page concerning defective Sony tv's. Once I joined, I was contacted by a Sony rep, and after some back and forth negotiations, I have a 2010 model (refurb) Sony 52" LED-LCD (KDL-52EX700) on the way right now, For Free! Obviously, Sony wants to keep it's customers more that Mitsubishi does.
There is now a new facebook page for us owners of junk Mitsu's. The name of the facebook page is: "I have a defective Mitsubishi tv" I'm posting this anywhere there are people who've had it with Mitsubishi, and wants them to step up and do the right thing. Offering to pay for parts definately doesn't cut it. Anyone worrying about people seeing your info on facebook don't sweat it, you can hide everything. I joined solely to get help with my Sony problem and it worked! I'm thinking if we can get as many owners as possible in one place, complaining about Mitsubishi's lack of quality, customer service, and the fact that they knowingly sold defective technology, it can only help. Maybe Mitsubishi will wake up, because I, for one, will boycott ALL Mitsubishi products if they don't make this right!

Well, it must be working. They sent me a new light engine and a bulb FOC. I had to pay the installation, but I figure it's worth because then it's at least warrantied. The picture is great! Did I mention that it was 3.5 years old and well out of warranty? Yep! I asked for a bulb ( I was willing to pay for it) because I know this one is close to it's expected life span, and they sent it also FOC. YMMV...

Many thanks to videobruce for his input and the tech sheets.

Can you tell me specifically who you contacted at Mits? Telephone #. Thanks
jc

I was burned on a WD-57831 when the optic engine went after three years, and that was after replacing 4 bulbs. Customer service did little for me, claiming they would only cover 1/3 of the cost of repair. Obviously their TV's have known problems which even Mitsubishi recognizes, but they don't care about retaining their customers. I had to cough up another $3.5K, but this time it was to another TV manufacturer. One shouldn't have to pay over $3.5K for a defective TV, one that lasts only 3 years. Shame on you Mitsubishi!