Just an idle ponderance… I wonder if an enterprising third-party could cast a bottom cover in aluminium. I should think with the rise of 3D printing and DIY/maker-culture, short-run metal casting should not be too far behind.
Got mine replaced (thanks Eagle) last weekend, and so far so good.. I seem to remember my last set having cracks one or two days after i assembled the laptop, let’s hope it’s been improved/fixed somewhat!
The replacement bottom cover arrived! I did the repair. It took me some time to work through the system. Thankfully the repair guide for the bottom cover was easy to understand and follow along. My biggest headache was the wifi connection terminals. It took a bit of careful positioning (I had no tweezers on hand). I did notice that the new bottom cover has no external stickers on it compared to the old bottom cover. Otherwise, happy in the final result.
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So like a cnc milled chassis like the 13 pro? That would be complex.
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I noticed a few cracks on the bottom of my device. I also have an audio issue. My speakers no longer work. I found this post with a really similar issue ( Speaker failure when getting warm ). They seem to be related. I do not recall the cracks being there last week. This is my second laptop with the issue. My original laptop was replaced due to having cracks on the bottom and a bad CPU fan. Also, my warranty runs out today, so hopefully they cover it. I have the new FW 12 Pre-Ordered, Batch 1. It might get cancelled depending on how this goes.
Edit: I have opened a ticket with support.
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It would be good to know what the framework team told you.
Received my replacement cover friday, along with a torque screwdriver i ordered. plan on replacing everything tomorrow.
I’d like to think this problem will be resolved with the second generation, because I don’t think they would consider shipping a product with such a well-known issue.
Got my bottom cover, top cover, and hinges replaced today. Torqued to 17.5 N-cm (1.78 kgf-cm) with a wera torque screwdriver (about the middle of the 1.5-2.0 kgf-cm torque range supplied by support).
Screwdriver was calibrated and certified to be within +/-6% and tested out to +/- 3% in the calibration certificate so i am sure if a crack forms again with the new housing it will not be from over-tightened screws.
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They kept shipping the 1st generation knowing there was a problem. How many people on here repeatedly got new covers sent to them for them to crack again. Once the warranty runs out it is on you, not them. The original FW 13 with the 11th Gen Intel CPU had a power issue that never got resolved as far as I know.
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A fix was developed for the CMOS battery issue (which would result in the computer failing to power up until it was plugged into a charger). They sent me the parts and I installed them myself.
As for the cracking issue, when others have expressed concern that their warranty was about to run out and they were still having cracking issues, someone from Framework said not to worry, they will continue to take care of people with this issue. Time will tell exactly how it plays out. But they did say that.
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Hey, got a personal update for y’all;
The replacement cover I got for my initial Framework Laptop also started cracking. That is the first attached image.
Support already sent over yet another cover (2nd replacement, 3rd overall cover) and before installing anything in to the chassis, I did a quick fitment test with the keyboard to see if everything lined up.
I’m no material engineer, but I DID notice that the edges where the keyboard screws in to the chassis were not flush with the rest of the chassis. I almost have to wonder if this is more of a keyboard fitment issue instead of a case fitment issue, since that’s what it’s screwing up in to, and causing all of the extra stress.
I’m absolutely certain the engineers over at Framework are trying their best to sort this issue out to the best of their abilities, but it is still frustrating to get replacement parts that fail very quickly. On my most recent case, I screwed it in so the keyboard becomes just baaaarely flush with the outer-rim of the chassis. I’m going to flip my lid if this one develops cracks somehow, too.
Interestingly, support never requested me send back any of the parts, like I’m seeing some folks in this thread.
Lastly, I compared my first replacement chassis to my second replacement chassis. They’re both marked with the manufacture date of 25/11, so in theory these are the ones that have been re-engineered to not have the cracking problems. But I don’t have a ton of faith at this time.
Maybe I’m a sucker, but I want to see this through. I ordered the new mainboard, and plan on ordering the new keyboard when they release it (please list a version with the backlight AND v2 lavender trackpad pretty please!)
Hoping we get some sort of solid fix or resolution to this problem, especially as they’re selling the new generation of this model now…
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Thanks for your insights. AFAIK they never confirmed fix dates for all colors but only one global manufacturing date from which they deemed all the different chassis colorways (at least bottom cover) fixed. That was week 50/2025. The molding stamp you mention is before that and also does not really say much, since only the sticker on the shipping box of the replacement covers are the correct date. I got a replacement cover bottom cover (don’t remember RN, but I think #4 total including initial laptop) that had a week 10/2026 sticker but also a modling stamp from 2025. It’s the first bottom cover that is holding up fine after several weeks and on two trips. Not 100% sure but someone mentioned a post Jan 2026 cover cracking too though, so it might be just delayed.
Just wanted to give some more context to the date you mentioned.
Like you I’m still a big fan and even ordered the new version too. A bit bummed since they did not bother to release non-US backlit keyboards, but it is what it is. Still hopeful our prayers will be answered some day.
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@BigT Thank you for that clarification! Also, I want to thank @Anthracite & @wolfie for their last comments about the cracking. I took some additional photos for support today. During that process I removed the battery which reveals the manufacturer dates. I think the replacement laptop I received back in January was manufactured in October of 2025 and the stamp on the bottom chassis is 25/10, so if I am understanding correctly the unit I received is before the global fix date. If someone want to confirm that I would appreciate it.
The replacement bottom cover on the box for me says 07/2026. Hopefully no issues with mine.
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Similar here, the 1st replacement (that also developed cracks and Framework wanted me to ship it back them) and 2nd replacement have the same manufacturing date 2025.11.15 and 25/11 stamped into the chassis. I suspect those are bottom covers after the manufacturing fix and Framework team wants to investigate those.
I found out his morning that my issue are not being covered under warranty. I am disappointed. I understand the audio issue, but not the cracking. That has clearly been established. I also cancelled my Pre-Order for the new FW 12 as I don’t want to deal with any further cracking issues. On the plus side its time to go laptop shopping!
Woah, you’re saying that warranty won’t cover the cracking either?
@Eagle, can you confirm whether the cracking issue will be covered once a machine is beyond the warranty period?
I am not pursuing anything further regarding my issue. I am just sharing my experience. I am dropping some things off at a recycler next week and I am adding my FW 12 to the pile. I have had 2 FW 12’s in the last 11 months with multiple issues. On my opinion those issues are caused my chassis flex issues. It is the simplest explanation. This thread is proof of that issue.