[WARNING] PSA: Lenovo USB-C Port Failures – A Serious Ongoing Issue

[Appletax]

Posted only a month ago on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Lenovo/comments/1hhd5ib/psa_lenovo_usbc_port_failures_a_serious_ongoing

I have recommended Lenovo laptops for a while now. I have a Legion 7 and a ThinkPad T14 and I really like them, although the Legion has one of three USB-C ports that randomly disconnects frequently, which I will eventually have repaired under warranty prior to selling it.

I used to recommend used ThinkPads from eBay for those that wanted a very nice computer for a great price, but not anymore due to the huge issue with failing USB-C charging ports. Several of my client's used ThinkPads have had their USB-C power ports fail. At first, it seemed like only some E models were affected. I have a T14 myself and the USB-C port has worked great for the nearly 1 year I've had the laptop. Last month, I had a guy get a T15 and the USB-C port is very wiggly and died less than a month after he got it. Luckily, the second USB-C port works and charges the laptop and it has a 1-year warranty through Allstate. It's a certified eBay refurb.

After seeing so many failed USB-C ports and finding the above Reddit thread, I will no longer recommend USB-C powered Lenovo laptops. It sucks bad that they are soldered to the mobo. The charging ports should be built extra tough or be connected to the mobo by a cable for super easy replacement.

Does this mean Lenovo quality has went downhill? Are other companies having this issue as well? Should I totally avoid all USB-C powered laptops with the exception of MacBooks?

I was a big fan of Lenovo until I learned that they are a Chinese company. It seems like most stuff that's made AND designed in China are junk or inferior to products designed in other nations. I'm a big fan of stuff designed in the USA, Japan, Australia, and European countries such as Germany.

I wonder if there still exists newer Windows 11-compatible ThinkPads that use the old rectangular power port. Perhaps from now on I will recommend Dell business-class laptops instead. I just wish that they had the super sweet keyboards that the ThinkPads use. Hell, I wish all laptops used ThinkPad keyboards. They are dam awesome.

 

[Larry Sabo]

It's a common problem with Huawei laptops, as can be seen in this video. I don't know how many other laptops also have this problem.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

We do a fairly large volume of Lenovo laptops...only the business grade models (So..ThinkPad ..and only the T, P, and X versions, not the E or L versions)

Probably over 600 or 700 of them or more under our watch....and each month...at least a half dozen going out each month some months more.
And since the old IBM T20 models...I've used ThinkPads exclusively myself. (currently use a P14S, prior was an X1 Carbon, prior to that was a T460, ...can't remember beyond that). Going back to my old T20....every single ThinkPad I had....I retired it still working fine, still have a few in a drawer somewhere back at the main office. Never replaced one because it died. Just replaced because....saw a deal on a nice new one when doing some purchase from a distie.

We sell a lot of Dell computers also, and I used to sell all Dell before I went Lenovo maybe 10 or a little less years ago due to....liking everything about them better. We have another one of our guys that is all Dell...and another one that is a mix of both although leans Lenovo. So out of a couple of thousand computers in our RMM....so we get to see a fairly large example of brands/models/reliability.

In reading the Reddit thread there...seems the majority of issues are with the el cheapo E models...1x person mentioning an L and 1x person mentioning a T.

and...just got off the phone with a client, needs more laptops...time to buy some more ThinkPad T or P models...depending on what I see at the disties.

 

[Appletax]

We do a fairly large volume of Lenovo laptops...only the business grade models (So..ThinkPad ..and only the T, P, and X versions, not the E or L versions)

Probably over 600 or 700 of them or more under our watch....and each month...at least a half dozen going out each month some months more.
And since the old IBM T20 models...I've used ThinkPads exclusively myself. (currently use a P14S, prior was an X1 Carbon, prior to that was a T460, ...can't remember beyond that). Going back to my old T20....every single ThinkPad I had....I retired it still working fine, still have a few in a drawer somewhere back at the main office. Never replaced one because it died. Just replaced because....saw a deal on a nice new one when doing some purchase from a distie.

We sell a lot of Dell computers also, and I used to sell all Dell before I went Lenovo maybe 10 or a little less years ago due to....liking everything about them better. We have another one of our guys that is all Dell...and another one that is a mix of both although leans Lenovo. So out of a couple of thousand computers in our RMM....so we get to see a fairly large example of brands/models/reliability.

In reading the Reddit thread there...seems the majority of issues are with the el cheapo E models...1x person mentioning an L and 1x person mentioning a T.

and...just got off the phone with a client, needs more laptops...time to buy some more ThinkPad T or P models...depending on what I see at the disties.

From now on, if I do recommend Lenovo laptops, I will recommend the P or X series. E and L are junk and T is hit and miss, it seems.

On eBay for $289 from a seller with 100% feedback, I found a P14s Gen 1, Full HD 14" touchscreen, Core i7 10th gen, 2GB Nvidia Quadro P520, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe. Nice.

I see I received my used $280 T14 Gen 1 on 10/31/2023. i5 10th Gen, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe, battery in fair condition, full HD 14". I'm kinda drooling over the higher end P series with even better specs for the same price.

I wish IBM were still producing the ThinkPads. That sure could be much better for quality.

X and P > T > L > E

 

[britechguy]

I wish IBM were still producing the ThinkPads. That sure could be much better for quality.

Why? I don't know of any of the major computer makers who have not outsourced the majority of their manufacturing to China for decades now. That included IBM before they sold that business and it became Lenovo.

The Chinese are fully capable of making everything from the very best to pure junk. It's all made to the specifications dictated.

"Chinese-made = poor quality" doesn't hold water even on cursory examination.

 

[Appletax]

Why? I don't know of any of the major computer makers who have not outsourced the majority of their manufacturing to China for decades now. That included IBM before they sold that business and it became Lenovo.

The Chinese are fully capable of making everything from the very best to pure junk. It's all made to the specifications dictated.

"Chinese-made = poor quality" doesn't hold water even on cursory examination.

Made in China doesn't mean poor quality. Designed in China is what I am talking about. Designed, created, engineered, and made in China - 100% totally Chinese. They sell so much garbage. They plague eBay, Amazon, Walmart, Temu, Shein with gobs and gobs of garbage, plus they make lots of counterfeit stuff. They appear to be the king of creating and selling garbage products. I don't worry much about the quality of products made in China that are controlled by companies from other nations that actually design good products unlike the Chinese.

Edit: not that the Chinese are incapable of designing great products but rather that they seem to mostly not have any interest in it. They make lots of money selling stuff that's cheaper or the cheapest. Sooooo many of their products they sell have poor translations to English and sound weird. They won't even give us quality translations. That's low effort big time. And so many have the strangest, most random company names. I don't like it. Not one bit.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yeah IBM "rebranded" sold its computer division to Chinese based Lenovo back in 2005...
However, with most of the business models(especially the better models)....actual manufacturing those those which are sold in the conti US...are made either in Mexico, or at a relatively new facility in North Carolina (opened in 2013). India and China manufacturing for those areas on that side of the globe.

The latest batch of AMD powered ThinkCentre TinyPCs I just got in for a project....I just looked at the boxes...."Made in Mexico". I have a batch of T14s coming in today I think...I'll report where those boxes are stamped from.

As for the T models, vs P models...I don't see any different in quality...they're both top reliability for me. The differences are more internally...the P models have a wider choice of higher end CPUs and discrete graphic card options, and some models more storage options. But quality wise, I have not seen differences....both are top notch beefy. The X models are same quality too..just focused more on "ultra book" slim stuff.

To be honest, I've noticed far less problems with the USB-C chargers versus the older yellow rectangular type. And I like being able to swap power 'tween my laptop, and phone. I regularly trickle charge my laptop from my phone charger if nearby, and regularly fast charge my phone with my laptop AC adapter if nearby.

 

[Appletax]

Yeah IBM "rebranded" sold its computer division to Chinese based Lenovo back in 2005...
However, with most of the business models(especially the better models)....actual manufacturing those those which are sold in the conti US...are made either in Mexico, or at a relatively new facility in North Carolina (opened in 2013). India and China manufacturing for those areas on that side of the globe.

The latest batch of AMD powered ThinkCentre TinyPCs I just got in for a project....I just looked at the boxes...."Made in Mexico". I have a batch of T14s coming in today I think...I'll report where those boxes are stamped from.

As for the T models, vs P models...I don't see any different in quality...they're both top reliability for me. The differences are more internally...the P models have a wider choice of higher end CPUs and discrete graphic card options, and some models more storage options. But quality wise, I have not seen differences....both are top notch beefy. The X models are same quality too..just focused more on "ultra book" slim stuff.

To be honest, I've noticed far less problems with the USB-C chargers versus the older yellow rectangular type. And I like being able to swap power 'tween my laptop, and phone. I regularly trickle charge my laptop from my phone charger if nearby, and regularly fast charge my phone with my laptop AC adapter if nearby.

Interesting info! I wish that the USB C charging ports weren’t soldered since that’s far more of a PITA than simply unplugging it from the mobo.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Interesting info! I wish that the USB C charging ports weren’t soldered since that’s far more of a PITA than simply unplugging it from the mobo.

Yeah, if it could be "not soldered"....IMO that would be a better approach. But I will say...I saw far more "charging ports breaking loose" with the "old style" charger connections....the yellow rectangle ones of the earlier generations, or the round barrels like Dell or HP would use. Far more broken ones back then. But I don't sell or support any of the E models, only did a dozen L models "once" to a client many years ago..they're actually still going. I figure this large volume of failed E's may be a certain production run of mobos? Sometimes a factory sends out a few truckloads of a poorly manfactured run of a product for a few months.

 

[britechguy]

Essentially, the fact that these are made in China, Mexico, and India proves my point and, in a certain way, even Appletax's.

But I disagree that the Chinese are not capable of brilliant engineering, because they are. They're starting to pose a real threat on the world market to automobile manufacturers everywhere else.

The fact that they produce a ton of junk, which they do, is to satisfy a market that exists (and always has existed) for "junk." I am old enough to recall, vividly, when "Made in Japan" was considered a red flag for the worst kind of junk. Japan abandoned that end of the market many years ago, but someone was going to pick it up. The Chinese are "manufacturers to the world" now, and make every level of quality from the worst dross to very fine indeed. You can't use "Made in China" as a reliable indicator of quality. Other information has to be known, as what they make for certain companies (think Apple or Lenovo, for instance) is not going to be what gets sold on Temu. They can design the highest quality, too. You can't become the manufacturing powerhouse that they are without having brilliant designers to build that infrastructure, and that's not the only thing they can design.

 

[britechguy]

Sometimes a factory sends out a few truckloads of a poorly manfactured run of a product for a few months.

Yup. And that can happen in any factory in the world. Often we're really not even talking about "poorly manufactured" in the sense of poorly made. All it takes in computers and electronics is for a bad batch of some single component part to have been shipped to them, and they can put it all together perfectly but that part fails.

The more complex the thing being produced, the more possible points of failure, and some of those points of failure do not originate with the company doing the "final assembly" because even QA is not foolproof. Components that have an insanely short, but not instant, time to early failure can pass QA checks with flying colors.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yup, anyone remember the year and a half or more....of "bulging capacitors"....that plagued all brands of motherboards? Because the majority of capacitors on system boards were made in the same factory, regardless of if they went into Dell, IBM, HP, Asus, MSI, Abit, etc.

 

[sapphirescales]

USB-C is a terrible connection. It's too small and fragile. They should have kept the USB-A connection and added all the features of USB-C, maybe changing the connection so that you can plug it in any direction like USB-C but with a USB-A sized port. But no, we must shave off that extra 1 or 2 millimeters of thickness at the expense of practicality. I'm sick of this obsession with thinness. Give me a 1" thick phone with a 7 day long battery. Give me a 1.5" thick laptop that's easy to upgrade and repair.

 

[britechguy]

USB-C is a terrible connection. It's too small and fragile.

I won't go quite that far, but we're close. It seems that the main drive to USB-C was that one could insert the connector in with either side up and that was "the thing that had to be had."

I would have far preferred that we stuck with mini-USB. Micro USB was as fragile as USB-C, but had the disadvantage that the size of the connection made it well-nigh impossible to tell "which side should be up" with ease. Mini-USB was barely bigger, significantly less fragile, and it was easy to tell which side should be up just as it was with USB-B. USB-A is the "house with the chopped roof peak" style, and I doubt you're referring to that.

 

[sapphirescales]

USB-A is the "house with the chopped roof peak" style, and I doubt you're referring to that.

I have no idea what you're talking about. USB-A is "normal" USB - the USB connection we've been using since the beginning. The same USB connection I had on my old Pentium III Dell Optiplex. The only problem with it was how frustrating it was when you were trying to plug in it. Just keep in the same size and make it so you can plug it in in any orientation and it would be a perfect connection. Basically make it a big a$$ USB-C connection. We'll never have that though because of the tech industry's obsession with making things thin for no reason.

 

[britechguy]

Well, I had USB-A and USB-B flipped in my head. It happens.



USB-B always looked to me, shape wise, like a child's drawing of a house with the roof peak sliced off.

But there is no way that USB-A was going to remain, as it's way too large for too many things. The industry, virtually always, makes its way to a de facto standard by attrition. That's what's happening (pretty much happened) with USB. USB-C is, and will remain, king whether you or I like it or not. The ruling in the EU that all mobile devices, including Apple's, must have USB-C pretty much guarantees that at this point. That was the final nail in the coffin of most of the other styles. Mind you, they'll never go away entirely, but they'll never be "top of the heap" again, either.

 

[GTP]

Why? I don't know of any of the major computer makers who have not outsourced the majority of their manufacturing to China for decades now.

"Chinese-made = poor quality" doesn't hold water even on cursory examination.

This ^^ Most major computer manufacturers, including Apple, have outsourced a significant portion of their production to China for years. The idea that Chinese-made products are inherently poor quality is a misconception that doesn’t hold up upon closer inspection.

Take the iPhone or iPad, for example: these are often praised for their build quality and performance, yet they are also assembled in China by Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.). The focus should be on the quality of the design, materials, and manufacturing processes, rather than the country of origin.

Designed, created, engineered, and made in China - 100% totally Chinese. They sell so much garbage. They plague eBay, Amazon, Walmart, Temu, Shein with gobs and gobs of garbage, plus they make lots of counterfeit stuff.

You raise a valid point about the sheer volume of low-cost, low-quality goods often flooding marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, Walmart, Temu, and Shein. It’s true that many of these products, including counterfeits, are manufactured in China. However, it's important to recognize that much of this is driven by consumer demand for cheap prices.

People are often willing to trade quality for cost, and the industry is simply responding to that demand. While it's understandable to want affordable products, there’s also an increasing awareness of the importance of quality, ethics, and sustainability in purchasing decisions. China, as a manufacturing powerhouse, plays a role in both the low-end and high-end markets, and the real challenge lies in balancing affordability with quality.

 

[sapphirescales]

The idea that Chinese-made products are inherently poor quality is a misconception that doesn’t hold up upon closer inspection.

No but what matters is the company who you're buying from. Dell as a vested interest in making sure the companies they hire in China produce good quality stuff because they have to warranty it and if it burns someone's house down, they can be sued. One of those fly by night Chinese companies on Amazon like XIDOLIEDR has no incentive to make good quality stuff. They just buy a bunch of fake reviews and sell as much garbage as they can before their reputation is ruined. Then they just make another BS company and do it all over again.

In other words, you're right. Just because something is made in China doesn't mean it's low quality, but avoid Chinese companies like the plague because they're not subject to our laws and have NO liability or incentive to make safe, good quality, products and every incentive to make dangerous garbage.

If you do want to buy from a Chinese company, make sure they're also incorporated here in the US so they're subject to our laws. Anker is an example of a Chinese company that would be safe to buy from because they're liable if they sell something dangerous or low quality. They've also been around a long time and have a vested interest in protecting their company name and reputation.

 

[GTP]

avoid Chinese companies like the plague because they're not subject to our laws and have NO liability or incentive to make safe, good quality, products and every incentive to make dangerous garbage.

they have to warranty it and if it burns someone's house down, they can be sued.

These statements are pure garbage! You're talking out of your A**!
So...America has no standard for electrical components?

So none of these regulatory bodies have any say in what the "Happy Valley Apple Blossom Sunshine Rainbow Co Ltd" of Shanghai China sell?

1.​

a.​

• The CPSC oversees the safety of consumer products, including electrical products. It enforces the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), which mandates that electrical products meet certain safety standards. This includes regulations on product design, labeling, and warnings.
• Electrical products must meet specific safety standards to reduce the risk of injury or death from electrical shocks, fires, and other hazards.

b.​

• If the electrical product involves radiofrequency emissions (such as consumer electronics, routers, or communication devices), the FCC regulates electromagnetic interference (EMI) under the Communications Act of 1934.
• Manufacturers must ensure that products do not emit harmful levels of electromagnetic radiation that could interfere with communication systems or other electronic devices.

c.​

• OSHA sets workplace safety standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This includes regulations to protect workers involved in the manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of electrical products.
• Companies must adhere to electrical safety standards to minimize electrical hazards in the workplace, including proper grounding, circuit protection, and insulation.

2.​

a.​

• UL is an independent safety science company that develops safety standards for electrical products. UL certification is one of the most recognized marks for ensuring the safety of electrical products.
• Products such as electrical appliances, wiring, and circuit breakers must be tested and certified by UL to demonstrate they meet safety standards. UL’s standards cover a wide range of concerns, including fire, shock, and mechanical hazards.

b.​

• NEMA provides guidelines and standards for the manufacturing of electrical products. While NEMA is not a regulatory body, its standards are widely adopted and often referenced in regulations for electrical products.
• Products like motors, transformers, and other electrical equipment may need to comply with NEMA’s standards for performance and safety.

c.​

• The IEEE develops technical standards that are important for the development of electrical products, particularly those related to electronics, telecommunications, and electrical infrastructure.
• Products that deal with electronics or communications technologies may need to adhere to IEEE standards for interoperability and safety.

3.​

• Some states may have additional regulations or requirements for electrical products, particularly related to energy efficiency and environmental impact.
• California has some of the strictest environmental and energy-efficiency standards, such as Title 20 (for energy efficiency) and Title 24 (for building energy codes) under the California Energy Commission (CEC).
• Many other states adopt standards that align with or are stricter than federal regulations, especially regarding energy efficiency, hazardous substances, and environmental impact.

4.​

• Electrical products must comply with energy efficiency standards set by the Department of Energy (DOE). These standards are primarily aimed at reducing energy consumption and minimizing the environmental impact of electrical products.
• Products like light bulbs, appliances, and consumer electronics often need to meet specific efficiency thresholds. The Energy Star program, for instance, certifies products that meet strict energy efficiency criteria.

5.​

• Electrical products may contain materials that are regulated under environmental laws. For example, products containing hazardous materials (such as lead, mercury, or cadmium) may be subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) or Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
• The Electronic Waste Recycling Act in some states also mandates the proper disposal or recycling of electronic products to prevent harmful materials from entering landfills.
• The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) standard, which limits certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, is increasingly important, particularly for manufacturers exporting products globally.

6.​

• Manufacturers must ensure that electrical products are properly labeled according to federal and state requirements. This includes safety warnings, certifications (like UL or FCC), and compliance with specific standards (like energy efficiency ratings).
• The Energy Labeling Rule administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires specific labels for electrical appliances and consumer electronics to inform consumers about energy consumption.

7.​

• The National Electrical Code (NEC), developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), provides regulations for electrical installations to ensure safety and proper functioning in buildings. While this is more relevant for construction, it also affects manufacturers who design electrical systems for homes and buildings.
• Electrical products and systems must comply with NEC guidelines when being used in building installations.

Conclusion:​

Companies that manufacture electrical products in the United States must navigate a complex landscape of federal, state, and industry-specific regulations to ensure compliance. The major regulatory bodies include the CPSC, FCC, OSHA, and DOE, as well as industry standards from organizations like UL, NEMA, and IEEE. These regulations cover everything from product safety and energy efficiency to environmental impacts and worker safety. Compliance with these standards helps ensure that electrical products are safe for consumers and the environment.

 

[britechguy]

This statement is pure garbage!

Indeed, because it's well known that manufacturers in China and India and Mexico very often brand exactly the same items coming of exactly the same production lines with different names from major brands to house brands (e.g. Duralast, SuperTech, etc.) to their own branding.

No one sets up separate lines for each and every brand their factory produces. It's way, way cheaper to keep producing what you produced for Bosch, or Lenovo, or whatever, as you've met their specs, and package it as something else. There are no laws against that unless there is proprietary technology involved, and in the majority of cases there's just not.

I've purchased a lot of Chinese "no name" automotive service items, as but one example, that were every bit as good as a number of the house and name brands for the same items. This was no surprise, as they probably rolled off the same lines and were put in a different brand box with a different label, but were, in fact, the same item.

There are very few actual manufacturers, around the globe, when compared to the number of brand names that use them to make what they sell under well-known and long-lived brand names. A number of these brands haven't made these products thing their own factories in years.