Joycon Drift Repair - Send to Nintendo or DIY?

PurchaseAnxiety on 04/03/2022 - 12:12
Last edited 07/03/2022 - 12:30

I finally started using my Switch on the go more, only to find that my left joycon has massive drift issues (mostly used pro controller before). I know Nintendo US is repairing joycons for free, but I've found conflicting reports as to whether Nintendo AU is doing the same. I've found a few posts from about a year ago, with some people saying they simply sent the joycons in and got them back repaired, with no communication from Nintendo about cost. While others say that Nintendo ask for a fee to repair, but only after they've been sent in. If you decline the repair, they still charge an appraisal fee. The most common scenario, seemingly, is that they ask for proof of purchase before repairing for free. I bought my switch in 2017 from an ebay seller, so not only can I see them taking issue with this but it's also questionable as to whether ACL applies.

So all up, it sounds like too much of a gamble sending them in and I should really follow one of the many DIY guides. But I was wondering if anyone here had any recent experiences with sending them into Nintendo. If so, how did you go?

EDIT: Thanks for the responses. Sounds like DIY would be the least amount of hassle so I think I'll be going down that path.

Gaming Game Controller Nintendo Switch Accessory

Comments

  • subywagon on 04/03/2022 - 12:27
    +1

    I'm going to repair mine myself and not risk the muckaorund from nintendo. It seems easy enough.

  • WattoWatson123 on 04/03/2022 - 12:28

    In the exact same boat pretty well buying mine via a deal on eb games ebay page!

  • Seraphin7 on 04/03/2022 - 12:32
    +1

    it's also questionable as to whether ACL applies

    I would have thought it's going to be pretty hard to claim ACL on a peripheral five years after purchase … frankly, I think you'd be flat out getting the whole console through under those terms.

    • Vinnie Vegas on 04/03/2022 - 14:18
      +1

      The reason it still applies in most places is that it was a known defect and they continued selling faulty products, knowing the failure rate was high.

      If a company sells a knowingly defective product, their legal obligation to the consumer will theoretically not expire at any point within the life of the product.

      • stirlo on 04/03/2022 - 16:39
        +1

        ^ Exactly. This is a known product defect that if it was in anything but a toy would have required a recall.

  • nephilim on 04/03/2022 - 12:35

    Nintendo Au always been random at support, sometimes they do things for free, other times charge.

  • Hybroid on 04/03/2022 - 12:56

    Try to fix it yourself and once it breaks, get a new Joycon set. 5 years is reasonable for a controller that's already pretty poor durability wise.

  • silverrat23 on 04/03/2022 - 13:13

    Probably the easiest fix (if you go down that route) is to slip a thin piece of cardboard right under the control stick module.

  • CrispyChrispy on 04/03/2022 - 13:34

    My older brother has fixed probably 5-6 joycons from friends who've experienced joycon drift with their controllers.

    Order the parts off AliExpress and DIY, and it'll come up much cheaper than sending it to Nintendo. Takes less than 15 minutes to do.

  • stirlo on 04/03/2022 - 13:41
    -2

    I've played only around 200 hours on my switch in 5 years so they can get f#$ked if they say it's not covered under ACL. I'm just waiting for the cheap extra set I bought on eBay to arrive and then I'll post the originals to Nintendo for repair.

    They already sent me a prepaid postage label without asking any questions when I logged a support job so I think they're probably just fixing them all. The biggest issue is being without a controller for weeks waiting IMO…

    • zonra on 04/03/2022 - 14:19
      -1

      Things deteriorate with time as well, not just usage.
      Imagine clocking 500 km on a new car over 10 years and expect to get a brand new replacement should anything go wrong at the end of that 10 year.

      • stirlo on 04/03/2022 - 16:38
        +1

        This is a multibillion dollar company that shipped a known defective product. It's not the age of the product its the whole design of joy-cons that's faulty. Of course they should fix it.

  • Caped Baldy on 04/03/2022 - 14:15

    I've got first hand experience replacing the joysticks and taking the joycons apart. Should take 30 mins to an hour.

    Follow the instructions here.
    https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Left+Joy-Con+Joystick+Replaceme…

    You might be able to get Nintendo to repair but who knows how long it will take.

  • 87percent on 04/03/2022 - 14:39
    +1

    I sent mine to Nintendo about 6 months ago. It does take about a week to get it back - luckily they’re not too far from me and I could pick it up

  • KarlDilkington on 07/03/2022 - 12:17

    I'm going through this right now and I'm not sending them the joycons until I get a response to say that they will fix drift issues for free.
    So far I've sent about 3-4 emails and all the guy keeps saying is we need to inspect the item first.
    My question is not about mine in particular, my question is if it is the standard drift issue, is it free. So painful.

  • Benbenbenben on 07/03/2022 - 20:25
    +1

    In my experience they probably would have just fixed mine for free no questions asked if I hadn't swapped out the joycon latches for metal ones, and left them in when I sent it for repair. Mine were about a year outside of warranty at the time.

    They fought me on it as they tried to argue that me opening up the controllers introduced the possibility that I caused the issue, and that even opening up the controllers voided my warranty. I had to remind them that opening devices you own does not void your statutory warranty, and it was pretty far-fetched to try and argue that me installing metal latches into the joycons somehow could have caused the drifting issue, something that is well documented and widespread.

    Eventually they replaced both my joycons with new ones at no charge, chose to replace them rather than repair as they said they couldn't effectively guarantee workmanship with controllers that were tampered with. I wasn't bothered about losing the metal latches but in hindsight I would have returned the controllers back to stock to avoid the back and forth with Nintendo.

    In future I might just get replacement analogues and do it myself, probably quicker and less faff, but definitely I would expect Nintendo to repair/replace at no cost for drifting under statutory warranty. You can expect the devices to last a reasonable amount of time and for them to have failed within the active lifespan of the console, for an issue that is widespread, the statutory warranty will have you covered. I still have Gamecube controllers with more hours used than the joycons I sent back, and they are working fine, getting close to 20 years on.

  • stirlo on 09/03/2022 - 13:47
    +2

    Sent mine to Nintendo for repair today. Purchased November 2018. Will reply with what they say/do.

    • stirlo on 22/03/2022 - 09:53

      Package was delivered to Nintendo on 11/03.

      I didn't hear anything from Nintendo about it

      I now have a package being posted back from Nintendo on 21/03.

      Hopefully it contains my repaired Joycon :)

      • jetcat on 22/03/2022 - 10:00

        I also sent mine (purchased in Nov 2018) to repair last week. Exactly the same experience.

        No one from Nintendo contacted me and a package is coming back tomorrrow.

      • stirlo on 23/03/2022 - 14:52

        Package was delivered today (23/03)

        The repair notes say the Analogue Stick was defective and replaced. It’s definitely my joycon repaired not a replacement.

        As a bonus they included a Grookey pin in the box!

        • jetcat on 25/03/2022 - 13:15

          I had the exact experience. The joycon stick was replaced and there was a Grookey pin the in package. :)

          • AndrewMTG on 13/04/2022 - 02:29

            @jetcat: Hi guys I'm interested in doing this!!! I got a switch v1 console for 150$A! Ain't that a bargain came w his online acc w a few decent titles but definitely atleast 200$+ in value and a physical copy of zelda botw. The screen has a minor thingy(like a line or a scratch like a pencil size across the glass but only like a visual thing that u don't see when the screen is on it's like a smudge) on the glass which is somewhat annoying but honestly it's fine.

            The bigger issue is the right or left joycon has drift, probably both considering it's original model, did you guys have proof of purchase cause I got this second hand an all, how do I send post it? Is it free to post??? I legit don't even wanna spend a dime to post it if i don't have to jk idm if it's less than 10$ but do I just send like what do I do and then they just ship it back to u after?! That easy?? I don't have proof of purchase and sent a support req but definitely don't wanna spend 20$ when I know there is literal drift issue yk. I live in VIC would rather go to the repair centre lmao

            • SpeedRunnerLink on 11/05/2022 - 21:36

              @AndrewMTG: Search on YouTube for a fix where you stick in a business card thick coin sized piece of cardboard and it will fix the issue. I did I ta few times and each time it’s fixed it

      • cheapass88 on 03/01/2024 - 22:09

        I know this is old. But did you need to provide proof or purchase? Where did you send it to? Not sure where to follow.

        Cheers

        • splicer on 22/03/2024 - 11:10

          Yes, you need proof of purchase (or pay in full to fix it)

          I've had 2 joycons repaired by Nintendo Australia. Look on their website for a form to fill out.

          I had a receipt from 2019 and they repaired one a few months ago (2023), so they honour well-after the 1 year warranty period.

          Just start taking photos of receipts, move 'em to a folder. It's not hard, it soon becomes second-nature.

  • The Value on 13/05/2022 - 19:05

    Those joycon screws strip easily!

    • SpeedRunnerLink on 14/05/2022 - 13:51

      only if you dont have the proper tools and apply enough pressure.

      I have opened many joycons and did repairs/shell swaps without issues to the screws

  • 265chemic on 18/02/2024 - 13:56

    I've had luck spraying silicone spray under the little rubber hood. Seems fairly long term fix

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