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Cracks on Forerunner 645 Music body

Hello garmin users,

I just wanted to highlight some issues I recently discovered on my black645M. I have it since March and had no issues till last week.

When I removed it after a run, the band detached itself and that's when I discovered that the body was cracked where the band pin inserts into the body of the watch
What's worse (if that's possible) is that after inspecting the entire body, I've found that the 3 other holes for the pin were also starting to crack.

I am very cautious with my watch that has never been shocked in any manner. I do switch bands sometimes (official garmin bands) and I'm always careful when doing so.
I don't understand how this piece can be so fragile after only 9 months of not so heavy use, I'm wearing it daily at work and I've been running with it only around 40 times (no swimming).

I've just returned it to the shop as it is still under warranty and I hope that Garmin won't make any trouble to replace it but I'm now afraid that such an expensive piece of gear may not last that long finally... My previous Vivoactive HR died after 9 months also but this time it was after a one sessions at a swimming pool so the water proofing was probably faulty that time.
I can't afford a Fenix Chronos that is full metal nor want to carry such a heavy watch, the F645M is the perfect size for me and has the functions I want in a watch...

I'm adding some pictures of the cracks so you can see what it looks like.

I've seen similar posts for other models but nothing so far for this watch. Has anyone faced that already? ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1431516.png ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1431517.jpg
  • So the best solution to avoid this situation again and beeing without a watch for ~ half of a month or something worse (i was using a watch  intensively for training and i'm really missing it) after getting back FR645 will be just sell it, especialy if it will be a new one.

    I got used to garmin stuff, functionality of 645 is quite enough for me (more time on gps ofc will be apreciated :) ), I am also garmin pay user, sIze, weight and looking of 645 its just perfekt for me.

    I will decide what to do when I get watch back. Maybe fenix 6s

  • During the 14 months I have been using mine, I changed strap 3 times, just that.

    I believe that Garmin merely chose the wrong plastic for the watch. I have had many plastic watches in the past, much cheaper than 645 and I've never seen anything like that. Even cheap Casios don't have this kind of problems.

  • I have never changed the strap and yet they are broken 2, this watch is poorly designed and it is outrageous for Garmin to put it on promotion to finish the unsold rather than withdraw it from the market, 645 must be removed from production because at least half break.

  • At least half break? Where did you get that info? If that would really be the cause I would expect much more users complaining here. But I agree with you on the part that this should not happen.

  • I have seen it on other Garmin watches as well (e.g. a vivoactive HR).

  • I had the issue yesterday with my watch.  Bought it early 2019.  Very disappointing....I just said f it and used some super glue to fix it.  I’ve bought so many freaking Garmin forerunners seems like something weird like this happens with each model.

  • I am seriously thinking to reinforce the replacement they sent me, when I'll receive it. I could cover the whole lugs with epoxy glue and then use a TPU case. No visible cosmetic change and-maybe-stronger lugs.

  • There is no solution to repair or strengthen a wrong Garmin project, they have had our money one by one and must give us a valid product, they must withdraw this model from the market and facilitate you with scrapping to another without any construction defects.

  • Not a bad idea.  I used Gorilla Super Glue Gel and it looks like it will hold up for now.  Doesn’t look great but not really noticeable unless you were looking hard for it.   For the types of activities the watch supports you would have thought the watch would have been designed for some expected twist of wrist movements.  I’m not familiar with TPU case.

  • Agree.  Also I was wrong about when I bought the watch.  It was spring 2018 but still no excuse for a $400 watch construction lasting only two years.  I did email Garmin and will see what they say.  Other than this issue I really haven’t had any problems with the watch but this is kind of a major design flaw.