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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

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0 adamcie27 over 5 years ago

Finally, I have got a free replacement for my watch. Perhaps for this reason, it was not completely broken, but only small cracks were visible.
It took so long that for the first time they did not notice any cracks, so I had to send the watch back.
Overall, I'm happy with the Garmin Poland service.

SaidB, hope you will get you repalcemet soon and free of charge.

0 SaidB over 5 years ago

Good morning from sunny Paris,

Garmin accepted my dispute and replaced my watch free of charge.
What a long journey to get standard service!!! I know Christmas period is not the best to get an item serviced but still, two months O_o

Hope you guys won't face such hassle but don't hesitate to push further when you are on your rights...

I'm keeping my watch for now but may get a Forerunner 35 instead as it does all the same (except music) for far cheaper and this one could break without breaking the bank...

0 mtreavis over 5 years ago

I have been a very happy 645 owner since March last year until February when I noticed almost identical cracks round the strap lugs and that the metal cap shifted while changing straps. Referenced this thread when talking with UK support only to be that they're "just scratches" after investigation by the service team. If they were just scratches I wouldn't have paid to send the watch for repair! The good news is that I have had the generous offer of a refurb unit if I pay another £120 :mad:

0 SFRINGER over 5 years ago

I think my FR645 (non-music) is developing a crack on one of the strap lugs as well. I've only had it since November 2018. I don't change straps and don't feel I'm wearing it too tightly. I just started checking after seeing the posts to this thread.
Can't decide if I want to be more proactive in getting a replacement, or "living dangerously" as the crack develops.

0 Scorp1981 over 5 years ago

I just received a brand new FR645 from Garmin Switzerland. I took my time to RMA it, since the first time I talked to a representative he didn't seem very forthcoming. He made an impression, that I won't likely have the watch exchanged. I also knew, that Garmin Switzerland had some internal changes going on, so I bid my time.

Ultimately l phoned again last week and this time, another representative was very helpful and already indicated, that they would exchange the broken watch. So I sent it in and today the new one arrived. My wife is happy and so am I. Especially since the guarantee of two years starts anew and because of this case they'll have a hard time to refuse an exchange, should this problem happen again.

Still, I hope that this one won't break...

0 rtperna over 5 years ago

Funny, I never noticed this thread before... but yes. My 645 (near-launch unit) did the same thing. Garmin USA replaced it free of charge. I sold the replacement and got a Fenix 5 Plus instead. If I have issues with this one, I'm going to suck it up and just go to an Apple Watch, even though I hate touchscreens and the battery life is abhorrent. Garmin really needs to spend more money on QA... I had sticky button issues with a 935, and the 235 at launch was a software disaster for the better part of year 1. The watches are great when they work and the back end app/ecosystem is incredible (another thing Apple is sorely lacking in), but good lord. For what these watches cost, they should be WAY more robust.

0 Lucinda over 5 years ago

Mine broke today. I submitted a claim and hope to hear good news soon .

0 dcaccount over 5 years ago

Hello,
I like and would like to buy this watch but I am concerned about this problem. Can anyone please advise if the problem seems solved or if it is happening again?

Thanks,
Dan

0 graemecowling over 5 years ago

I too had the same problem on a 645 (near release unit). Wiggle UK replaced it under warranty without any hassle. I’ve replaced the standard garmin strap to a velcro wraparound one to see if the strap pulls too much on the pin lugs on the unit when in general use.

0 skopek over 5 years ago

Mmh, I'm not an expert but I would think that they would need to make a design or a housing material change.
I haven't heard of any change so far.
I had a litlle crack on my first one and got a brand new in March due to a SW issues. The new one is exactly the same.