Description A large number of DS Lite owners have been reporting that their handhelds are presenting a very specific fault; a crack on the left hinge of the device. It seems that quite a few of the users were alerted to the existence of the fault by reports from other owners experiencing the problem.
There's trouble in paradise as Nintendo's honeymoon with public opinion, largely due to the marketing success of the Wii and the sales of the DS, may be coming to an abrupt end. A story that begun as a lonely thread in a gaming forum has spiraled out of control as more and more DS Lite users have stepped up to confirm that their unit also has the same crack on the left hinge that joins the main unit with the lid. Many users fail to notice the problem as it starts off as a tiny hairline crack, only to eventually turn into a bigger problem as can be seen from the images. I first thought the hairline crack was a pencil mark and tried to use a pencil eraser to erase it. It didn't go away but since it was very thin, I didn't worry about it. A week later, I noticed the crack got bigger. claims user Kerochan from the MaxConsole forums.
It seems that no DS Lite is safe as the same problem has been reported with white devices, blue ones and Japanese imports. There have been some suggestions that this issue may be a result of a design flaw and the most prominent theory suggests that the culprit may be the lock that holds the lid up once it is fully opened. The crack seems to align with the lock although we would have to wait for Nintendo's official word before we can draw any conclusions.
There are some voices claiming that a little SuperGlue will fix the problem but you have to remember that a person who pays for a brand new product, however affordable it may be, has the right to desire it to be in good working order for some time. Additionally, SuperGlue sounds like a temporary solution as you will, eventually, need to open and close the lid again and at some point the problem will resurface.
The most worrying aspect of this issue has to do with some user reports suggesting that when they contacted Nintendo regarding the problem they were told it is not covered by the warranty and that an additional cost of USD 50 will have to be paid for the repair.
We are certain that if Nintendo does recognize that there is a design flaw with the DS Lite it will make sure that owners are allowed to repair or replace their handheld as needed. Treating customers fairly, after all, is the greatest sign of an industry giant.
