This is Apple admitting it goofed.
Apple has initiated a 3TB Hard Drive Replacement program for 3 terabyte hard drives ordered on 27-inch iMacs manufactured between December 2012 and September 2013 in which the company will replace the drive for free.
Apple has stated that the drive can fail “under certain conditions.” The service will be performed at your local apple Store or at a nearby Apple Authorized Service Provider.
According to the Replacement Program website, Apple has contacted iMac owners who registered their iMac with a valid email address. If you did not register, you can check if your iMac is eligible by entering the serial number on the Replacement Program website.
If you’ve seen this issue on your end or have any feedback to offer, let us know in the comments.