In a statement, an Apple spokesperson acknowledged the issues and apologized:
We are aware that a small number of users are having issues with their third-generation butterfly keyboard and for that we are sorry. The vast majority of Mac notebook customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard.
Apple added that affected customers should contact the company for support.
Unfortunately, while Apple initiated a service program offering free repairs of affected 2015-2017 MacBook and 2016-2017 MacBook Pro keyboards, the 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Air do not qualify at this time.
Stern wrote her column without using the letters E or R as a clever way of illustrating the problem, with toggle switches to turn each letter back on. Humorously, there are also toggle switches to read the article with double E’s or double T’s, as repeating letters are one symptom of the sticky keys.
In an internal document obtained by MacRumors last year, Apple said the third-generation keyboard has a silicone membrane under the keycaps to “prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism.” However, the membrane has only reduced the keyboard issues instead of eliminating them entirely.