Sony WH-1000XM5 hinge/swivel Breakage

If you frequently browse the Sony headphones subreddit, you will have seen at least 1 or 2 posts per week with photos of broken WH-1000XM5 hinges/swivels. I have set up a post on the subreddit asking users to post their stories but did not get many replies, so making a post here as well. Feel free to share the subreddit post or this blog post in other forums where users have posted such breaks.

I have been discussing this with a few WH-1000XM5 owners, some with broken models, others not, and the current theory/idea is:

1. The recycled plastic Sony uses is more susceptible to breaks and failures versus previous materials.
2. Poorly designed hinge area, either too thin or not enough support/strength.
3. Combination of #1 and #2 

Of course it could be something else. Yes some is user error, or dogs chewing on the headphones, but the amount of breakages is increasing and a lot more than last year I feel.

So my question to WH-1000XM5 owners, has your hinge/swivel snapped/broke?

If yes:

• Where did it break? Which side? Both sides? Please link some photos either via Imgur, or link to your reddit post if you made one.
• What caused the break? Putting on the headset? Removing the headset? Did you drop them? Sit on them?
• Did you remove the headset using only one handed or both hands?
  
• Was there a visible gap between the hinge and support before the break?
• Did the headband just pop out?
• Did the earcups swivel beyond their normal range prior to the break?
  
• What about temperature exposure? Was it warm/cold? (Perhaps the recycled plastic reacts poorly to temperature changes)

Some, me included, have in the past put the blame on user error, either removing the headset with one hand or forcefully. But many of the failures/breaks are happening in the same area of the hinge, so this seems rather suspicious. So there is definitely something a miss. I mean, are all of these breaks user error? Unlikely. 

There is one broken ULT Wear headset post as well. I am including some photos from reddit showing various failures and breaks. Feel free to link your posts/images in the comments.

There are also reports of the earcups turning past their limit and sometimes even all the way around.

Left side normal, right right wrong direction

I am including 2 photos of a broken headband on the new ULT wear.

I am still saving up for a second WH-1000XM5 to take it apart to see what the issue could be but still not enough to cover a full new model. If you would like to donate to the teardown fund, please see the link below.