Failure Rate for Xbox 360: 16 Percent (Report)

Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:11PM EST

See Comments (231)

Compare that to failure rates of about three percent each for the PlayStation 3 and the Wii, according to the recent survey. Oh, and did I mention that I just sent my second 360 console in for repairs?

Gaming site 1UP.com got its hands on a survey from SquareTrade, a firm that sells warranties for various consumer electronics. The company recent took a thousand claims it received and compiled statistics about relative gaming console failure rates. The results? The PlayStation 3 and the Wii both clocked in with failure rates of three percent, pretty standard when it comes to the average gadget. The Xbox 360, however, racked up a failure rate of 16.4 percent, according to SquareTrade, with 60 percent of those failures due to the dreaded Red Ring of Death.

As 1UP.com notes, estimates of actual Xbox 360 failure rates have varied wildly, with some guessing that about a third of all 360 consoles end up biting the dust. Microsoft initially pegged the number at just three percent, although former Xbox exec Peter Moore later called the figure a "moving target." Redmond eventually extended the Xbox 360 warranty to a full three years (and took a $1 billion charge in the process) to cover all the repairs.

Of course, I have my own bone to pick when it comes to Xbox 360 failure rates. I bought my first 360 back in November 2006; by May 2007, I got hit with my first Red Ring of Death. To its credit, Microsoft quickly replaced my busted console, although as I recently reported, the new unit was plagued with a variety of bugs and glitches. Anyway, about a week and a half ago, it happened again: my 360 froze up, I reset the console, and there it was, the Red Ring of Death. Just yesterday, I shipped off my inert beige box to the Microsoft service center in Texas for repairs; if I get a replacement (as opposed to a repair), it'll be my third Xbox 360 console in 15 months.

OK, I have a couple questions for you gamers out there. First, for the Xbox 360 owners: how many consoles have you been through so far (or are you still on your first one)? Second question: has anyone ever had a PS3 or a Wii fail on them?

Related:
Report Claims Xbox 360 Failure Rates at 16% [1UP.com]

Comments on Failure Rate for Xbox 360: 16 Percent (Report)

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 226 Posted by jedifather73@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    im on my fifth, i repeat, fifth 360 due to RROD. bought my first one within 9 mon. of release. all of them died within 3 mon. of getting them. MS replaced them all with brand new units. i also have an Elite system that i never had problems with. hopefully with the new 45 nano chip, that creates less heat then the 65 nano chips, this issue will be a thing of the past. the main thing to remember is leave room for the air to circulate around the unit. props to MS for finally admitting there was a problem and dealing with it at a great financial loss to them, but proper testing could have eliminated the problem before release.

  • 227 Posted by jasonbaber76 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just wanted to post that I am a ps3 owner since dec. 06 and have had no problems whatsoever with it. One of my frinds bought a 360 at the same time and has had to have it replaced/repaired once and the red ring has showed up again so he will have to get it fixed again. Moral of the story is just get a PS3 and don't worry about the 360 red ring of death.

  • 228 Posted by josh41jg on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've had my 360 since they first came out. I had it on reserve and had no problems since then. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I don't use it as much as some of your out there, but still when it does stay on for 12 hours or more... I have had no problems with freezing screen or RROD sign so far. Cross the fingers now that I have posted it'll happen! LOL!!!

  • 229 Posted by nygmen80 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    You know, for all the ----- ing and whining over the 360 failures, it seems everyone likes to forget that the PS2 had a 50%-60% failure rate.

  • 230 Posted by yogagirl68 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am on my second 360. The first one scratched my game disks. Microsoft replaced the console but I still ended up shelling out $50 for shipping and handling to replace the games that the 360 scratched (circular scratches that were obviously made by the optical drive). The second unit had the ring of death. I asked for further compensation the second time around and Microsoft is giving me a free camera for the unit (of course they left me on hold for 1/2 an hour while they looked for a supervisor). Has anybody else received compensation for multiple repairs?

  • 231 Posted by chrisleonard925 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just bought a brand new 360 and it failed within 15 minutes I sent it off for repairs and am awaiting a new one. I have had a Wii since July and never had an issue with it

More Posts: First Prev … 11 12 13 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.