Failure Rate for Xbox 360: 16 Percent (Report)

Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:11PM EST

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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)

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  • 6 Posted by dxb_hamood on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    this survey is wrong the failure rate is 30% and i don't know why ppl live the xbox,i got my ps3 since 2006 and it works fine.

  • 7 Posted by missglimmer2 on Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:01PM EST Report Abuse

    I'm still on my first console but i'm very careful to keep my playing time to 2 hours or less to prevent any problems-hopefully.i've had this console for 8 months now.that is still a high failure rate for the 360 though.

  • 8 Posted by ko_jo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm on my 3rd 360 since Dec. 2000. My failure schedule has been almost identical to Ben's, all due to RROD. And I'm an IT professional who takes immaculate care of my electronics. I'm about to bail on my latest refurb and get a brand new Falcon Arcade as a replacement. I just have to get myself out of this cycle of perpetual recycled refurb H3LL, and hope for something better from the new hardware, or give up on this platform altogether. I'm suspect of the 16% estimate, though. I would suspect it's much higher, given the number of people I know who've suffered failures. Only one friend still has his launch unit, lucky sucker, with no problems.

  • 9 Posted by mpputman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm on my third 360. It's funny because my local UPS guy knows the 360 boxes just on sight. He picks it up and he's like "Oh, your XBox died again?" Now how bad is that when the shippers know a 360 just by glancing at the box?

  • 10 Posted by saintgod@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm on my first, and i got it when it first came out, it has to date only overheated once.

  • 12 Posted by galatea@prodigy.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Still on my first 360 bought in Jan. 06. After first use I noticed that it was very hot so I put an Intercooler fan on the back and it does not get hot even with the very heavy use it gets,very often three hours or more at a time. I know several people with coolers on their units and none of them have had a problem. Could it be the extreme heat that is causing the failures ?

  • 13 Posted by rick_brisco on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have had pretty much the same luck as you. I purchaced my 1st xbox dec 2006. It died september 2007. They replace it with one that wouldn't turn on unless you open and closed the cd rom, and would consistantly freeze games. One instance it scrached and disroyed a new game. Re-sent that one in less than a month later. My new unit seems to be working ok, but I am waiting for the ring of death again.

  • 14 Posted by aceofbeach on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    bought my ps3 in march/07 with no problems so far except oblivion locks up. all other games work fine.

  • 15 Posted by owen9955 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dear Ben. Unfortunately my 60 GB , PS3 has failed alreday..Broken Blu-Ray drive ..and it hasn't even had it's first birthday yet. At the moment it is out for repair, with a third party, and as i cannot find the receipt i doubt if it will be registered in any ''official'' ps3 Failure satistics. Regards. Mr. T. Stark.

  • 16 Posted by pocketaces8181 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well i am on my FOURTH XBOX 360!!! Its been a year and 8 months and on number 4. Its sad, but i dont mind with the xbox 360 extended warranty plan i purchased from best buy. It breaks, i return it and receive a new one. I dont mind the exchanging, but wish microsoft would fix the problem once and for all. I also bought ROCK BAND for the 360 and of course the guitar broke afer a few hours. I sent it in for a replacement and received the new guitar and GUESS WHAT!! Another came in the mail the next day. Looks like someone messed up over there, so i now have two new guitars and both are working fine.

  • 17 Posted by ytech_patterson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    @owen9955: Wow -- thanks for the comment, first time I've heard someone with a busted PS3. Hope it gets fixed soon. Anyone else with PS3 (or Wii) problems?

  • 18 Posted by sewert_99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    My son and I both have XBox 360s. The second XBox I bought started with a bad power supply. I replaced that and within 30 minutes of booting the system froze and I got the red ring of death.

  • 19 Posted by ryanobo66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am on my second console and Microsoft replaced my first one with out any problem. But the one they sent me is starting to act up just like the first.......

  • 20 Posted by stthomas94 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    thats weird, i got my 360 last year and it is still working great. no errors at all. im still at my first one. i guess im one of the lucky ones

  • 21 Posted by patrickgwalsh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have been an Xbox 360 customer for 1 year and 2 months. I am on my 4th console, it's again just suffered the rrod.

  • 22 Posted by jake07078 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im on my second xbox and have had no problems with my wii

  • 23 Posted by charlz6255 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    yes, me too is still in my first consoles. How about that?

  • 24 Posted by c.how01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I purchased my 360 the very first day they were released to market. About 3 years ago. And last week I got an update, and after that my system froze and after a couple of restarts, I got the RROD. My original warrenty has long expired but microsoft is still going to replace it for free. On the other hand a friend of mine is in iraq so he let me babysit his PS3. It works flawlessly. I have never had a problem with the PS3 or the Wii I bought my girlfriend for christmas. I like microsoft's products, when their working properly and will still with the 360.

  • 25 Posted by tlappert@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    My son is on his 3erd 360. I have a question, after Microsoft sent us the second 360 which was only about 4 mo. ago, the drive tray would not stay closed, it would close and the re-open again. When we could get it to stay closed you could hear a grinding noise inside the xbox. No games would load. I called microsoft and they want 100.00 dollars to fix it. I went out and bought another one thinking I would send the broken one in and pay the 100.00 dollars and have 1 for when the new one brakes. Should the 360 that is only 4 mo. old be under warrenty or should I have to pay $100.00 for the repair of the drive? Thank you for any help.

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