Failure Rate for Xbox 360: 16 Percent (Report)

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?

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