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?
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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Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
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2 Posted by apok915 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm on my second console. I picked up my 360 during the first wave a few years ago. The manufacturer warranty was already expired by the time I got the red circle this past December. Thankfully, Microsoft did replace it for free.
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3 Posted by bri3783 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse
Still on my first 360, had it since Halo 3 release. So far no real problems
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4 Posted by reebs07 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse
looks like it's getting better then? it was said a couple months ago that it was 30 percent fail rate, at least they are going in the right direction. i'm still on my first from when cod4 came out, by the way if you dont have that game, get it, it is the best game of last year by far.
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5 Posted by downwithvivid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm still on my first 360 - bought in April 2006. Sure, a newer 360 like the one bri3783 bought with Halo 3 a few months ago should be good, but is mine an anomaly for lasting almost 2 years? Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that the extended warranty I purchased doesn't expire right before I see the RROD.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
1 Posted by manny119 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:05PM EDT Report Abuse
We are on our third as well. Although Msoft has always responded quickly and did the right thing with us as customers, the interesting thing is that the last time, they went out of their way to guarantee that the console that was returned to us was the same one we sent them. That indicates that there are several causes of the RROD, supported by the return of a rehabed but buggy unit to you, and that they are chasing multiple failures and want to isolate problem units and remove them from the market.