Microsoft responds to Xbox 360 54.2 percent failure rate report, doesn't dispute the data
By Ross Miller 
posted August 24th 2009 1:51AM
posted August 24th 2009 1:51AM
posted August 24th 2009 1:51AM
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Oh zune HD, please dont be as bad as the 360
i dont understand how Microsoft are even allowed to sell a consumer electronic product with a prolonged 54% failure rate.
To wilfully and actively market and sell a household electronic device fully knowing that more than 1 out of 2 products will fail is gross negligence on the part of Microsoft. They know each unit is 54% likely to fail. yet they continue to manufacture and sell it? how can this be tolerable or even legal?
in any other market the product would have bee pulled from market a long time ago and all units recalled until further notice.
its a shame on Microsoft and a shame on all consumer protection groups that this issues has not escalated and reflects Microsoft's inability to produce consumer grade hardware and their ability to buy there way out of even the most dreadful abyss.
Wait a minute. Now Game Informer should take a poll of how many of these are Launch consoles. What if the failure rate indicated by LAUNCH console owners.
I just got my X360 back after its 2nd repair for the RROD. The first time was under warranty, but the second was not. They still repaired it for free the second time though and threw in a free month of XBL Gold.
My Xbox RROD'd just this weekend actually, again - this is the third one to go now, and being without it while they fix it will really really piss me off.
However, if my PS3 were to die, so I'd be without any HD movies for a few weeks. Oh well.
OK. so if the failure rate is 54% , then does that mean that the remaining 46% are mainly replacement consoles?
imagine sending out 10 million consoles and they all fail , and then replacing them all with newer consoles, what you have now is a 50% failure rate.
I have two out of warranty Xbox360s now, both with the 3-bar RROD :/
your complaining because they told the consumer the truth? are you insane? you should be thanking them for being honest.
What, so Microsoft is wrong for being [slightly] honest?
I am currently on my fifth Xbox 360 in three years. All of them have been replaced under warranty. After two replacements Micro Center gave me a new unit - and I paid the $50 to upgrade to the Elite.
I am not happy about the fail rate; but each time Microsoft has stood behind their product and fixed (or replaced) the unit. The last time was the first time I had to pay for the shipping.
Microsoft would be better served by using higher quality components and possible charging a few more bucks.
"Microsoft would be better served by using higher quality components and possible charging a few more bucks."
So, MS should say, "Give us more money if you want something that works."?
I'm glad I've never spent a penny on anything xbox related. Damn Halo stealing bastards. I hope the other 46% goes up in flames.
MICROSOFT, YOU F***ING IDIOTS! Just because people keep on buying your console, doesn't mean you don't fix the F***ING problem!
In my opinion, Mircrosoft's reputation for making Xboxs is going down for me...
http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=jasper&invocationType=wl-gadget&searchsubmit=
Welcome to engadget, read up.
My brother and I got one each for Christmas a couple years ago and they never failed, we must be in the 45.8 percent
I wish MS would just come out and say what the failure rate was. It's in the past and it doesn't really matter, anymore.
Like most others, if my 360 died tomorrow (outside of rrod warranty), I'd just buy another one. That speaks volumes of the quality of the service, making up for the lacking quality in the first generation units.
54%???? Roll the dices bitches!!!! Lmao
Lots of people I know own two (2) Xboxes as one is always out for repairs.
@jim
Who are those idiots getting 2 xbox's when they keep failing.
I am sure microsoft is not disputing figures because they will have to disclose real failure rates for that.
eventhough the real failure rates may not be as high, it will still start up another round of arguments.
I dont see the upside of disputing the figures .
This reminds me of that line from Tommy Boy: "If you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it "guaranteed", I will. I've got spare time".
in for them blaming suppliers a, b and c, etc
I have to say ive never had a problem with my xbox 360 but back when i had a ps2 i had to get 3 replacements for it.
I have 4 XBOX 360s that get plenty of play....and ironically its the newest model (an ELITE) that crapped out.......
So based on my experience.....it's a 25% failure rate.
Then again......no one should really make a big deal of this because Microsoft's repair process was rather painless
And compared to the failure rates of my past consoles:
100% failure rate of my 1st gen PS2s (4 of them)
100% failure of all my 1st Gen PS1s (4 of them)
33% failure rate of PS3 (1 of 3 Launch 60GB)
0 problems with any N64 and Wii (2 of each)
0 problems with any Sega Genesis & Dreamcast (2 of each)
0 problems with Atari 2600, 5200, 7800 (2 of each)
0 Problems with SNES (3 of them)
0 problems with Neo Geo Cartridge
0 problems with Gameboy SP, DS Lite
0 problems with Virtual Boy (besides headaches)
50% failure of PSP (1 of 2....Launch Unit's Wireless stopped functioning)
You learn as an early adopter to expect that you are taking a risk....especially the more the unit is played.
Right...so your HIGHEST fail rates...all happen to be Playstations, and you own 4 XBOX 360s...this comment isn't biased or anything...
If I may just step in and interrupt the fanboy brigade and jump in on-topic.
I actually find that this failure rate is pretty accurate given the sampling of 15 or so friends of mine (if not a tad low if you count non-RROD failures).
It troubles me that they point to their customer service. I've had 3 experiences with their customer service, and not a single one of them has left me feeling good about Microsoft or my Xbox.
I got my Xbox off a friend who wanted to upgrade to the elite awhile ago. It was a launch console, and he really beat it in. It failed once and I was amazed at the customer support. I was emailed a label instantly and I sent it out in my own box. They told be about 3-4 weeks, and It was back in one and a half. I think they are doing the best they can with fixing the systems. Yes I would like to have mine replaced with a new better one but if they do that than they would most likely raise marketplace/live membership/points system costs to make up for it.
As long as they can admit there is a problem and don’t blame it on how the consumers are treating the equipment (or something terribly stupid like that), then that should be all that matters. Although out of the 20 friends I know that have Xbox’s, I would say over half treat theirs horribly. Placing stuff over it or keeping it poorly ventilated. If you know they overheat then don’t go throwing all your other stuff on top of it. And don’t complain that the Xbox ate your cd because you tried moving it while it was on. It’s not a portable cd player, and it’s also not a cheap piece of equipment, so take care of it any maybe you won’t fall in that 54%.
It amazes me reading the comments on here...."well i'm on my 3rd 360, but each time Microsoft took great care of me and I recieved my refurbished unit within two weeks." People say that like its a good thing, like they are impressed by Microsoft even after their product has failed multiple times. Look, I generally enjoy MS products and I use them on a daily basis, but I will never buy a 360 for this reason. The lack of outcry against this poorly made product really astonishes me.
All I know is that my Jasper unit runs great. Silent. Cool. No problems.
Well worth selling my old model for $150 and spending $50 more to get a Jasper.
I find it funny how Microsoft has people so brainwashed that they're all excited "the warranty repair only took X amount of days!". lol. Do you guys constantly have your cars in the dealership for warranty work? Take out extended warranties for electronics? wow
sorry, I don't know much of the computer software~~~~~
http://www.oahk.com/list/zhu-ce-BVIgong-si.shtm
I got the E74 last week, few days after the update.
This is one of those damned if you do damned if you don't scenario's for Microsoft. If they were to dispute the numbers that were quoted most of these comments would be kids yelling about Microsoft and how they lie, etc, etc. When they put out a press release that doesn't acknowledge or discredit the numbers, the comments are all about how Microsoft is guilty of a crappy product, etc.
What would you honestly prefer Microsoft to do here? Because no matter what I've got a feeling most people would try and find something wrong with their approach.
I think what this boils down to is regardless of the failure rate and whatever that number actually is, as long as Microsoft is standing by their product and replacing defective units then none of us can really complain too much. They aren't lying when they say they've got the best warranty on a piece of electronics equipment that I've personally ever seen.
We don't even know which versions of 360's the pollers chose, or if they even chose honestly. I don't think the Valhallas will be failing anytime soon. I think I might have one since my elite RROD'd in march after early adopting it.
It's all a bunch of PR BS on here. All these guys get a check from Mr. Gates.II've purchased 5 XBOX 360s and they have all failed. And if your XBOX goes bad after warranty, YOUR SCREWED!! I won't buy another until i hear that a new one comes out that doesn't fail. All that being said, It is the best console ever with all do respect :)
The XBOX 360 elite has to be the one with the most problems. In 2 years i owned it, I was able to play it for eight months, the rest of the time it was back and forth at Microsoft in Texas. I waited for months one time after i turned in mine for a bad hard drive, They gave me back some little girls used hard drive. WTF. Get it together Bill.
Wow, if NASA had a 50% failure rate, not only would we have not sent rovers to mars, no ISS, and no moon landings - we would have crap raining down on our heads constantly. Everyone, especially astronauts, should be glad that Microshit its not in charge of our space program...wait...there was that hacker that got into the system because they were running unsecured Windows. Well, you astronauts should kiss your ass good bye, while the rest of us should pray to the Internet Gods that our house is not right underneath the the raining, flaming crap from above! Good Luck Everybody!
All I can say is that Microsoft knew about what was happening but waited until after. If a company knows about something that is 50% more likely to fail why wouldn't you try to fix it. I do have a PS3, but had a Xbox 360. But if Sony were to do something like this I would be pissed. But in a more extreme comparison, if your on a airplane that is likely to fail 50% would you get on it? I say bring your parachute or bible.
why fix it, if i was them i would continue to make them just the way they are, in fact i would be concerned at why the number was so low and be trying to figure out why the other 43 percent have gone yet. not only can they sell people a broken system, avoid lawsuits by putting a 3 year warranty instead of what all other good companies do, a recall of the faulty product but people will be happy about it and defend it all over the web on their behalf. instead of boycotting the product forcing microsoft to fix the problem which everyone knows could be done people just smile and buy a new one or wait for some fixed unit to come in the mail 2 or 3 or more times then say thank microsoft for admitting your faults and providing such good service. cause you know if they didnt break how would we have ever found out about their great service instead we would have working 360's to enjoy and be playing them instead of written on web sites about how wonderful it will be to get my 360 back in the mail for the 5 th time and how we are so happy about it. so good job microsoft for showing companies around the world that if you have something people want you dont have to do a good job making it people will just take it like chumps, in fact i must be getting bad service from all the companys of all my other electronics because they work what is wrong with them i think i will start writting letters to them complaining that their stuff doesnt fail 50 percent of the time and i dont get the chance to see how good thier consumer service is. WOW people wake up.
why fix it, if i was them i would continue to make them just the way they are, in fact i would be concerned at why the number was so low and be trying to figure out why the other 43 percent have gone yet. not only can they sell people a broken system, avoid lawsuits by putting a 3 year warranty instead of what all other good companies do, a recall of the faulty product but people will be happy about it and defend it all over the web on their behalf. instead of boycotting the product forcing microsoft to fix the problem which everyone knows could be done people just smile and buy a new one or wait for some fixed unit to come in the mail 2 or 3 or more times then say thank microsoft for admitting your faults and providing such good service. cause you know if they didnt break how would we have ever found out about their great service instead we would have working 360's to enjoy and be playing them instead of written on web sites about how wonderful it will be to get my 360 back in the mail for the 5 th time and how we are so happy about it. so good job microsoft for showing companies around the world that if you have something people want you dont have to do a good job making it people will just take it like chumps, in fact i must be getting bad service from all the companys of all my other electronics because they work what is wrong with them i think i will start writting letters to them complaining that their stuff doesnt fail 50 percent of the time and i dont get the chance to see how good thier consumer service is. WOW people wake up.
My 4 year old Xbox 360 just RRoD. It is passed the 3 year extended warrenty for RRoD, is there any way to get them to fix it for free?
I don't see why everyone is having problems with the X-Box 360 system. I have owned my X-Box 360 for almost 3 years now and I play more in one day than most do in a week and I have never had one problem with it. I have a few X-Box 360 systems that I am fixing right now for some friends, I have already fixed a few in the past and after the fix they have worked great. I do not believe it is the X-Box system, the systems are amazing and the X-Box is way better than the Wii and the PS 3 combined. I think people need to learn how to take care of valuables and quit complaining about stupid crap.