Xbox 360 failure rate = 54.2%?

Game Informer's survey of 5,000 console owners finds over half Microsoft's machines fail once, 41.2% fail twice; 10.6% of PS3s, 6.8% of Wiis also reported defective.

When it extended the Xbox 360's warranty to three years, Microsoft admitted the Xbox 360's failure rate was unacceptable. However, despite covering both the "Red Ring of Death" and E74 errors, the company has never admitted exactly how often its console suffers from technical problems or manufacturing defects.

The Red Ring of Death is apparently an all-too familiar sight...

Now, Game Informer magazine has conducted a survey of 5,000 subscribers to find out how often consoles conk out. The September issue of the Minnesota-based, GameStop-owned magazine features the results of the survey, which found that a whopping 54.2 percent of Xbox 360 owners surveyed reported having the console fail on them once. Were that figure applied to the platform's 30 million-unit installed base, the result would be 15.72 million failed consoles.

Perhaps more damning, 41.2 percent of 360 owners had a second hardware malfunction--meaning that potentially 12.36 million people have had their consoles fail again. Some 36.4 percent of 360 owners reported having to buy a second console, versus 13.4 percent of PlayStation 3 owners and 8.4 percent of Wii owners. Also, Game Informer found that 69.9 percent of respondents said they had at least one friend who had an Xbox 360 cease working. Nonetheless, only 3.8 percent of respondents said that the 360's hardware failures convinced them to not buy a replacement console from Microsoft.

By comparison, 10.6 percent of PlayStation 3 owners reported a failure, with 14.7 percent reporting a second hardware problem. The Wii was the most reliable, with a 6.8 percent failure rate and an 11 percent secondary failure rate. However, the Wii's low numbers may also be due to the fact it's the least played of the three consoles. Some 41.4 percent of Wii owners said they played it for less than an hour per day on average. By contrast, 40.3 percent of Xbox 360 owners played for three to five hours per day, and 37.3 percent of PS3 owners played three to five hours per day.

Game Informer also asked respondents about their experiences with the three platform-holders' customer service departments. Again, Nintendo came out on top, with 56.1 percent of respondents saying they were "very satisfied" with their experiences. Sony was close behind with a 51.1 percent satisfaction rate, followed by Microsoft with a 37.7 percent satisfaction rate.

CONSOLE FAILURE RATE
PlayStation 3 - 10.6 percent
Wii - 6.8 percent
Xbox 360 - 54.2 percent

SECOND CONSOLE FAILURE RATE
PlayStation 3 - 14.7 percent
Wii - 11 percent
Xbox 360 - 41.2 percent

GAMERS WITH FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD A CONSOLE FAILURE
PlayStation 3 - 12.4 percent
Wii - 6 percent
Xbox 360 - 69.9 percent

"VERY HELPUL" CUSTOMER SUPPORT RATING
Sony - 51.1 percent
Nintendo - 56.1 percent
Microsoft - 37.7 percent

1326 Comments

  • DeathByRhapsody

    Posted Nov 23, 2009 3:09 pm PT

    thats what you get for buying an inferior product

  • dyaballikl

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 2:49 pm PT

    "Game Informer magazine has conducted a survey of 5,000 subscribers to find out how often consoles conk out."

    i think the lesson here is: don't subscribe to game informer, or your 360 will fail!

  • duraxx

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 1:28 pm PT

    What's odd is that this survey found completely different numbers than another survey done just two months before (seen on gamespot at http://www.gamespot.com/news/6216691.html?tag=other-user-related-content;1). That study found a 23% failure rate, which, while high, is nowhere near a 50%+ failure rate, and is about 2x the PS3 rate, which all sounds about right. There are a bunch of other disparity between the two studies. The general consensus is 360 is the least reliable console (I think we knew this), but any stat can be used to show a very high, or relatively low rate.

  • Cloud737

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 11:26 am PT

    Oh wow, major failure rate. The previous report I read (close to 360's launch) said it had a 30% failure rate, and I thought THAT was high.

    I'm really curious why it's 55% for the Xbox and why not 99%, at this rate? Should I take it the other 45% of consoles are paperweights (i.e.: rarely used)?

    What intrigues me the most is that while M$ had a 30% failure rate at launch, instead of it decreasing over time as M$ fixes problems, it actually seems to be increasing! What the heck are they doing, phasing out their console for the Xbox 720, or just trying to inflate the user base/consoles sold?

    Can I say now that Xbox 360 = BIG EPIC FAIL? (pun intended)

  • Reiken37

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 6:53 am PT

    360 fail. And the reason no one plays obsidianzero 's wii is because he is a fanboy and his wife probally isn't that much of a huge video game fan. I have like 10 friends with a 360, every single one of them has gotton the red ring and most of them have gotton it twice, just like the survey. Out of everyone I know with a Wii (including myself) no break downs. However, it said 54.2% of xboxs are terrible. That tehre are 45.8% xboxs are just as fail as designed to be. Well actually, to be more accurate, since there have been many second/third 360 returns, I'd say closer to 30% of xboxs are not broken.

  • demonlord6696

    Posted Oct 27, 2009 9:24 pm PT

    did i miss all the 360 fanboys makin up excuses?

  • obsidianzero

    Posted Oct 27, 2009 10:06 am PT

    My friend and I are statistical freaks.. he loves his 360, and it's been doing fine.. I love my ps3, and it's died twice. (Thankfully, the 2nd time, I called in time to claim on my warranty on the VERY LAST MINUTE of the warranty... So, the two of us are proof that not all 360s die, and not all ps3s are immortal... and then there's my wife's Wii... it never breaks because NO ONE PLAYS IT.

  • Jango-Man

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 1:49 pm PT

    It's alarming how many problems Microsoft has has with the 360. But the funny thing is how many people would still prefer an XBOX 360 over most other consoles. I am on my second one because I burnt out the motor in the CD drive in my 1st one. I'm getting another one too, the COD MW2 edition, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my 360, and maybe one day, I will get a PS3. But the games is what keeps me coming back.

  • MikauBodom

    Posted Oct 20, 2009 2:46 pm PT

    My Snes: 14 years later and still kicking ass.
    My Nes still works perfectly too, 19 years later.
    And my NDS (original one) is 4 years old and I never ever had a single problem with it.
    Of the new generation I only tried Wii and never gave me a problem in 2 months

  • Locutus_Picard

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:44 am PT

    @ Tyrant
    Wow, you're actually DEFENDING the fact you have to pay up to play online? If anything, the PS3 is far harder to hack than a xbox360...and since PS3 has sold less...guess which system has the most hackers?
    Really, M$ doesn't care about it's gamers...they have ignored and refused to accept this problem...but what's even worse, they STILL haven't provided it's gamers with a fail-proof console, the rates of failure of the newest xbox360 consoles are STILL high.
    Yes, and you pay up 50 to 60$ a year for M$. Cheers.

  • blargX

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 5:54 am PT

    Failure Rate on PS2s is still higher. Much higher.

  • CrimsonMaher

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 1:57 am PT

    This is just proof that the 360 is a 100% Microsoft product. Ever heard of M$ producing anything that wasn't buggy?

  • halfassedcomics

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 11:28 pm PT

    lol MS always bad customer service rating. Wii is fine though

  • Snipes_2

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 10:32 am PT

    I have a 360 that got the Red Ring. It was replaced in 2 Weeks. The only reason I'd get a Ps3 is because of all the exclusives. God Of War 3, Little Big Planet, Heavy Rain, MAG, etc..

  • jogeekid

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 8:03 pm PT

    My Xbox hasn't failed on me yet, but the controller randomly cuts out (I have 5 and they all do the same thing.) Also sometimes buttons just stop working. I have had one PS3 whose Blu-ray laser gave up on me, but my second one hasn't given my any problems at all.

    Now I still prefer my PS3 over the 360 just because I do. I like the controller more than the 360, which I know some people don't understand. Also I like to play japanese games sometimes, which the 360 can not do. Now, I know some people will say that the ps3 doesnt have halo 3 and gears of war. Well to be honest, I don't like Halo 3 at all and gears kinda fun multiplayer. Of course this is all my opinion and should have no affect on your decisions and life... at least I hope it doesn't.

  • andypipkin85

    Posted Sep 3, 2009 4:46 am PT

    My 360 has failed twice now too. Once when GTA4 came out, i gott he E74 error, at the time they hadnt extended the warrenty for it yet so i had to pay to get it fixed which sucked. Now, last thursday it failed AGAIN i got the RROD, just after i bought two new games to play on it. Thankfully that was covered under the extended warrenty and according to the site it has already been repaired or replaced and is on its way back to me less than a week later. Thats great customer service, but the fact remains it shouldnt frickin happen in the first place! Why cant MS make a product that lasts? Im not defecting to the PS3 though as i still love the 360 and think its a better console, but i do hope to get a PS3 for xmas so i have a backup to play when my 360 inevitably dies again and goes off for repair. Oh i also had a friend whose 360 suffered a malfunction as well.

  • TheAcejoel99

    Posted Sep 2, 2009 4:40 pm PT

    These numbers are off.......but not by much I'm sure. EVERYONE I know with a 360 (5 people) including myself have had there 360 break. EVERYONE I know with a PS3 (6 people) including myself have had none of there systems break (or show any sign of them breaking) Proof is proof. If you want reliability, the wii and PS3 are FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR more reliable. But 360 is still far better than the wii, not in quality of hardware failure, but of quality of software. I own all three consoles and play them all.

  • SenseSoCa

    Posted Sep 2, 2009 1:54 am PT

    Has an1 heard of the nomore xbox 360 elite fix of the red ring of death,is it true??

  • kazstar23

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 11:53 pm PT

    This was a 5000 user Game Informer poll with no proof that they ever owned, had a friend, etc when it involves the Xbox and besides you can not sell a product with a 54% failrate, that is im sure the law.

  • ffviiifreak

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:02 pm PT

    customer service rating is jacked up and in a teency tiny bit the friends one too but the rate one's are just fine

  • frazzle00

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 1:49 am PT

    @samsterzemaster

    Yes you did and we both agreed that when it comes to lists it is purely subjective and hence not worth arguing about. People have a right to prefer any console they like. But to actively HATE a console is silly. A PS3 owner would be silly to turn down a free 360, and vice versa .

  • samsterzemaster

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 12:03 am PT

    @frazzle00 Didn't i count exclusive games last time we had this discussion. Nothing is fresh anymore at the gamespot comments, somehow everything leads to the number of exclusives.

  • DaGamer444

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 3:07 pm PT

    sorry for double post.... I bet lots of Xbox 360 owners (like me) will buy a slim PS3 if their 360 breaks one more time....

  • DaGamer444

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 3:06 pm PT

    @Midnightshade29 if you see people have stopped arguing with each other why do keep on pulling the "fanboy" sh*t?

  • Tyranius2

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:27 pm PT

    x-2tha-z sorry, but I've had my PS3 since release and no problems with it up until now. The 360 is the worst video game in history, I'd prefer a SNES. I miss the old days, when a game didn't start all you had to do was blow the dust away from the videogame and be done with it.

  • Tyrant_o_Terror posted Aug 24, 2009 6:23 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Tyrant_o_Terror

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:23 pm PT (hide)

    The crashes would be much more ridiculous if MS didn't own up, to their mistakes. I don't see anyone saying "OMG IT CAN'T BE THAT HIGH!" That doesn't make the results any less valid. It isn't debatable, statistically speaking this survey isn't Valid. Perhaps reliable, as it seems to be with in 3 SD's of other surveys, but not valid in its own right. Again, if you don't know why I'm right, then don't bother talking to me.

    Midnightshade, I got my 360 refurbished for 200+ less than your PS3 at the same time. 100 dollars for a wifi adapter or 10 dollars for a more reliable ethernet cord? Get off the "50 dollars a year" crap too. I'll GLADLY pay 13 cents a DAY to play my games more reliably and to discourage hackers. If I drink a can of pop during an hour that I play, I'll get my money's worth. (MI 10c deposit). Your name on a PS3 is free, which is why there are 1000% more hackers on COD4:MW for PS3 than 360.

    Like I said earlier, I'll still be ahead of buying a PS3 for another 3/4 years. I'd gladly play MUCH less for less "oh that's cool now, but I doubt I'll use it as often as a gaming system" crap that I don't need. Even if the 360 came with free wifi, I would use a Ethernet cord because it just makes more sense. The way I've always seen it: 360 - More bang for your buck, PS3 - A lot of useless things you may or may not use. Oh, and I can still watch my DVDs on my 360, instead of paying 5 more dollars per movie for slightly better quality. To me, a PS3 wasn't cost efficient.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 3:40 pm PT

    This is my experience with the PS3 and 360,

    360 failures - 1
    PS3 failures - 3

    I've had a 360 since December 2005 and a PS3 since June 2007.

    The 360 has been far more reliable for me than the PS3. The Blu-ray drive has stopped reading discs on two of the PS3's I've owned and the third would read discs but would randomly crash, a lot.

    Google PS3 80029906 and you'll see many people have had the same problems as me. 80029906 is the error code I keep getting when I try to play a Blu-ray disc.

  • Midnightshade29

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 3:34 pm PT

    Many Xbox owners can't accept the truth of the matter when nearly all of them admit to having to send their console back..to me that speaks for itself. Would you willing buy a product if you knew it had a 54% chance of crapping out on you, when there was another console for the same price that gave you tons more features and offered free online and had 90% the same games + a slew of new 9.0+ rated exclusives? Why would you even think of getting the break down featureless model? It makes no sense to me.





    If you do your research feature per feature ,cost per cost, and see the that the ps3 plays 90% same multiplat games and has the most newer higher rated exclusives plus gives you free online play, and everything out of the box you need. You can even upgrade to a Terrabyte hard drive for $100...that would cost you ...oh wait you couldn't do that on 360 , that same $100 would give you 120gb..add another $100 for wifi, add another $50-75 a year just to play online, add $200(optional for a base arcade unit to replace the 360 when it dies and has to go in shop.) You are paying way more in the long run and in the start for that 360 that you know will just die eventually.

  • Midnightshade29

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 3:25 pm PT

    I don't hate, I'm just telling it like it is. The truth. And people need to know what they are getting before they drop the cash. There are more options, better more realiable, options out there for people than the 360, ps3 is great and feature rich, the wii is good for younger people, and people that want a secondary pull out for party console.




    360 owners have been getting burned for years by Microsoft and instead of demanding their money back , or demanding free to play online, they take the abuse. There are other options, you guys have been bashing the ps3 for the few short years its been out, it always had more features, but now it cost the same and can play online for free. Isn't it about time you give the ps3 a break and realize that 360 isn't so hot as ms made it out to be.

  • DastardlyD

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 12:30 pm PT

    It would be easy to set off a console debate over this (which I'm sure many of you have started), but I think what the point of this article is to inform you - the person who shells out hundreds of dollars - what you may have to deal with down the line. These companies are asking us to pay more than ever to get the full experience out of our games, and they should be held accountable for malfunctions in their glorious hardware. It's not about the games that the consoles have - they all have plenty of gems. But when you're asked to hand over $200-$600 dollars for a piece of shiny new technology only to have it crap out on you, you should want the world to know what they may be getting into if they purchase it. In Microsoft's case, it's a lesson learned, but as Endgame2x17 pointed out, there are plenty of loyal consumers... especially if they can switch up 5 consoles and still give them another chance. That's love.

  • Vin_LAURiA

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 10:44 am PT

    How is the Wii's "failing twice" rate higher than its "failing" rate?

    But yeah, Nintendo makes good stuff. Their equipment has always been really reliable, aside from a single defective Wii, none of my Nintendo stuff has ever failed on me (and my new Wii works perfectly.)

  • Endgame2x17

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 10:31 am PT

    I LOVED my 360, genuinely and pre-ordered it for he day it came out n played it alllll the time, but 5 consoles later (thats right FIVE) my warrenty's ended and it'll cost me £60 to replace it AGAIN so I bought a ps3 and have had no problems with it at all. I love my ps3 for various reasons but one of the top reasons is I know its not gonna conk out on me at any given time for literally NO reason.

    I really hope Microsofts next console is going to be reliable even in some way cos I'm only going to give them one more chance, n its such a shame cos the games/design/dashboard are so good (

  • ilovealicea

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 9:57 am PT

    "So in reality the PS3 is slightly ahead in console sales"

    Xbox 360: 30.2m with 36.4% buying a new console = 19.2m
    PS3: 24.6m sold with 13.4% buying a new console =21.3m

    So in reality there ARE 2m MORE WORKING PS3's in homes today!!!

  • GearsofRage9

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 8:12 am PT

    ok all of you are making to much of a big deal out of this the 360 and the ps3 are both good systems that have strengths and weaknesses but its up' to all of you guys out there to pick which one you want (even a wii if u want) but pick one and be happy dont start a big debate about who has more exclusives fanboy or not calm down.....P.S. i got a 360 feb 15 2006 and got the rrod sept 20th 2008 set it to microsoft and they sent a new 360 for free 1 week later and it work flawless to this day so pick a system u want and live with it

  • netsoj

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 8:07 am PT

    @Wolfie600

    I have neither console because one collects dust and the other breaks. PS3 has weak games, and Xbox has pathetic manufacture.

    Wii just junk.

  • Wolfie600

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:53 am PT

    PS3 fanboys are trolling this article all right, i dont care i would prefer to buy another Xbox if mine broke than to buy a PS3 that would end up collecting dust on the shelf.

    The PS3 and Xbox 360 are FINE, just play what you have and stop talking trash to other console owners. For what i've read there is more Xbox gamers than Ps3 gamers so that talks allot about the quality of a console, Red ring not included.

    @PS12360:You are a fanboy.

  • DaGamer444

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:38 am PT

    you know PS12360, frazzle00 beat you in that argument hands down. at least he used some facts and lists and thought about what he was going to say first. you just spout your opinion EVERYWHERE and bug every single person whos trying to read the posts.
    and no, im not a MS fanboy, ive been playing sony consoles the majority of my life(no nintendo, please) and i love their exclusives. but when someone like you comes over and tries to make WW3 out of an article like this, thats just plain bull.

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:28 am PT

    LOL what? People actually buy the PS3 for "cancer curing" Folding at Home and Lunix?

  • DaGamer444

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:28 am PT

    wow, sony fanboys came running to this article to shove it right up our ass.
    (our being anyone who doesn't want a PS3)

  • Midnightshade29

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:59 am PT

    This is just one of the reasons I never bought a MS console... that and the ruthless business practices of using their wallet to bribe out devs for DLC on multiplats, throwing money around for dlc but not making thier own exclusives, having to pay to play online...all the while being console-less for 3-5 weeks a few times a year, is not a company I want making my game machine. Not to mention the ugly, console and game cases... Sony consoles have more varied exclusives with 20+ 1st party devs, blu-ray, wifi in the box, internet , cancer curing folding at home, Home virtual world platform, linux in the fat models, and free to play online. Top that off with some of the most graphical impressive and fun games using engines built to the system..LBP, Killzone2, Resistance, Warhawk, Wipeout HD, God of War 3, Ratchet and clank future series, Heavenly Sword, Folklore, Uncharted 1 and 2, Disgaea3, MGS4, NGS, NGS2, and Demon Souls, are just some of the heavy hitters...for me its a no brainer. and now with a cheap price to entry and the slim model which lowers heat and power consumption, there will be far less problems on ps hardware and more people to play online with.

  • Lance-Marvelous posted Aug 24, 2009 6:48 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Lance-Marvelous

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:48 am PT (hide)

    why does everything on xbox 1080 fake p the video card is 720 like the first xbox sony is slow on putting out 1080p cuz there 1080p kicks ass have you seen that ? if you did you know what system is going to be here longer.& also the xbox 780 is going to be made with parts from ps3 & fanboys are going to be losing there minds over that crap all over again tell me how a U.s made system Can really touch Japan NAaaa! i did THink so lol give up & keep it real..... as for the gamers, study & spend smartly

  • frazzle00

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:10 am PT

    @PS12360

    You need to learn to read. Where have I said reviews are facts? And I've never said the 360 does not have reliability issues (i know it does from personal experience). Find the post where I have said this and I will concede this entire discussion to you. All I've said is that this article provides figures that are mathematically impossible (with regards to the PS3's failure rate, and second subsequent failure rate). I have also said that this article provides almost no information about how the survey was carried out (sampling methodology is pertinent!). Don't believe me, ask your high school math teacher.

  • PS12360 posted Aug 24, 2009 6:06 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    PS12360

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 6:06 am PT (hide)

    wow this is boring Ok but they are facts suddenly when you use Reviews right? YUP
    good luck kid you need it have fun playing King of red ring

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