Owner of seven failed Xbox 360s speaks out

I'm on my FIRST 360...had it since LAUNCH!

To everyone who says you need to have free space around your console mine is on top of an entertainment center with nothing around it for at least 2 feet on each side and 10 ft above and 20 feet in front I don't think that is confined at all yet mine still failed. I don't have a wonky power grid and it is not plugged into a surge protector. My 360 is the only appliance/electronic device that has ever failed in my house. If your 360 hasn't failed good for you but I know that in no way did I contribute to my console failing. Also in no way did I ask to be sent a broken 360 that looked like some one had stabbed it with a flat head screwdriver (I actually asked to be sent my original 360 and not a refurb and was told that I would be as long as it was repairable the only thing wrong with my 360 was the disk drive failed (you could tell because it wouldn't spin up and it would say unable to read disk)). So everyone who is coming on here calling people who have had their 360s fail idiots needs to shut up. If you want to say your 360 hasn't failed that's fine but stop insulting people who have had one fail.

I've posted before, I'm on my third 360 and I've started tradeing in my 360 titles for the same PS3 titles if they are available. I still have my 360 only for exclusive titles- Halo, Fable. If it comes out on both I will be buying PS3 versions.

Got mine on the UK launch day. My friend has has had 6 fail on him but I was lucky until 2 weeks ago when I got 3 red lights. I was going to ring the support desk but decided to try the old Towel Trick first. After an hour the xbox was red hot and had shut itself down with only 2 red lights blinking. I let it cool down for half an hour and amazingly it sprang back to life when I turned it on! So far its been working fine.

lol at bootsielon as well. One of the biggest Sony fanboys on this site. Of coure you've had like 6 broken 360's. Hell, why not go for broke and say you've had 20. Everyone knows you are lying through your tooth anyways.

I wonder what MS's failure rate truly is. I also wonder what the percentage of people who post in these topics are lying. I know people with 360's who know people with 360's and I am the only person I know that has ever had a problem with one. And my problem was pretty minor.

My launch day system still works great! It gets play time almost every single day and I usually never shut it off on the weekends. No complaints here :D

Me too! I've had 4 PS3's and about 9 Wii's break on me. And I'm still on my first launch Xbox 360 though, WOOOO!

Now i have a question; does anyone knows if PS3 has deffective systems....?

A lot of polls are finding the failure rates to be around 30-50% for the 360. Microsoft saying the 360 is "within the consumer electronics industry average." is going to be rough if someone ever takes them to court and finds otherwise.

I'll take some japanese engineered machine over an american engineered machine anyday. American cars suck nuts too.

Quit breaking your stuff. Sorry if you break your stuff. if you have ever, in any console variation, gone through 4,5,6, or 7 units, stop it. Quit breaking it. Plain and simple.
I had to replace mine once, but it was because I had it on carpet like a dumb ass. Got my new one and no problems. I am the only one of my 10 friends who have one that had any problems what so ever, all bought within 2 months of launch. so take that for what it is worth . . . nothing,
to the guy who said polls show that 30 - 50% fail, I bet those were really scientific and required documentation. Please give me links that show that multiple polls showed these results. And lame as internet "click here if yours failed" do not count.

As an owner of two 360's, neither of which has given any trouble and both of which see very heavy use, I think something's fishy with these failures. Third party accessories? I don't know, but NONE of my friends has seen a failure either.

My buddy just had his 360 die after about 1 year. He went through his friends list of 72 and 28 have had 360 failure (including me 2 times). I checked with my friends list, about 20 of 70 have had their 360's break down. Thats why I can easily believe these stories guys going through and 5, 6 or 7 360's. I have one friend who is on #5.

"113. Now i have a question; does anyone knows if PS3 has deffective systems....?"

Who knows? When people actually start playing them as much as 360 owners play theirs, I guess we'll start hearing about it.

I don't know... this is either a case of horrendously bad luck, or there's something about his setup that is causing the machines to fail on him - like putting the 360 on a self or whatever with no airflow, for example.

Or maybe he's using a faulty power bar or something.

Like I said, I don't know... I suppose it's possible that he's just been incredibly unlucky, but after 7 in a row you have to wonder.

I am on my fourth 360. First one died a little after one year passed (launch system). I went out and bought another one from target a day later and it died 3 days after i opened it. next one lasted me 3 months and would constantly freeze (like every time i turned it on) but wouldnt give me the ring of death. Ive had my 4th for about 3 weeks now and the only problem ive had is that it sometimes has trouble reading discs. i love the 360, but i am pretty pissed off about having so many faulty consoles. im glad i got the gamestop warranty on the last one, because im not paying for another one. Oh and i keep my 360 in an open place (a lot of air flow), and i never move it after i get it all hooked up. the power brick sits on the back of my tv stand and is also open to air. i dont believe i have done anything to cause these failures, the only thing that i can think of is leaving the xbox on for a long time while i am playing.

@gok: "You people need to stop putting your boxes in confined spaces where they overheat"

Yeah, putting a piece of consumer electronics into the entertainment center where EVERY OTHER FREAKING TV RELATED piece of hardware is is completely unreasonable. People should just know to put it out on the gold plated pillar out front.

I know next to nothing about electricity and electronic components, but is there a possibility that the XBOX 360 is vulnerable to certain types of anomalities in electric wiring? Maybe if something is a little off in a house's wiring, it could cause the 360 to die?

for the people who say that his 360 hasn't died please add the word "yet" at the end of your post...

@Dr Greenchicken (101)
I think that to satisfy the MS apologits, your console must also float 2 ft in air so that the bottom can dissipate heat. :P

It's not like he had seven NEW units fail. The problem is that the refurbed units are ones that have failed for others and are repaired or pass some burn in test. It seems like the refurbished units remain defective yet just keep circulating.

I'm on #2 myself.

First it would just freeze on DVDs, so we stopped watching movies on it. Then it kept freezing in the games and dashboard.. and then, death ring and the system is just out of warranty.

The good news is, the hard drive was still good so we could get away with purchasing the core system this time. The bad news, I doubt this is the last 360 I'll own.

It was a sad, sad day.

Mine worked perfectly for 13 months, then one terrible day it wouldn't even boot to the dashboard. 3 horrible lights is all I can get.

i guess life comes at you fast xbox owners, but remember that Nationwide is on your side!

Speaking of degrees of seperation... out of myself and three of my buddies from my college days (we are all late 20's) we have had a combined total of six systems fail. four people, six failed systems. I am on my third system. I purchased my original less than a year ago. One of my friends who has had two of his systems fail on him has yet to send back his second failed unit. He doesn't even want to deal with it.

My launch 360 is still performing flawlessly... as does my launch XBox and launch PS2. All systems with notorious hardware issues. Maybe I'm just lucky... but maybe, just maybe, I'm not a total dumbass and know how to properly place and care for electronic hardware. I simply refuse to believe that anyone who has 7 dead 360s isn't largely at fault. I know quite a few people personally that have 360 and none of them, not a single one, has had a dead 360. But then again all my friends are electronically competent.

I'm not saying that everyone with a dead 360 is at fault since it's clearly a fragile system, but when all the evidence I've witnessed first hand says that the 360 will last when you care for it properly I truly have to wonder what the hell is up with these people that have 3, 4, or more dead systems. I'd love to see pictures of where people are placing these systems... or find out if they are trnasporting them on a regualr basis... and if so, how are they transporting them.

This sort of thing happens every time something electronic for techies comes out.

On the internet today, negativity breeds negativity.

Nobody will post positively for fear of being ignored or even labeled 'fanboy'.

I long for the old days when the net wasn't a place to post bad experiences like it is now.



P.S. I have had my 3 360's for over a year.

Well there are two sides to every coin. One thing I found out is... systems die if you don't take care of them. What does take care of them mean typically? Well not playing DVDs on the could prolong the life of them. I've gone through 3 PS2 and 2 Xboxes(I wanted to wait for the 360 to actually NOT have a high failure rate before buying), and I finally hear someone say "Yeah, running DVDs in it typically kills the motor in the system. Don't do that."

Nice... It's advertised that it does something, you do it and it dies. And to the people who say "DO/Don't user surge protectors". That's a non issue. It should just work.Period. Consumer level products shouldn't be a case of "Oh you have to stand on your head and not buy this with water filled half way in a cup in the kitchen." It's an electronics device... nothing special. It goes in an entertainment stand. If it doesn't function properly in a entertainment stand, don't sell it as such.

Much like the fact that they KEEP showing the systems sitting on their sides. MAN that's such a bad idea, yet companies advertise that it's fine to do. IT'S HORRIBLE TO DO THAT! It scratches you CDs/DVDs.

It's sad that I have to defend my stance with this next point here but. I am a fanboy to no system. I'm all for the consumer not getting ripped off. If companies were so confident in their "My system won't break easily." why do they only have a 90 day warranty. Shouldn't it be 5 years(Typical system's life based off of new games.) or maybe even 2 1/2 years.

Well I see it as luck of the draw. I bought my first XBOX 360 in Feb 2006 and it failed me 2 months after I bought it. Got it replaced, and then two months later failed me again, at this point I was so frustrated with everything after I got it fixed I sold it. I picked one up off the streets with two games two controllers for $125 (gotta love those street prices back in August, and never had an inch of a problem. In fact I love it more than my premium that failed me just wish I had kept my old harddrive. Oh well when they come out with a bigger HD I'll buy one then.

But I've also had friends who bought a 360 at launch and they had to replace there's also. But so far so good.

Alright. I give up trying to explain to SOME of you clowns who insist that I MUST have been doing something horrible to my BUSINESS INVESTMENT. You are simply too mentally quick to put anything over on, you brainiacs.
The truth: I kept all of the units sweltering in a miserable tin shack out in the summer sun (Summers in Moab can hit 110 degrees). I gave them very little water, and forced them to wear frilly dresses to humiliate and demean them. Also, I would smear excrement on them.
After summer's heat faded, I dug a deep hole in my basement, and put them in the bottom. Then I would lower lotion in a bucket to the bottom and order them "It rubs the lotion on it's case". I was gong to make a dress out of the cases and dance in front of a mirror. I would have gotten away with it, too, had it not been for those meddling red rings of death.

Wii never fail

add me to the list. been through 3, "WHEN" the next one fails, its going out back for target practice. then I can justify buying a reliable system like the wii or ps3

I will give an advice put away that piece of crap (xbox 360) and get the PS3, japanes make quality products no like the trash american products, even the american vehicles are a piece of trash...

I am on my 4th and my roomate has had his since launch without so much as a glitch. Luck of the draw I guess. There are OBVIOUSLY used and refurbished units still in circulation people. Get a brain, this is no secret. It doesn't mean every NEW 360 purchased is going to break. And to clue you idiots in that don't do research... DON'T buy NEW items at stores that RESTOCK RETURNS or open box....i.e. Wal-Mart and Circuit City!! Not all of this is Microsoft's fault. There are dishonest dipshit's out there that return things that are broken or ship stuff that aren't fixed and these are the blogs we get to read about. So quit your bitching, worring, complaining, crying or whatever. If you don't want to take a chance... wait another year til NEWER models are in circulation. Otherwise.. deal with it and shut up already. This calculating failure rates and worring about yours breaking is BULLSHIT. There are plenty of people who have had no problems. Its a great system with bad press due to unfortunate circumstances... NOT BAD ENGINEERING!! And I'm a guy talking who's on his 4th.

I still wouldn't trade one for any other console. You'll notice the majority of these units stem from the months revolving around the launch and that are now refurbished and back in circulation. To all those who want to buy a new one, quit being so paranoid and buy one. I'd put money down on a bad batch of 360's that were manufactured around launch added to people recycling the bad units as new or refurbished. Again.. it doesn't mean ALL 360's are DOOMED TO BREAK. Anyone who says otherwise is a fanboy for the other consoles or a retard.

@133

Oh yeah, Japanese products are so amazing... Oh, wait, the PSX and PS2 had notorious hardware issues too. Nevermind.

Ok guys yes PS1,2 had some issues, but nothing like this. I never recall seeing the message boards with so many topics about hardware failure nor did I see so many websites talk about it, and this is by the time there were many PS products out there. And even if the PS did perform as poorly as certain 360s, it still would not be an excuse to have shoddy hardware!

To all new comers to the 360 world, let me offer one piece of advice. Buy your system where ever you'd like but go directly to your local CompUSA and purchase a warranty for your 360. There return policy is one of the best in the business, no questions asked, no tests to ensure the unit is in fact faulty, no refurbished units here, they simply give you a brand new unit and the opportunity to purchase another warranty.

Todays disc based consoles do not offer the reliablity of the cartridge systems of yesteryear, and after going through 2 Xbox's, 2 Gamecubes, and 7 PS2's I will never purchase a disc based system without a CompUSA warranty. While purchasing warranty after warranty can be expensive, that is better than trying to deal with Microsoft's laughable Xbox 360 support in my opinion.

I'm on my third in a little over a year

For goddsakes people....why is this an issue.....???

ALL Early Adopters know to get the extended warranty or buy it with a credit card that doubles the warranty ANYWAY....on the 1st batch of consoles....ITS JUST THE WAY IT IS!

If you think otherwise....You ARE an idiot.

Now if we go over the past system launches....most save for Nintendo have had issues...in particular SONY.

Some Examples just from my family of Gamers (who take care of their consoles):

Atari 2600....this thing was a ROCK...still is...No problems save for the Rubber things coming off the joysicks Still plays perfectly after 30+ Years.

ATARI 5200....wow this thing had problems from the get go.....ANALOG Controller way ahead of its time but their break rate was hilarious. This system officially died once I resorted to using tinfoil to make the controller buttons work. HAHAHAHA!!

SNES: Well...the plastic discolors over time on both games and sytem. Solid.
N64: No problems...but that controller sucked
Gameube: No Problems...but worthless Network Adapter
Gameboy Advance/SP/DS: Zero Problems
Wii: No problems yet....but broken TVs by my nieces worries me. PLEASE FIX the Friends list registration.

PS ONE: Who doesn't remember having to turn it over to get it to play or having to take it apart to adjust those potentiometers. All 4 of my familiy's launch consoles were eventually replaced 2-3 years later. Methinks mine only lasted because I learned to take it apart and replace the rails and laser.
Still one of my all time favorite consoles. Aaah...where is the Upstart SONY of 1995...rather than the arrogant one of 2006??

PS TWO: The most unreliable console of all IMO....of the 4 my family got at launch...all crapped out within a few years after warranty. I am currently on my 3rd and 4th ones (one Fat with 200GB HD, One slim for tailgating).

XBOX: One of my 3 XBOXes Hard Drive crapped out....and was repaired for Free. No problems....and 2 have moved onto Mod Status with 250GB Hard DRives :)

XBOX 360: So far no problems with mine.....Microsoft has earned my respect with XBL and its attention and attempt to react to fans desires/needs. Best Console out right now IMO.

PS3: No problems so far with 4 launch systems...but then again...I only watch movies on it (what else is there to do with it??). But it's HAIR DRYER Level heat is VERY worrisome to me....defintiely do NOT put that baby in an closed entertainment center. Makes for a great personal heater on cold days.

I cry No SCREAM Bullshit on this one I bet he is one of the people willing to shoot another in the head for a PS3

To you idiots who think that people don't know how to take care of their equipment, I'm getting ready to receive my third unit. I purchased the original 360 back in December 05. It didn't last more than a year before getting the three red rings of light. The second unit didn't last more than two weeks. I have a 46" LCD, 32" LCD, 23" LCD, 30" CRT, 20" CRT, 1 server, 8 PC's, 2 laptops, 1 LaserJet 8150, 2 PS2's, 1 Dreamcast, 1 Wii and three DVD players. Every device is connected and running at least once a week except maybe the Dreamcast. The server runs 24-7 and is only on a power strip. (Funny that if I had dirty power, the server has never failed and it's even in an uncontrolled environment...) This doesn't even come close to counting all the other household electronics in my home. The 360 is the only piece of equipment that has ever failed on me. Oh...and by the way, I'm a hardware technician by trade, so I know how equipment should be taken care of. The 360, plain and simple, is a very poorly constructed piece of equipment. I like the 360, but if the third unit dies, (refurbished I bet) I plan on contacting the states attorney general.

All 15 of my PS3s crapped out on me in the first week! What a piece of junk. I opened the thing up and it it was powered by rats running on hamster wheels!

If my 16th PS3 dies on me, I am so getting an Xbox!

What a joke.

I don't know a single Xbox 360 owner who has ever had a problem with their system. The only people I know of who have had problems with the Xbox are Sony fans, who love to rag on the system.

I had bought my 360 at launch and it worked great until I plugged in that Nyko intercooler. The second time I fired it up after that I got 1 red light in the player 4 controller slot. Now I sent in my system which until 5 days ago I never heard of a system actually crashing. I have owned a regular nintendo a super a 64, a sega, an atari system and handheld, a playstation, a dreamcast, a turbographix 16, a regular xbox and now the 360. Most of the systems I still own and play today. I cant believe i have a system i have owned since 1986 that still works and my 360 went 16 months. If my new system which I am still waiting to get back crashes I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MICROSOFT PRODUCT AGAIN!!!!! Its a joke, the guy who made the first computer for gaming in the early 80's still cant make a good video game system. What does that say for Windows or Vista. My Windows has crashed in the past on my PC. Is this company walking around with its proverbial head up its A!!. I hate Microsoft!!!!!

I love my Xbox and treat better than my wife! I have it plugged in on a surge protector like it says to do. I jst want my system to work again. I really hope Microsoft does not drop the ball on this because if they do they might lose a very valuable customer. I love my Xbox but I'm not buying it two and three times just too enjoy a great system!

I am currently on # 6, 5 have died on me.
For those saying that you have to be a noob to have them break I can guarantee that I have done nothing out of the ordinary.

As soon as I got my 360's I hooked them up, vertically on a glass shelf, power brick right side up, again, on a glass shelf, which should provide a nice flat surface for air flow. I do not move them once they are in place, yet I still have not had a 360 last more than a few months.

So what am I doing wrong?

I have only had 1 console, been fairly lucky. Though I agree with Tucker, it HAS to do with power! I have had my console since launch day, so its definately 1 of the 1st batch.

My only problem with the system was during a storm one night, very dodgy electric. The lights went dim several times in my house while I was playing Gears of War, then all of a sudden BANG, and the 360 shut down, as did my TV and my AV receiver! The 360 booted again itself, but the ring of death was on. My stomach dropped!

That said, I powered everything down and tried again, it worked fine. I was very lucky, but I imagine incidents like this can highlight the need for a decent power supply, and possibly surge protectors on ur equipment?