Xbox 360 Warranty Coverage Expanded

[James]

http://www.xbox.com/en-US...ources/warrantyupdate.htm

Microsoft Corp. today announced that it will expand its global Xbox 360â„¢ warranty coverage. Any Xbox 360 customer who experiences a general hardware failure indicated by three flashing red lights will now be covered by a three year warranty from date of purchase.  All other existing Xbox 360 warranty policies remain in place.

As a result of what Microsoft views as an unacceptable number of repairs to Xbox 360 consoles, the company conducted extensive investigations into potential sources of general hardware failures.  Having identified a number of factors which can cause general hardware failures indicated by three red flashing lights on the console, Microsoft has made improvements to the console and is enhancing its Xbox 360 warranty policy for existing and new customers.

Microsoft stands behind its products and is taking responsibility to repair or replace any Xbox 360 console that experiences the “three flashing red lights” error message within three years from time of purchase free of charge, including shipping costs.  Microsoft will take a $1.05 billion to $1.15 billion pre-tax charge to earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 for anticipated costs under its current and enhanced Xbox 360 policies.

"The majority of Xbox 360 owners are having a great experience with their console and have from day one.  But, this problem has caused frustration for some of our customers and for that, we sincerely apologize," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division. "We value our community tremendously and look at this as an investment in our customer base.  We look forward to great things to come."

For any customer who has previously paid for repair expenses related to the three flashing lights error message on the Xbox 360 console, Microsoft will retroactively reimburse them.

Good news for Xbox 360 owners. Mine is 9 months old and seems to be having some problems coming on. However, I think they're disc drive problems, not problems that would cause three red lights. Still, it's nice to know I have another 27 months warranty against a general hardware failure.

[Tynstar]

Screams we made a piece of crap to me but it is nice of them to do that.

[Tondog]

It's a start. Now if only they can do something about fixing that 33% failure rate and not sending out crappy refurbished systems to people who get their 360 "repaired".

[Tynstar]

not sending out crappy refurbished systems to people who get their 360 "repaired".

What do you think Sony does?

[Tondog]

Well yeah, all companies do that, but I hear many problems of defective 360s being sent back to people.

[Tynstar]

Well yeah, all companies do that, but I hear many problems of defective 360s being sent back to people.

I am sure that happens all over. Stop being a hater. Take off the Sony goggles and see that ALL companies have flaws.

[Tan]

Owners of early PS2 models purchased from launch until spring 2003 often reported faulty optical drives in their consoles. The earliest drives suffered from a constantly misaligning laser lens, but later defects were the result of a shift in voltage to the laser. The first problem was easily remedied by opening the console's casing and tweaking a cog that controlled the lens' distance from the disc. However, this action voided the console's warranty. The second problem could be fixed by using an oscillator. After many consoles had broken down, a class action lawsuit was filed against Sony. Sony agreed to provide free repair or replacement for the faulty consoles and continued to do so until February 2005.

Another problem that could cause a disc read error is wear on the coupling in the head assembly to the worm gear that moves the laser. A symptom of this is a loud repetitive clicking sound. However, this problem rarely occurs on newer consoles

Every system released since 2000 has had problems of some sort, even the GCN and Wii. The difference being of course that the internet has 5% fanboys and 95% consumers. The 5% fanboys of course are the loudest demographic of complainers, haters and exaggerators and these stories get passed on from person to person. It's like the evening news that way, only the gory, dirty, sneaky, illegal and unethical get air time. No one wants to discuss good fun and reliable hardware, or the great service they got.

Does that mean I'm defending the X360? No, it means I look at it realistically. No company could survive if they truly had all of the problems the internet seems to dump on them. Sure there's shitloads of dead 360's, M$ may have fumbled the ball but damn did they ever come through and make the consumer feel good with a extra 3 year warranty.

Think of it this way, Microsoft's voluntary warranty extention is longer than Sony's lawsuit settlement one.

Edit: Sony has made it clear that the company is not accepting any wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, telling US website GameSpot: "While we are convinced that there is no problem with these models and that we would win if we defended this case through trial, we have agreed to settle these lawsuits to avoid the extraordinary high cost of cumbersome class action litigation."

[Tynstar]

You rule Tan!

[Tondog]

I got owned.

[Tynstar]

I got owned.

Be we still love you.

[Tynstar]

I haven't read it yet but I saw this on Yahoo's homepage

http://videogames.yahoo.com/news-521686

[Alabama-Shrimp]

what happens is your 360 breaks after the warranty does it then cost a fortune to get if fixed?

and does this mean in future there may be no working 360's as they will all inevitably break?

[Tynstar]

My brother got his Xbox fixed a few years back and it was 90 bucks.

[captain_nintendo]

It's a start. Now if only they can do something about fixing that 33% failure rate and not sending out crappy refurbished systems to people who get their 360 "repaired".

Having identified a number of factors which can cause general hardware failures indicated by three red flashing lights on the console, Microsoft has made improvements to the console

I know they have made recent changes to the console, and I personally have read less about the "3 red lights" on the Xbox forums.

I do not know if the policy has changed about sending out refurbished units however.


I worked at General Motors dealerships for close to 9 years. And as with most car makers, you were very lucky to not have a problem that required some sort of warranty work. Stuff breaks or comes from the plant defective.

It happens.


Also, Tan rocks.