Electronics have a 15% failure rate
The average new electronics item has a 15% failure rate in its first 3 to 4 years. Used and refurbished items are even more likely to fail than new items.
An independent study of new iPods (by MacInTouch) found a
15% iPod failure rate. Another study of new laptops (by Gartner) found a
22% laptop hardware failure rate.
Consumer Reports recently (November 2006) published a study on
consumer electronics failure rates. Almost all items had a greater than 10% repair rate in their 4th year (with laptops up to 43%).
Repair rates for 3- to 4-year-old products.
| Product |
Repair Rate |
| Laptop computer |
43% |
| Refrigerator: side-by-side, with icemaker and dispenser |
37 |
| Rider mower |
32 |
| Lawn tractor |
31 |
| Desktop computer |
31 |
| Washing machine (front-loading) |
29 |
| Self-propelled mower |
28 |
| Vacuum cleaner (canister) |
23 |
| Washing machine (top-loading) |
22 |
| Dishwasher |
21 |
| Refrigerator: top- and bottom-freezer, w/ icemaker |
20 |
| Gas range |
20 |
| Wall oven (electric) |
19 |
| Push mower (gas) |
18 |
| Cooktop (gas) |
17 |
| Microwave oven (over-the-range) |
17 |
| Clothes dryer |
15 |
| Camcorder (digital) |
13 |
| Vacuum cleaner (upright) |
13 |
| Refrigerator: top- and bottom-freezer, no icemaker |
12 |
| Range (electric) |
11 |
| Cooktop (electric) |
11 |
| Digital camera |
10 |
| TV: 30- to 36-inch direct view |
8 |
| TV: 25- to 27-inch direct view |
6 |
Source:
Consumer Reports National Research Center, 2006 Product Reliability Survey |
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