LCD TV reliability—Why Vizio isn't in our repair history

A reader recently asked us why Vizio, an up-and-coming brand that now ranks third in sales for LCD TV sets, is not included in our repair history for flat-panel TVs—especially since we've recommended a number of Vizio TVs for their combination of decent quality and low price. (Access to our brand repair history for LCD TVs and Recommendations of LCD TV models requires a subscription to ConsumerReports.org.)

Let me answer in a way that offers insight into the way Consumer Reports develops reliability information, a process that is as exacting as our lab tests and just as important to a buying decision.

All our repair histories reflect the real-life experiences of thousands of consumers who have purchased and used the products in question. Our current flat-panel TV repair history is based on 74,544 responses to our Annual Product Reliability survey from readers who bought new sets between 2004 and 2007.

We received enough reader data to include nine brands of LCD TVs in our repair history chart (available to subscribers) and to mention two others anecdotally, but Vizio was not among them. Why not? In a nutshell—there weren't enough responses on this brand, and any conclusion we could draw from the limited data would have been premature and potentially misleading.

To accurately rate the repair history of any product, the survey experts at the Consumer Reports National Research Center need enough data not only for products purchased within the last year or two but also for those purchased a few years earlier. In the case of LCD TVs, we needed a sufficient number of reports for sets purchased in 2004 and 2005 as well as 2006 and 2007.

We had very few reports concerning Vizio LCD TVs purchased in 2004 and 2005, as this was just when the brand was beginning to climb in sales. Such historical data are the most telling indicators of reliability, because older sets are the most likely to have broken by dint of their age. Without it, we could not include Vizio in the chart or even comment more generally on the brand's reliability.

By contrast, we had enough data on 2004 and 2005 purchases of Olevia and Sanyo sets to say that their reliability looked promising, though not enough to arrive at the precise index of reliability required to include those brands in the frequency of repair chart.

The good news is that we hope to report on Vizio's brand reliability soon. We received a large number of reader responses for Vizio sets bought in 2006 and 2007, and our survey experts are fairly confident they'll be able to include this brand when we update our repair history for LCD TVs (available to subscribers) later this year.

In the meantime, we can say that most major brand LCD and plasma TVs have been very reliable for the first three years, with an overall repair rate of just 3 percent. Thus we stand by our advice that buying an extended warranty on a flat-panel set is generally not a good investment for most consumers, given that there has been a low likelihood that you'll use it.

—Paul Reynolds

Comments

[everett whitney]

TO: Danny D. - 25 July - " Vizio @ $1,495- unrepairable in 24 months!"

Although vigorously opposed herein by C.R. - perhaps -
for some , Sony's (5) Years, In-Home, all inclusive warranty would be a better choice for those Not wishing to take the ~~3% risk of being self-insured ! Also includes that prevalent issue of "no repair component" available .... the set is replaced !

These are sold directly @ their web site or via telephone for 59 days after the purchase of a Sony set from any authorized dealer, including Amazon, Crutchfields, SAMs, etc..

And, the total cost is Under the 15% suggested by C.R. as a maximum, too. Starting from under $100/5 yr on beginning HDTVs, it is a maximum of $399/5 yr for their largest & most costly $4,300 + set.

At the very least, this IS an alternative to tossing out a set prematurely.

[danny dimauro]

my vizio L37 has been turning off while watch the last year now it wont turn on at all i bought it 3/30/2006 call vizio about problem was tolded my tv doesn't have warranty it was 2 years old this cost to fix it will be around 600.00 vozio refused to help me who would of though a hdtv for 1495.00 would only last for 2 years

[K Stip]

We purchased the Vizio L32 a little over 2 years ago and it is already dead. It will not turn on anymore (listed on their website as a common problem it seems). It is in repair for an estimate, but will most likely be trashed based on the cost to repair v/s ability to purchase a new set. It was not overused or abused, and is no where near it's "backlight life" (which is most likely what the problem is with it). I would NOT recommend this set - it has had "quirks" since day one, especially in it's sound quality.

[Jim Strain]

Vizio's after warranty period are useless, since the manufacture doesn't keep up with parts as backup for repairs beyond warranty period.

[Jennifer Mickeletto]

I would love to give you my story about a Vizio plazma TV that was purchased in 2005. Provide me with a survey and I will give you an ear full!

[everett whitney]

VIZIO -

In spite of any pending % of "good", the business fact will still be the case of Vizio NOT having any national network of authorized, local servicing centers, as is the case in most major, top-tier brands -- Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp, Sony, etc..

Rather, one must keep forever that shipping carton plus all the special inner packing , insure & prepay themselves for the round trip freight to a central west coast location & wait .... and, pay a "servicing fee !"

This makes Vizio a potentially very costly "gamble" , irrespective of any statistical percentage of results!