Archived Copies of Warranty Week

Change Year: Date Order:

U.S. Semiconductor Warranty Report:

The semiconductor industry set new records in accruals and reserves, bolstered by Nvidia Corp.'s high warranty expenses due to a part malfunction. Key players in the industry have emerged in the past five years, though many companies could not weather the Great Recession, which had a profound and lingering effect on this industry.

U.S. Computer Industry Warranty Report:

The big headline is that Apple abruptly stopped reporting its warranty expenses in the middle of last year with no explanation. Among the suppliers to the computer OEMs, warranty expenses for the semiconductors are growing, while telecom expenses are shrinking to their lowest recorded levels.

U.S. HVAC & Appliance Warranty Report:

The big story in the appliance and HVAC industries is several major mergers and acquisitions in recent years, which have increased the precision of our data but driven down industry totals. Meanwhile, warranty expense rates for the appliance industry are lower than ever, showing savings on warranty expenses per product sale.

U.S. New Home & Building Materials Warranty Report:

The homebuilders bore the brunt of the Great Recession, but fared the pandemic rather well. The new home builders continue to take on a larger proportion of warranty expenses in building construction, while appliance & HVAC's share of expenses falls.

U.S. Aerospace Warranty Report:

The big story is Boeing, which seems to have done its warranty accounting for the 737 MAX groundings differently than it did the 787 Dreamliner a decade ago. Meanwhile, total warranty reserves for the whole industry hit a record high, despite low accruals.

U.S. Automotive OEM & Supplier Warranty Expenses:

The car manufacturers bore the brunt of the pandemic downturn, while the truck, powertrain, and other auto parts suppliers kept their warranty expense rates steadier and bounced back faster. Meanwhile warranty reserve balances broke their own record for the fourth year in a row.

U.S. Auto Parts & Powertrain Warranties:

Total claims, accruals, and warranty reserves were down slightly for the auto parts manufacturers overall, while the powertrain manufacturers continue to take on a larger proportion of the industry-wide warranty expenses.

U.S. Truck & Heavy Equipment Warranties:

The U.S.-based truck and heavy equipment manufacturers fared the pandemic better than most. Warranty activity in this industry barely lulled in 2020, and total warranty reserve balances hit a record high for the fourth year in a row, despite Navistar's departure from the list.

U.S. Auto Warranty Expenses:

Warranty metrics stabilized for the U.S.-based small vehicle manufacturers after two tumultuous pandemic years darkened by recalls. Warranty reserve balances and total claims paid reached record highs, while the claims and accrual rates were moderated due to increased product sales across the board.

Twentieth Annual Product Warranty Report:

With 99% of companies reporting, we begin to look at the annual 2022 warranty data, and present our new series of 20-year charts. Warranty claims, accrual, and reserves totals continue to set records in the vehicle and building trades sectors, while the electronics sector shrinks. Claims totals were up, and though accruals were down overall, they remain erratic in the wake of the unexpected expenses and losses of the pandemic.

Wind Turbine Warranty Report:

It's been a tough few years for the largest global wind turbine manufacturers, revealing high warranty claims and accrual rates. Chinese companies have rapidly expanded their market share, while the European and American giants are attempting to streamline their businesses in the wake of some public product failures.

Women Of Warranty:

The demographics of our industry are shifting, with more women and young people taking on roles. Angie Breedlove has formed a new group, Women of Warranty, to encourage and foster gender parity in warranty, especially in management and executive positions. The group will emphasize mentorship and networking.

Largest Nine-Month Warranty Reserve Fund Changes:

Continuing last week's analysis of the top 110 U.S.-based manufacturers, we are comparing each company's warranty reserve balances to their year-ago levels. Comparing the size of these changes reveals a fuller picture of which companies have had a challenging or exceptional nine months.

Largest Nine-Month Warranty Expense Rate Changes:

While we can't directly compare one company's expense rates to another's, we can compare each company against their year-ago levels. And then we can compare the size of the changes, to reveal which companies are seeing costs fall and which are seeing them soar.

Nine-Month Truck & Powertrain Warranty Trends:

Warranty claims and accruals are back to normal for the U.S.-based truck and powertrain manufacturers, despite some recalls and big claims payments. Trucking remains integral to the American landscape, but some manufacturers are having trouble predicting warranty costs.

Nine-Month Car & RV Warranty Trends:

Warranty claims and accruals are up for U.S.-based consumer vehicle companies. This industry wasn't hit as hard as many others in the pandemic, but things seem to be back to normal, despite recalls and technological challenges.

Nine-Month New Home Warranty Report:

Claims, accruals, and reserves continue to see a pattern of steady growth, despite many economists' predictions of an impending recession. Accruals per home sold continue to increase, though inflation and rising home prices mean that the accrual rate per dollar of revenue has decreased.

Worldwide Heavy Equipment Warranty Report:

Claims were down a bit in 2021, but accruals rose significantly, as did product revenue. The industry's average claims and accruals rates both fell in relation to total revenue, but the combined warranty reserve fund balances of the 56 companies we're tracking in this industry grew 11% to a record $10.81 billion.