A word to the wary - solar panel defects?

[Yo_Mama]

I'm not sure if it is possible yet to buy insurance for manufacturing defects of solar panels. In theory they come with a warranty from the manufacturer, but when the manufacturers aren't making a profit, collecting later may not be possible.

There do seem to be consistent reports of rising manufacturing defects, and they aren't all in Chinese companies:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/business/energy-environment/solar-powers-dark-side.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Troubling-solar-panel-defect-rate-seen-4140805.php

SolarBuyer, a company that audits solar factories, has found defect rates averaging about 8 percent among panels that have not yet been shipped to customers. With some manufacturers, the defect rate has topped 20 percent.
...
Problems aren't confined to smaller, little-known manufacturers. Nor are the defects limited to panels made in a particular country. The bulk of the world's solar panels are manufactured in Asia and the United States.

For a while there, the quality of solar panels was very good. I was wondering if anyone in the industry has tips on where/how to buy?

[FBaggins]

1. This isn't unique to solar power.

The need for quality declines as the replacement cost of an item falls.

[HooptieWagon]

2. I don't know about solar panels, but here's my experience with solar water heater.

It was already installed in my house when I bought it, I estimate it's 10-12 years old. It worked well, water got piping hot (I live in sunny Florida). Then in past year, the small electric pump failed for the second time, the pressure relief valve on the panel failed and spewed water, and the panel itself began leaking. I patched it together, which held for a short while, then it failed again at the same time my back-up electric water heater failed. I replaced the elec water heater with a small 30 gal unit, which is more than enough since I live alone. I unhooked the solar heater...cost to replace I couldn't justify given how little hot water I use. A family of 3 or 4 might make sense, for 1 person, not.

[roody]

3. Buy German?

[Yo_Mama]

4. I started hunting for companies

Apparently a lot of them have filed for BK.

A good tip, though.

[roody]

5. I've had a system for 12 years.

No problems.

[Yo_Mama]

6. Yeah, when they first came in they were a lot more fragile

Then there was a lot of work done and the quality became VERY good.

And honestly, this type of failure rate wasn't on my radar until last year I heard the first reports.

It's frustrating as an end consumer - I am also looking at trying to find some second hand ones.