Rendering

Component: (Network and Table)
Network
2417405 - Disclosure - Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Product Warranties
(http://www.firstsolar.com/role/Note15CommitmentsAndContingenciesDetailsProductWarranties)
TableSchedule of Product Warranty Activity [Table]
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0001274494 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Products and Services [Axis]Products and Services [Domain]
Product Liability Contingency [Line Items]Period [Axis]
2013-01-01 - 2013-12-31
2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31
2012-01-01 - 2012-03-31
2011-01-01 - 2011-12-31
Estimated Rate of Return for Product Warranty
.03  
 
 
 
Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward]
 
 
 
 
Product warranty liability, beginning of period
191,596,000  
157,742,000  
157,742,000  
27,894,000  
Accruals for new warranties issued (warranty expense)
35,985,000  
40,863,000  
 
22,411,000  
Settlements
(33,499,000) 
(60,644,000) 
 
(24,425,000) 
Change in estimate of warranty liability
3,959,000 1
53,635,000 1
22,600,000 1
131,862,000 1
Product warranty liability, end of period
198,041,000  
 
191,596,000  
 
 
 
157,742,000  
 
Current portion of warranty liability
67,097,000  
90,581,000  
 
78,637,000  
Noncurrent portion of warranty liability
130,944,000  
101,015,000  
 
79,105,000  
Percentage Point Change in Estimated Rate of Return of Product Warranty
0  
 
 
 
Range of Change in Estimated Product Warranty Liability
55,000,000  
 
 
 
1: Changes in estimate of product warranty liability during 2012 includes a net increase to our best estimate of $22.6 million partially related to a net increase in the expected number of replacement modules required for certain remediation efforts related to the manufacturing excursion that occurred between June 2008 and June 2009. Such estimated increase was primarily due to the completion of the analysis on certain outstanding claims as of December 31, 2011. Additionally, the remaining increase was primarily related to a change in estimate for the market value of the modules that we estimated would be returned to us under the voluntary remediation efforts that would meet the required performance standards to be re-sold as refurbished modules.