Owners of early PS2 models purchased from launch until July 2003 often reported faulty optical drives in their consoles. The earliest drives suffered from a constantly misaligning laser lens, which could also result in discs being scratched by the lens. Later defects were the result of a shift in voltage to the laser. The first problem was easily remedied by opening the console's casing and tweaking a cog that controlled the lens's distance from the disc; however, this action voided the console's warranty. The second problem could be fixed by using an oscillator. After many consoles had broken down, a class action lawsuit was filed against Sony. Sony agreed to provide free repair or replacement for the faulty consoles and continued to do so until February 2005.

Another problem that could cause a disc read error is wear on the coupling in the head assembly to the worm gear that moves the laser. A symptom of this is a loud repetitive clicking sound. This sound can also be heard on older systems when playing blue or black disks. Putting a ring of duct tape around the inner ring of the disc will make it work. Nevertheless, these problems rarely occur on newer consoles

A third problem was also found. A handful of early PlayStation 2 consoles were unable to read dual-layered DVDs.A third problem was also found. A handful of early PlayStation 2 consoles were unable to read dual-layered DVDs.A third problem was also found. A handful of early PlayStation 2 consoles were unable to read dual-layered DVDs.A third problem was also found. A handful of early PlayStation 2 consoles were unable to read dual-layered DVDs.