Five patients using cochlear implants experienced internal device failure 6 weeks to 4 years following implantation. All devices were removed and new electrodes inserted. Single-channel implants were replaced with multichannel systems in three patients, while the others received identical multichannel implants. The performance on a uniform battery of audiologic tests was the same or better with the second implant in all patients. Replacement of intracochlear electrodes did not induce clinically apparent degeneration of auditory performance in this series.