Why do my compact fluorescent lamps keep dying?
Schematics &amp; Photos for 17 CFLs

Failures
Common failure is broken capacitor C3. it is possible mainly at cheap lamps, where are used cheaper components for lower voltage. Whet the pipe doesn't lights up on time, there are risk of destroying transistors Q1 and Q2 and next resistors R1, R2, R3 and R5. When lamp starts, changer is very overloaded and transistors usually doesn't survive longer temperature overloading. When the pipe serve out, electronics is usually destroyed too. When the pipe is old, there can be overburned one of filaments and lamp doesn't lights up anymore. Electronics usually survives. Sometimes can be pipe broken due to internal tension and temperature difference. Most frequently lamp fails, when power on.
Reviewing
Most of these compact fluorescent lamps use same or very similar wiring. More expensive lamps use a little complicated wiring with electrode preheating and thanks to it they have longer lifetime.