I'm so scary with things manufacturers are doing here.
Brastemp was the best manufacturer for decades. It was a 100% Brazilian company, that used Whirlpool's know how (they bought the right to use whirlpool projects).
That's why Brastemp machines always looked like american Whirlpools (Starting by the first Brastemp that looks like a Lady Kenmore with one or other minor design change, usually cosmetical only.
The same washer from late 50's to late 80's. Expensive, but reliable. Many people still have their machines until today.
When the Mondial was launched in 1991 it caused a huge revolution in our market.
It was an excellent machine. Everybody could see Brastemp and Whirlpool did an excellent work creating this machine. It was quieter than any other machine, it spun better, had innovative ovtions, was easier to fix and also lighter, so the housekeeper could move it easier to clean the floor under it or the walls behind it.
Of course, it wasn't as reliable as the previous model, but it's very clear that the World washer was made to last for at least 30 years.
Then Brastemp started the programmed obsolescence program. obviously they realized they did something horrible to their profit: "a machine that lasts". Then they decided to kill the Mondial and launched the Brastemp Clean.
Brastemp clean still a wonderful machine, but much more fragile than the Mondial. It still reliable, but had many other fragile parts, like the lid that had very fragile plastic hinges.
It was the last time we saw a Brastemp that we would be 100% proud of it.
Brastemp Electronic was launched. Together with it the biggest recall operation a manufacturer ever made in Brazil.
Of course it was another revolution. a fully electronic machine, with many different cycles, internal heater, an amazing design and... the Brastemp logo on the panel. Thousands of brazilians intantly loved it... a few months later the electronic boards started to fail...
That was the first time we've heard about something made by Brastemp not being "good as a Brastemp".
The recall worked ok, thousands of control panels were replaced, but Brastemp insisted ina wonderful design with a ridiculous fail. The panel was in the front part of the machine, so users would let clothes soaking in buckets or rub stained parts with soap before putting the clothes in the washer (too common here in Brazil) and the wet clothes would drip right at the panel during loading.
Of course a drop of water can't do anything, but day after day, drop after drop, the control panels wouldn't survive.
Brastemp (now a Whirlpool Corp. company) realized it was too obvious, so they decided to change the design. the panel went to both sides of the lid (not the best idea, but it was much better than the front.)
The machine lasted a little bit more, but still not as reliable as the Mondial.
Suddenly they launched the Ative model. the first ones were a complete disaster. They used an underdimensioned suspension. a 11kg capacity washing machine using the same 5kg mondial hydrocompensator ring. The result was machines jumping like crazy.
Brastemp didn't do a recall operation (and I still don't know why) but all the consumers that complained had their machines fixed (sometimes the technitians said "it's normal, the problem is that you don't know how to load it",) but after so many users posting videos on youtube and complaining, they had to stop doing it. only people that complained gor their machines repaired. Brastemp didn't do an official recall operation, advertising on tv asking all the owners of model ... from serial numer xxx to serial number xxx to call the Brastemp authorized service to replace a faulty part.
Brastemp still has the fame of good machine. The "it's not a Brastemp" marketing campaign was so well done that all the Brazilians use this phrase when they want to say something is only good, but not excellent, even 20 years after they show the tv commercial. but the Brastemp machine swe have today aren't any better than other manufacturers.
Electrolux also did the same. years ago their top loaders were great and reliable. Now they are scary and unreliable too.
Both electrolux and Brastemp/Consul (The biggest manufacturers in Brazil) are exactly the same s**t now. Machines made to last, if really lucky, for 5 years. Cheap plastic everywhere, programmed obsolescence on many vital parts and both manufacturers launching different models every year and killing older models. and after 5 years a model is killed, you can't find spare parts for it.
The baby mondial a friend just gave me needed some minor services (replace wiring harness and maybe the PCB).
The Brastemp authorized technical service didn't even wanted to look at my machine (it was on the back of my car) they just said "it's obsolete, horrible to work on them and i'm sure we won't have parts for it. But i can make you a quotation and the price you would pay to fix it I can give you as a bonus for you to buy a new Brastemp, which is bigger, handles a much bigger load and has many features that I'm sure you'd love.
I said no and went to another service (not Brastemp). The guy said "holy crap, i can't belive you found a beauty like that in so good shape". Let's see right now what does this little girl need.
He replaced the wiring harness (found the original part), the PCB, and also decided to replace bearing and water seal, even being unnecessary yet, also replaced both hoses, belt, lint filter cup and disassembled the whole machine for cleaning. watched the whole service and the machine that was looking like new, now is really new, with all vital parts replaced. And i'm sure a wonderful Brastemp like that (that is like a Brastemp) will last for at least more 30 years and I can trust that machine because it was well made.
The Brastemp we have nowadays in Brazil last the same as the first american world washers (front panel).
It's like comparing a Lady Kenmore with a Cabrio... which machine would you trust more?