Looking at it another way ... of the four T&S appliances I have, one has needed repair. Bad pump, at 12 years 2 months. I suppose CR would see that as a 25% failure rate, which does qualify as b-a-d.
Well our new KitchenAid dw has broken down in just 11 months
- Thread starter petek
- Start date
Looking at it another way ... of the four T&S appliances I have, one has needed repair. Bad pump, at 12 years 2 months. I suppose CR would see that as a 25% failure rate, which does qualify as b-a-d.
jerrod6
Well-known member
I never understood why they limited the reporting years. Every time I took their reliability surveys I had nothing I could report because everything was lasting over their rating period and needed no repairs. What difference does it make if the older model is no longer available? If you have a Dw brand that has lasted 10 years that SAYS SOMETHING!
I bought my first Miele DW in 1996. In that year they tested it and remarked that it was very quiet and used very little water but then said that you would end up using more water than most other DW in the end because you had to rinse the filter. Of course this wasn't true but they were so flip about the statement.
And now, no in depth reporting about their testing methods or reasons for their ratings, just cotton candy details is all you get. CR just seems to have such a limited scope.
I bought my first Miele DW in 1996. In that year they tested it and remarked that it was very quiet and used very little water but then said that you would end up using more water than most other DW in the end because you had to rinse the filter. Of course this wasn't true but they were so flip about the statement.
And now, no in depth reporting about their testing methods or reasons for their ratings, just cotton candy details is all you get. CR just seems to have such a limited scope.
You have to sign up for the online magazine verion of CR to get more details unfortunately.
What I don't get is the apparent reliability differences between some Kenmore, KA, and Whirpools being all made by Whirpool . The machines look identical to me pretty much other than the branding and maybe the shape of the pushbutton controls which are in the same order on the panel.
What I don't get is the apparent reliability differences between some Kenmore, KA, and Whirpools being all made by Whirpool . The machines look identical to me pretty much other than the branding and maybe the shape of the pushbutton controls which are in the same order on the panel.
My no need to name dishwasher install instructions stated to plug unit into a switched undercabinet electrical outlet, we only switch on when running DW, same makers GWL 11 clothes washer manual advises unplugging after use, I presume to save electronics from power surges, spikes, and our dirty power variances, (terminology from salesperson touting benefits of Monster clean power surge suppressors.) I haven't bought one yet but following those FandP instructions no problem yet about 8 years DW and 10 years washer. Maybe those of us without panel box whole home surge suppressors should do this, but what about electric dryer, stove and wall oven, you can't easily switch off or unplug at the unit, and I don't switch off at the breaker box, MAYBE I MIGHT after paying repair bill for whichever of those burns out first. YEAH, MAYBE!
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
I'm was so PISSED at Kitchenaid
I know this is a dishwasher topic but it's the same brand so I'm going to add this....I use a blender daily. I've had this really nice Kitchenaid blender and it has always had a slight leaking problem. If you don't get it on the base just right (even a fraction off) it's a MESS! At first I thought it was the rubber seal piece but it's coming from under the blade itself. It was manageable at first but it just kept getting worse and worse. I noticed a lot of reviews had the same problem.
I called Kitchenaid ONLY because I had read in some comments that they had redesigned the collar assembly and people were calling and getting a replacement that had been corrected and the first thing the CR asked was how old it was...I said not 100 percent sure but possibly a year and a half. The CR said there was nothing they could do but directed me to the blade/collar assembly part for which I had NO problem buying. I asked if it had been redesigned because of the leaking and she said she wasn't aware of a redesign, but that it's possible. So I didn't want to buy the same problem.
A few days passed and I called back trying again (but I was very nice) and this time the rep said she would send a new blade/collar assembly FREE and I could try it. I was shocked but I think they did the right thing. It seems almost impossible to find a decent blender unless you pay 500 dollars for a Blendtec or Vitamix.
The Kitchenaid is a nice sturdy heavy powerful base and a nice glass jar. Everything about it feels premium EXCEPT for the collar/blade assembly which is not very thick plastic (other than the blade) and that's a pretty critical part.
I'm sure they purposely cheapen some parts in their dishwashers even though it's considered a high end brand.
For the LIFE of me I can't understand why even high end brands have cheapness to them? Is Kitchenaid no longer considered a high end brand? I know they are Whirlpool but still
I know this is a dishwasher topic but it's the same brand so I'm going to add this....I use a blender daily. I've had this really nice Kitchenaid blender and it has always had a slight leaking problem. If you don't get it on the base just right (even a fraction off) it's a MESS! At first I thought it was the rubber seal piece but it's coming from under the blade itself. It was manageable at first but it just kept getting worse and worse. I noticed a lot of reviews had the same problem.
I called Kitchenaid ONLY because I had read in some comments that they had redesigned the collar assembly and people were calling and getting a replacement that had been corrected and the first thing the CR asked was how old it was...I said not 100 percent sure but possibly a year and a half. The CR said there was nothing they could do but directed me to the blade/collar assembly part for which I had NO problem buying. I asked if it had been redesigned because of the leaking and she said she wasn't aware of a redesign, but that it's possible. So I didn't want to buy the same problem.
A few days passed and I called back trying again (but I was very nice) and this time the rep said she would send a new blade/collar assembly FREE and I could try it. I was shocked but I think they did the right thing. It seems almost impossible to find a decent blender unless you pay 500 dollars for a Blendtec or Vitamix.
The Kitchenaid is a nice sturdy heavy powerful base and a nice glass jar. Everything about it feels premium EXCEPT for the collar/blade assembly which is not very thick plastic (other than the blade) and that's a pretty critical part.
I'm sure they purposely cheapen some parts in their dishwashers even though it's considered a high end brand.
For the LIFE of me I can't understand why even high end brands have cheapness to them? Is Kitchenaid no longer considered a high end brand? I know they are Whirlpool but still
Kitchenaid Blenders
Yes Mark that is diffidently off topic, but you do bring up an interesting problem for manufactures like KA and the danger of trying to sell too many different products. Customers will often get pissed off over a hundred blender and not buy the best refrigerator built because of problems with something like a faulty steam iron.
This was one of the reasons cited when GE sold their small appliance division to Black & Decker 20+ years ago. Interestingly GE had some of the best small appliances and yet they had many customers that had a problem with a toaster oven and would not buy one of their major appliances where they actually made money.
I do think that KA should get out of the small appliance business and as I said the other day in a different thread they should also stop selling $59 disposers.
Yes Mark that is diffidently off topic, but you do bring up an interesting problem for manufactures like KA and the danger of trying to sell too many different products. Customers will often get pissed off over a hundred blender and not buy the best refrigerator built because of problems with something like a faulty steam iron.
This was one of the reasons cited when GE sold their small appliance division to Black & Decker 20+ years ago. Interestingly GE had some of the best small appliances and yet they had many customers that had a problem with a toaster oven and would not buy one of their major appliances where they actually made money.
I do think that KA should get out of the small appliance business and as I said the other day in a different thread they should also stop selling $59 disposers.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
I was , Not I'm was (LOL)
Yes sorry.... Since it was the same brand I just wanted to throw that in there.
I know Kitchenaid is Whirlpool and perhaps you're right; if they focused on less items for sale perhaps the quality would be better for what they do sell.
But they sell a million things!
Yes sorry.... Since it was the same brand I just wanted to throw that in there.
I know Kitchenaid is Whirlpool and perhaps you're right; if they focused on less items for sale perhaps the quality would be better for what they do sell.
But they sell a million things!
KitchenAid and dishwashers and reliability ratings
What about those 400+ complaints regarding the KitchenAid dishwasher fires? I wish WPL would have not closed the Maytag dishwasher factory as I thought Maytag made a fine dishwasher but then again they were being notorious for recalls near the end.
That said. I plan on KitchenAid appliances if I ever have a kitchen re-do. I'm a fan of the show "Love it or List it" on HGTV. I love Hilliary's kitchens and she picks KitchenAid. Years ago I worked at WPL and now live 80 miles from their headquarters. I think if I were to ever have a disappointing experience with one of their appliances, I'd deliver it to their front door with a nasty note. For now I'm sticking to vintage machines.
What about those 400+ complaints regarding the KitchenAid dishwasher fires? I wish WPL would have not closed the Maytag dishwasher factory as I thought Maytag made a fine dishwasher but then again they were being notorious for recalls near the end.
That said. I plan on KitchenAid appliances if I ever have a kitchen re-do. I'm a fan of the show "Love it or List it" on HGTV. I love Hilliary's kitchens and she picks KitchenAid. Years ago I worked at WPL and now live 80 miles from their headquarters. I think if I were to ever have a disappointing experience with one of their appliances, I'd deliver it to their front door with a nasty note. For now I'm sticking to vintage machines.
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