Well our new KitchenAid dw has broken down in just 11 months

[petek]

Some of you might remember that brand new KitchenAid dishwasher we bought last year and was installed on March 19/2012. Well it crapped out tonight. I had set it for a Pro Wash cycle and it quit within 20 minutes with the "clean" light repeatedly flashing 4 times and all the other buttons inoperative. According to the instrx manual this means to call for service.

The previous machine in the house was also a newer Kitchenaid about 1 year old when we bought the house and it crapped out after about 2 years requiring extensive repairs and then it failed again about 2 years later and that's why we bought this new one. I should have listened to my gut but thought well maybe that one was just a lemon.

I'm so pissed off right now I could spit nails.. Never again will I buy a KitchenAid appliance or for that matter a similar Whirpool.

While it worked well when it worked I always thought there was something not quite right. Because I sit at my computer directly underneath it in the basement I could hear that when it initially filled with water it would constantly start/quit, drain for 3 or so seconds, start quit the filling then drain abit every 2-5 seconds perhaps 8 to 10 times before it started washing continually Like a solenoid starting and stopping sound.

It's not even like it got heavy use. We on ran it on average 3 times a week.

So much for quality. [this post was last edited: 2/27/2013-03:32]

 

[pierreandreply4]

if you still went a kitchenaid dishwasher

maybe if you still went a kitchenaid dishwasher to buy a vintage one like this one credit to the original owner of the picture thats a kitchenaid but at that time that model was made they where made by hobart.

 

[pierreandreply4]

inside picture

Here is a picture of the inside as well credit to the original owner of the picture

 

[mrb627]

Kenmore...

I had a Kenmore Ultra wash which was a rebranded Kitchenaid. It died a premature death running up a parts cost of 400 dollars.

I switched to a Bosch and eventually a Miele. I'll never go back to Kitchenaid.

Malcolm

 

[gansky1]

Still under warranty, so your service should be completely covered, Pete. It will be interesting to see what the trouble is.

I have a client that replaced a 1st generation Maytag Jetclean plastic-tub dishwasher due to leaking, first a drip then a tsunami (I think the tsunami was more their doing than the machine) with a KitchenAid tall-tub. The dealer installed the machine, got it all aligned and square in the cabinet - went to start it for the first time and...nothing. No lights, no water, no response at all. He had removed the box in the driveway so it was DOA from the factory. Service comes out next day and removed the front panel to find no control board. Just empty space. This is very odd because each machine is tested completely before it leaves the factory. Somehow this one made it out incomplete.

They replaced the machine with a new one and it worked fine until three days out of warranty and then same thing as you describe. Flashing light, "call for service". I was there the day it stopped working and urged her to call Whirlpool immediately and explain the d/w journey to that point, with emphasis. LOL

She did and WP repaired the machine at no charge, control board replaced and all was back to normal. She was happy with the d/w once they had a complete, working machine and it performed properly again after service. She was a bit chagrined at having "paid for a premium brand, and expected more."

Keep us posted on the outcome, Pete.

 

[tomturbomatic]

This was the machine your partner insisted on purchasing, right?

 

[petek]

Pierre I bought one of those KA portables back in the late 70's and had it till at least 87 when we bought our first house which came with a built-in machine. Then I sold it. Never had a problem with it.

Greg, barely a month left of warranty which is "lucky" I guess. While we didn't use it everyday we were using it more than actually required because I figured if it was going to fail I wanted it failing during the warranty and lo and behold. If only my intuition was as good at the casino

Tom; not quite, he just wanted a new machine. I've already reminded him of that lol

I'm just so, why the frig didn't I listen to my gut and buy something else. Not that it might have lasted a year either but ....... etc.

It's all these electronics in everything which is one of the reasaons I avoid flying wherever possible these days. I'll bet dollars to donuts for example that the "battery" problem with those Boeing dreamliners isn't the actual batteries themselves but the electronic circuitry that monitors/recharges them failed causing them to overheat and catch fire.

The service guy is coming tomorrow so I'll report the findings

 

[whirlcool]

On the other hand our Maytag 300 Jet Clean Series dishwasher has been in use for the past 4 years running almost every evening. Msybe there have been a handful of days it didn't run but it has never failed us and still shows no sign of wear.

 

[runematic]

Petek, sometimes the clean light flashing less than 7 times (you said 4 times) could mean a water issue.  You could have a water temp problem.   When it blinks 7 times, it may be a control issue.  I've seen both issues. 

 

Here is a quick link to maybe try.

 

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_8348269_troubleshoot-light-flashing-kitchenaid-dishwasher.html

 

[petek]

Thanks for the link. I'll let it flash away for now till the service guy comes tomorrow. My luck would be it reset itself and would work fine when he was here.
I did pop by the store I bought it from just awhile back to pick up a copy of my receipt which I couldn't find and I bought an additional 4 years more warranty on it just in case. One service call around here is a minimum $100 just to come to the house.

 

[nmassman44]

Wow this as to be the week for dishwasher failure....my Miele dishwasher died today. I got the Fault Code # 68 and the waterproof system kicked in. The dishwasher sounded the alarm and the smell of burnt out motor was not what I was hoping for. So I called Miele and they are coming on 3/6 to replace the motor.

 

[jerrod6]

I think you have the same model Miele as I do, G2830 so please let us know how the service call goes and if it is the motor how much the replacement cost.

 

[jerrod6]

I found the fault description from the G2830 technical manual and it says:

Fault Code F68
Symptom:
Fault code F68: Circulation pump operating after switch-off.
The program is interrupted and the drain pump is operated. The display reads
Technical fault code F68 - Call Service Dept. Status LED flashes. The
buzzer is activated for 2 minutes.
Background information: The frequency converter of the pump registers
a speed signal from the electronic, so a desired speed is set.
Cause:
Speed sensor defective.
Remedy:
Replace the speed sensor.
Cause:
Electronic defective.
Remedy:
Replace the electronic.

So perhaps you only need this speed sensor and not an entire motor or, on the other hand the electronic which I think is located down underneath near the motor.

 

[nmassman44]

Well I wish it was that easy but it also tripped the WaterProof system sensor. I had a small river coming from the dishwasher and not to mention the lovely scent of burnt motor odor. The drain pump kicked on and when I turned the dishwasher off I opened the door and the pump kicked back on. I had to unplug it and shut the water off. So I called Miele and the guy told me that since this was my first service call for the dishwasher in the 5 years and 7 months I have had it that they will have the tech come out for $110 to diagnose and replace the entire wash pump system. I asked the guy how much does this thing cost and he said $670 and that Miele will pay for it since its the first time I had an issue with the dishwasher. I was in shock that they are willing to take care of it like that. So I will take pics when my dishwasher is being worked on.
Sorry to hijack the thread like this....

 

[jerrod6]

Wow It sounds like there was more going on than just the speed sensor.
and WOW they are replacing the wash pump system for FREE minus the service charge!

I wanna know who you talked to---What's his name? That's who I want to talk to when I have a problem

Grateful for the pictures!

 

[nmassman44]

I did tell the guy I spoke to that if I had to cough about $900 once all is said and done, I would just buy a new machine and walk away from Miele. So he told me that I will be taken care of...well we will see...lol
I can't for the life of me remember the guy's name but he was very helpful.

 

[mrb627]

Cool

Glad to hear Miele stepping up to the plate!

Malcolm

 

[neptuneguy27]

Leaking Miele Dishwasher...

Okay, this is crazy...My Miele G2832 was out of commission for a month from 12/29 to 1/30/13 due to a leaking circulation pump. Only I didn't get the benefit of Waterproof System telling me there was a problem!

On 12/29/12 I had a Christmas party and I ran about 4 loads through the Miele that day/evening. As the party was winding down some of us drifted from the kitchen down to the living room, just under the kitchen. While we were standing there talking a friend said to me "I just got dripped on", we looked up and the drywall cieling was wet with a steady drip of water. By now the DW was finsihed but when I started it up again that night, that drip nearly became a steady stream. I called Miele first thing in the morning on 12/31/12 and I was explaining what was going on the Tech rep asked if the machine had given a fault code to which I replied no. He said that was very odd, but they'd send someone out free of charge (the DW is just over 3 years old). Unfortunately for me, It took almost 3 weeks for the 1st avaialble appointment.

When the tech arrived on the appointed day, he quickly discovered the two massive failures of this technological marvel of a DW...The circulation pump had a steady leak and the float switch which was supposed to alert me to a problem, was some how adhered to the base pan. The tech said that looking at the base pan the machine must have been leaking for quite some time as it was completely rusted. Once he broke the float free it immeadiately responded to the small amount of water in the pan and shut the machine down.

So he had to order a new pump for $708, and new base pan for nearly $100 plus $130 trip charge. Nearly $1000 repair bill for a 3 year old dishwasher which cost $2500. Miele did cover the complete cost of the repair. But they said they weren't doing anything about the damaged cieling in my living room. Which I guess in the end isn't too bad as I can fix the small damaged area myself for less than filing a claim on my home owners insurance.

And if you're wondering how the leak didn't show up sooner...the tech said that the leak probably started out small; just a few drips. And because I normally run the machine every other day, that small amount of water probably just dried out before the next load was run. However, on this particular day with the machine having been run 4 times it collected enough water to spill out of the base pan where the 4 leveling feet pass through. I took pics of the pump & base pan on my iPhone and I'll upload them on here once I get them on this computer.

Methinks Miele is having some issues with quality. :-/

Chris

 

[pierreandreply4]

sadly dishwasher quality is not what it used to be

me i have a kenmore ultra dishwasher it has the kenmore elite name but it was made by kitchenaid its 7 years old now since it was bough right after the kitchen was redone in 2005. so far it only had one minor repaird link to the dishwasher door but still works fine

 

[petek]

Repair guy shows up about an hour ago. Ran it through it's diagnostics and didn't really seem to know what the F was wrong with it and I got the feeling he was guessing. Anyways he left saying he would order a new control board so I'll probably be waiting till next week sometime if I'm lucky.

 

[mixfinder]

Repair

We called the Whirlpool 800 service number and had three unsuccessful attempts by a company called the Appliance Hospital at a repair. In each case the tech, unfamiliar with the machine, used a computer and a tech advisor over the phone to try to diagnose and repair the machine. Using the advice of Combo52 and Dadoes I contacted the store where we purchased the machine. a high end appliance retailer. The store manager called Whirlpool and told them who to send and what part to bring. We have been completely pleased since then. I'm hoping for the best for you and know the frustration of being betrayed by anything mechanical while it is still new.

 

[pierreandreply4]

me i would perhaps consider asking the store where the dishwasher was purchuse to exchange your dishwasher and maybe ask for a bosch unit rather than a kitchenaid like this model

http://www.bosch-home.com/us/products/built-in-dishwashers/bar-handle/SHX98M09UC.html?source=browse

 

[washmeup]

Kitchen Aid

Whirlpool has ruined this brand. It is all crap and we never recommend their products when we spec appliances for kitchens anymore. Very sad. Miele is the only dishwasher we recommend.

 

[petek]

Service guy and the new control board arrived at the house just past noon today and was out the door about 10 minutes later. I've just ran a "one hour" wash successfully so with fingers crossed and all your prayers you won't be hearing about any more problems with it for hopefully another 6 or 7 years.

 

[combo52]

Current KA Dishwashers

Kitchenaid is STILL one of the most reliable high end DWs built today and we sell a lot of them with very few problems. Customers like the great performance, large capacity and quite operation. And I have seen nothing to convince me that KA is not far more reliable than Miele DWs, and we do know with certainty that Mieles cost a small fortune to repair, IF YOU CAN FIND ANYONE that will repair them.

 

I was working for a customer of ours the other week in NW DC in their a million $+ condo, they also have a home in the Outer Banks of N Carolina and they split their time between the two homes. I was there to fix the Samsung built MT Neptune washer [ for the third time in as many years ]. The customer was going on about the cheap flimsy Bosch DW, the crappy Miele 5 burner gas cook-top and the 30" double Wolf electric wall oven that has been repaired three times and never seems to work correctly.  He said that in the SC home that we did a year eariler we had all KA appliances put in and have had no problems what soever. So he and I walked down stairs where his wife was busy cooking dinner and I looked at the kitchen appliances I said this DW isn't a Bosch it is a Miele and he proceeded to show me the flimsy tiny top rack, he said you can get almost twice as much in the KA and it just feels better built. Then he was showing me the Miele Gas Cook-Top and how the large power burner never lights correctly even after two visits from Miele Service and showed me how the cheap painted markings had already worn off the cook-top, another customer that will not be fooled again.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Kitchenaid is STILL one of the most reliable high end DWs bu

 I am so glad to hear you say that.  My new KA Dishwasher, and GE stove are bring delivered 3-16.  The stove had trouble getting here from KY due to the big snow storms we had.  The 16th is the only day they could deliver that I was free.  

 

[mark_wpduet]

Ha!

Sorry to hear. Yes - being BETRAYED by anything mechanical is never good..

 

[frigilux]

For what it's worth: Some KitchenAid models are the first US brand to show up on Consumer Reports's dishwasher ratings after a slew of models from Bosch, which are at the top of the list. Most KA models--even those at the top-of-the-line are rated only "Good" for noise. It would come at no surprise that most models from Maytag and Whirlpool also receive "Good" ratings for noise.

Reliability: CR readers report the fewest problems with machines from Bosch and Whirlpool (both at 8% of machines purchased between 2008-12 needing service); 9% for Miele; 12% for GE and KitchenAid; 15% for Frigidaire; 16% for Maytag; 20% for LG (yikes!). CR states that differences of less than 4 points are not statistically meaningful.

My LG, purchased in early 2008, needed its first repair last month. The door gasket was disintegrating and had to be replaced. Cost for part and labor: $108. Dishwashers get extremely hard use in my house, and despite LG's horrible track record for dishwasher reliability, it has given me fewer problems than my two prior machines (TOL models from Frigidaire and Maytag).[this post was last edited: 3/8/2013-10:44]

 

[DADoES]

 
My dishwasher of a notorious brand that shall not be named, and which gets abysmal reliability ratings from CR, has not yet had any repairs.  It'll be 10 years in August.  CR doesn't consider that as valid data being as it's more than 4 or 5 years old.

 

[frigilux]

Glenn-- The brand you're referencing (rhymes with Tisher and Shaykel) has actually improved its reliability scores the past year or two. And you have to remember that if 15% of CR readers' machines needed repair, 85% didn't.

By the time my Frigidaire and Maytag machines were four years old, I'd replaced seals, control boards, a pump, a sump seal....fairly major stuff. The LG, on the other hand, has only had a door seal replaced---despite the fact it is by far the least reliable brand.

A CR rep once told me they limit reliability data to a four-year window so old models that are no longer available don't skew the reliability ratings (for better or worse) of the current crop.[this post was last edited: 3/8/2013-13:48]