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Whirlpool Washing Machines Consumer Reviews - Page 2

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Adventures with Washers
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

I have been reading some of the sad commentary from people who recently purchased front loading washers. I have to admit that I now have a crying towel hanging from my doorknob as well. My machine is about 3 years old, is now nearly ready for its third door boot, has a second set of shocks, tub and stainless drum. I am presently working on the rear counterweight which fell from the tub and severed the pressure sensing tube in the process. We have water dribbling from the door, and also had to replace the black drain hose from the drum to the pump. This sprung a leak and caused flooding in the laundry area.

Like many others, this washer-dryer combination was purchased due to our being retirees, and wanting to have a robust product that would hopefully outlive us and be passed on to appreciative family members. This, like many of the best laid plans of mice and men have us presently going to the laundromat with our clothes. Pushing 70, we did not foresee this predicament. However, we are not alone. While at the laundromat, my wife met a woman who was 75 with the exact same problem.

There are many experiences cited about the money spent for what was imagined to be good quality laundry products. The average unnecessary expenditures on these washers seem to be in the under $1000.00 range. Enough to sting, but not quite enough to cripple. Most of the folks here will probably do their share of grumbling, put their washers out at the curb and then stomp off to buy some other product. However, adding up the combined losses to all these customers may amount to a very substantial piece of change!

Putting this into another perspective can be very illuminating. Imagine if these were cars instead of washers. A short time after purchasing a car, say the window and door gasket failed, letting weather enter the passenger compartment. In another year the crankshaft bearings seize. The year after, the transmission fails and needs to be completely replaced. Then the car computer, etc. On top of this, the car would sound like a foundry when it went down the street. Then the mechanics would have no idea what was wrong. The manufacturers would all blame the drivers for the condition of the cars.

This would be not only a disaster, but could push the public to the point of bankruptcy. No one would permit a situation like this to happen with their automobiles. True, the car is priced out at several thousands of dollars and the washer at under a thousand. But the parallel comparisons are equally valid. There is a saying in industry that goes: "The Quality Control Department is not located on the customer's premises."

Remember the head of a well known Asian car company was summoned from his country to testify before Congress? He had to explain why the cars he produced were showing serious faults. After that, real progress was made in his manufacturing. In other words, accountability was responsible for the product improvement, not simply complaints.

PS. It appears to me, as I read it; that these door boots have become a class action suit in Ohio. It seems the manufacturer appealed legal issues eventually to the Supreme Court level and had their arguments rejected. I read this in a class action blog. You may want to check into this yourself and see if my information is accurate.

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Horrible Washing Machine
By -

A little over 2 1/2 years ago, I purchased a brand new front loading Whirlpool washing machine (Whirlpool LHW0050PQ) with stacking dryer. About a month ago, it stopped working (the warranty for the machine was 1 year, so it is no longer covered). The power would come on - but the machine would no longer begin wash cycles (the Start button did nothing). I had a repair person in who took several visits to diagnose the problem.

In the end, it was determined that the machine required a new control panel. The control panel cost over $500. With labor, I have spent approximately $800 now. When the part was replaced, as soon as the repair person left, I did a load of laundry, only to discover that the problem still existed *exactly* as it had before. I called the repair company - who wanted to take the machine to their shop to diagnose it. What they found was that the new part had almost instantly shorted out as soon as the machine was used for the first time after replacing it. They contacted Whirlpool technical support who told them that something in the machine must be causing the short.

According to the person at the repair shop that I spoke to, Whirlpool offered to give them a door latching mechanism for free for the washing machine so that they could perhaps see if it was causing the short (my repair people did install this part). In addition, Whirlpool gave me a new control panel (a new $500 part to replace the one that I bought that had burnt out - because it was still under warranty as a new part purchase). I now have the washing machine back and it seems to be working, but I have no faith whatsoever that it will continue to work for any length of time.

Here are my concerns: Obviously, it positively sickens me that I would have to spend $800 to repair a washing machine that is only 2 1/2 years old. The washing machine was not cheap. I thought I was buying quality. This obviously wasn't the case. Upon learning that the replacement part would cost so much, I would have just bought a new washing machine (not from Whirlpool!). However, the repair shop explained to me that my stackable Whirlpool dryer was only going to fit on top of a Whirlpool washing machine. So, to replace the washing machine would mean that I would also have to sell my dryer.

Weighing the pros and cons of the situation, I decided to fix the washing machine even though it positively sickened me to give Whirlpool another cent. I find it equally repulsive that, when one buys a stackable unit, they're basically stuck if one part of it fails (this would be more acceptable, of course, if the machines lasted considerably longer than 2 1/2 years).

When the repair person first brought the replacement part to my house, he mentioned that the replacement part was now being sold as part of a kit (control board with motor board - that's how they had purchased it from Whirlpool). He mentioned that, when parts come in a kit, it usually means the company has had problems with the part (so they sell the parts in a way that makes the many repair jobs easier).

If Whirlpool has been having problems with this part, I have to wonder why they wouldn't instead compensate customers who'd bought the part in the first place. The fact that the replacement part had *exactly* the same problems as the original part makes me wonder the exact same thing.

I have to wonder how much Whirlpool is making off of these replacement parts. It is absurd to me that any washing machine part should cost $500 - unless, of course, the company selling the part is marking up its value considerably. I really have to wonder if this isn't part of the company's business model: selling units that fail shortly after the warranty expires and then selling the parts required to fix the units at a jacked up price.

Related to the above point, the $500 replacement part has a guarantee of 3 months. Three months for something that cost over $500! In other words, if the part goes again in 4 months (and the machine's history tells me that this is a great possibility), I am completely out of luck again. I have never - ever - spent $500 on something that didn't come with a guarantee that wasn't at least a year long. You can buy a $30 toaster anywhere and it comes with at least a 1 year warranty! But I guess, considering what I believe to be their business model (see above), I'm not really that surprised by this.

I am extremely confused by Whirlpool technical support's involvement in this. You would think that the nature of their involvement was an admission that something in the machine had caused the $500 part to go in the first place. This is especially suspect since they offered another part for free to try to make that determination. I just have to wonder why I should have had to pay $800 to replace a part that was caused by a fault with the machine in the first place.

I have spent $800 and been without a working washing machine for over a month now. That alone is ridiculous. But, to add potential injury to insult, I now have a washing machine with parts that have proven to short out because of a deficiency with the machine. In other words, I now have to wonder if my washing machine is going to catch fire every time I use it!

I have written to Whirlpool 3 times now about this situation. All they really told me in return was that they appreciate my business and that they have added my concerns to their database. I don't think I need to explain to anyone what little consolation that has given me...

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Horrible Whirlpool Duet Front Load Washer
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

This has (got) to be the worst washing machine ever. Or at least the 2005 model we have. It takes approximately 2 hrs to do a load of clothes and that's on a 35 minute cycle!!!!

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They Out Right Lied on a Recorded Line
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

PGH, PENNSYLVANIA -- Told me my machine would be replaced to much to repair. On a recorded line. Then didn't call back. When I called they said they were going to give me $300 for a machine it cost $1,178.00 to replace. Small print in a contract I never got a copy of.

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Appliance Reliability
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS -- I bought a washer and oven from Whirlpool this last year. Both need to be serviced in the first year so far. I have had Sears appliances in the past and they were not ever serviced in 20 years. Long range I don't know what else will happen. The repairman came quickly though. But I didn't get the extended warranty - hope I won't regret it. I will never buy from Whirlpool again. Very disappointed. :(

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Terrible Warranty Service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN -- Think about it twice before purchasing a Whirlpool washer & dryer. They are terrible!!! The safety dept. takes no accountability for the various companies that send out technicians to troubleshoot the machine. This entire process has been drag. I regret it entirely.

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Horrible Product
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

LEGACY -- This Cabrio washing machine is a piece of junk. When the wash cycle is finished the clothes are half dry. I paid I think thousand bucks, two years ago. I washed a dirty work shirt and it came out dirty. I dread walking up to this machine knowing I am wasting my time.

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Broke After 4 Months
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY -- WTW7300DW - purchased 4 months ago - computer broke. Called for service and found out computer needed to be replaced entirely! Part will be in 9-2, wait 9-5, wait 9-13. It's been a month without a wash machine and $30 a week at the laundromat that I can't recover!! Not one person in customer service can tell me exactly when the part will be in!

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Whirlpool Cabrio Washer
StarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 2/51

Washer does not use enough water to get clothes clean, constant uneven loads, excessive wrinkling of clothing. Average time to do a load of wash, ONE hour.

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Washer: Front Loading Washer WFW9150WW00 HL02828368
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN -- Just read a review of this washer and we experience exactly the same thing (and purchased it about the same time). This washer lasted less than four years and cost close to $1,000 - and the usage was not demanding - only two of us. Of course Whirlpool won't do anything. They need to admit that this washer is a lemon.

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Whirlpool Washing Machines Rating:
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1.2 out of 5, based on 51 ratings and
117 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Whirlpool
2000 North M63
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
616-923-5000 (ph)
616-923-5038 (fax)
www.whirlpool.com
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