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Maytag - 2yr Old Fridge and Nothing but Problems
Maytag Fridge - MOD - MSD2272VEW00 - Complaint
Review by kristin_625 on 2012-11-21
Rating: 
MICHIGAN -- We moved into our first house just over two years ago and decided we needed to get a new refrigerator and did a ton of research online reading reviews etc. We found a few not so great complaints regarding Maytag, however, we took our chances (*Note - we live in a house built in the 40's, so the fridge space is small and we needed a fridge size that is smaller than normal, we didn’t have many options).
Well...a little less than 12 months later (yes, luckily right before the warranty expired) our ice dispenser stopped working properly; the mini-ice door would not closer properly, resulting in a lot frost in where the ice door was located (there was so much we couldn’t open the freezer door, it would get stuck). So we called out the repair guy and it he said he had never seen this issue before and basically had to replace the whole flap and parts. Sweet, it was fixed and cost was covered!
Well, then about 5 months later, it happened again!!!!!!!!! Ahh...got fixed yet again...well another 6 months later and after the warranty expired (lucky us) the fridge completely STOP cooling (and just happened to be Halloween, not a great day for a house issue) So we had to remove all our perishable food and place it in a cooler (which works 100xs better than Maytag products), and move all frozen food to a family members house 15mins away (luckily!). We were also super lucky we found a repair company that could come out at 5pm the next day, which happened to be a Friday!
Awesome company (Conner's Repair in Metro-Detroit). He concluded the defrost board was broken, meaning it was freezing and creating frost and then not defrosting; clogs the vents and not allowing and circulation to occur. He was SHOCKED, when he found out we only had this fridge for 2 years and said this is something that normally happens in 20yr old fridges.
I than decided to call Maytag and nicely request a refund for the issue, and was told no due to the warranty expiring and we also didn’t use a Maytag repair company; I didn’t want to wait a week as I thought this was something that needed immediate attention. I also am not sure why it matters who you get to fixed your fridge. I have an invoice for proof of the issue and the repair man even said he'd call to verify the issue. I don’t understand why I have to pay for something that was not properly produced, and not to mention the time out of my schedule to deal with Maytag's issues. I now know not to buy any Maytag products due to the lack quality. I guess I learned the hard way.
Well...a little less than 12 months later (yes, luckily right before the warranty expired) our ice dispenser stopped working properly; the mini-ice door would not closer properly, resulting in a lot frost in where the ice door was located (there was so much we couldn’t open the freezer door, it would get stuck). So we called out the repair guy and it he said he had never seen this issue before and basically had to replace the whole flap and parts. Sweet, it was fixed and cost was covered!
Well, then about 5 months later, it happened again!!!!!!!!! Ahh...got fixed yet again...well another 6 months later and after the warranty expired (lucky us) the fridge completely STOP cooling (and just happened to be Halloween, not a great day for a house issue) So we had to remove all our perishable food and place it in a cooler (which works 100xs better than Maytag products), and move all frozen food to a family members house 15mins away (luckily!). We were also super lucky we found a repair company that could come out at 5pm the next day, which happened to be a Friday!
Awesome company (Conner's Repair in Metro-Detroit). He concluded the defrost board was broken, meaning it was freezing and creating frost and then not defrosting; clogs the vents and not allowing and circulation to occur. He was SHOCKED, when he found out we only had this fridge for 2 years and said this is something that normally happens in 20yr old fridges.
I than decided to call Maytag and nicely request a refund for the issue, and was told no due to the warranty expiring and we also didn’t use a Maytag repair company; I didn’t want to wait a week as I thought this was something that needed immediate attention. I also am not sure why it matters who you get to fixed your fridge. I have an invoice for proof of the issue and the repair man even said he'd call to verify the issue. I don’t understand why I have to pay for something that was not properly produced, and not to mention the time out of my schedule to deal with Maytag's issues. I now know not to buy any Maytag products due to the lack quality. I guess I learned the hard way.
Comments:
Posted by At Your Service on 2012-11-22:
I think I can give you a little insight that may be helpful Kristin.
To begin with, there isn't a brand in the world that doesn't have complaints on-line. To expect otherwise is suggesting something of an impossibility. I would think that you understand this and is why the purchase was still made.
I'd continue that for any service tech to suggest that a refrigerator would commonly last twenty years, at this point, is misleading. It's more likely that a fridge, like most appliances, is good to see it's tenth year, much less fifteen or twenty. Government regulations now require the compressors to be much more highly energy efficient. In turn this makes the compressor considerably smaller, giving it a shorter lifespan. This is why mom and dad's refrigerator/freezer lasted considerably longer than our own. The drawback to this is that, as consumers, mom & dad paid for that in energy costs many times over.
You also want to understand something in your particular case. You haven't highlighted the issue, but I'm sure you're aware of it. Homes built within the time period you suggest typically left a great deal less space for the refrigerator than current homes of today. Most cabinetry was given 29 1/2 inches for the width of a fridge and 66 inches in height. Cabinetry can be remodeled around newer spaces, but because the homes will typically built smaller, the kitchen's were likewise smaller. Cabinetry is commonly a premium so, more times than not, spaces are left to their common defaults.
Understanding all of this is important as, it would be typical that you don't have a great deal of choices when selecting the unit required. The model you've listed is one I'm familiar with. It does crest just within the 66 inch height but the cabinet is actually 32 1/2 inches. Again, understanding that I'm using the standards of the day, it would mean you've basically "squeezed" a larger size of refrigerator in a space not intended for it. Now, here's the important point I would be getting at. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT, JUST BECAUSE A REFRIGERATOR CAN BE MADE TO FIT WITHIN A GIVEN SPACE, THAT IT WILL WORK FINE -- IN FACT, IT DOES NOT. Remember that the compressors have been reduced over several years. They no longer are as large and powerful as units made decades ago. The compressor simply doesn't have the strength. YOU NEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE BREATHING SPACE AROUND THE FRIDGE -- THIS IS BOTH THE SIDES, TOP AND ESPECIALLY THE BACK. If the circulation of air is diminished around the unit, it is the equivalent of suffocating the compressor. It will seem to work find for a year or two, exactly as yours has, but it will die an early death.
In addition, with all respect, there is not some mystical circuit board that handles the defrosting. There is a set of coils along the backside that freeze and will build up frost. In order to make the unit frost-free, the freezer and refrigerator will cool down, then slightly heat up. The heating cycle is to defrost that portion of water that has built up from the condensation. That "frost" is then melted through a series of tubes, funneling into a small pan on the bottom back of the fridge. There is a fan directly positioned around this pan and is used to evaporate this excess amount of moisture as it drips down; thus eliminating the need to manually defrost. The funnel tubing that runs into the pan, if too long, can become more easily blocked. Therefore I prefer to always trim this down to the shortest length necessary. Then, again, if the area is not provided with enough airflow, the fan running to produce evaporation can stop working and create a frozen tube and a buildup of frost. In such cases, assuming not parts have become permanently damaged, the proper solution is defrosting the unit, making sure to give it enough room to operate correctly.
I know the explanation is long, but it's detailed. The reason is to educate people in trying to not "barely" make the unit to fit. Give the fridge ample room to do the work it's intended.
Finally, there are some points you bring up concerning warranty coverage. Be aware that the warranty coverage is not an arbitrary time frame or set of conditions. The length of warranty and what may, or may not be covered, is a very accurately set of controlled statistics. All manufacturers know, statistically, the amount of units that will have problems and, they know the cost of it. It's how they are able to tabulate the fair market price for the merchandise. It is also why many manufacturers only offer a one year, limited warranty any longer. Many consumers have been taught that focusing on warranty coverage, during a purchase, is something bad. That if a product is made to last, why would warranty coverage be a consideration - right? Wrong. Warranty coverage is important. Many people don't focus on it enough and leaves the door open for these exact situations. Preferably, warranty is something one should consider long before it's needed. I use it as a shopping point and buy from someplace that offers both reasonably price and well backed extended warranty programs. By doing so, I force the retailer to accept the results of such a frustrating circumstance.
It's very important to understand too, why a manufacturer or retailer may require you use a certain set of service personnel. One is a per-established way of performing the service, making a little more secure that the problem doesn't represent itself. It is also a pre-approved set of cost for both the labor and parts. It's why, when any form of warranty coverage is performed, it is done so in a way that is in congruence to the manufacturer's guidelines.
Again, I know it's long, but you hopefully have a much better understanding of a much bigger picture. Give yourself enough room, or you'll be at this again in a relatively short amount of time. If you're unable to do so, I'd suggest selling the unit for a fair price and purchasing something smaller. It will hopefully give you better longevity -- not because of quality, just because it is better designed for a house of your's age.
To begin with, there isn't a brand in the world that doesn't have complaints on-line. To expect otherwise is suggesting something of an impossibility. I would think that you understand this and is why the purchase was still made.
I'd continue that for any service tech to suggest that a refrigerator would commonly last twenty years, at this point, is misleading. It's more likely that a fridge, like most appliances, is good to see it's tenth year, much less fifteen or twenty. Government regulations now require the compressors to be much more highly energy efficient. In turn this makes the compressor considerably smaller, giving it a shorter lifespan. This is why mom and dad's refrigerator/freezer lasted considerably longer than our own. The drawback to this is that, as consumers, mom & dad paid for that in energy costs many times over.
You also want to understand something in your particular case. You haven't highlighted the issue, but I'm sure you're aware of it. Homes built within the time period you suggest typically left a great deal less space for the refrigerator than current homes of today. Most cabinetry was given 29 1/2 inches for the width of a fridge and 66 inches in height. Cabinetry can be remodeled around newer spaces, but because the homes will typically built smaller, the kitchen's were likewise smaller. Cabinetry is commonly a premium so, more times than not, spaces are left to their common defaults.
Understanding all of this is important as, it would be typical that you don't have a great deal of choices when selecting the unit required. The model you've listed is one I'm familiar with. It does crest just within the 66 inch height but the cabinet is actually 32 1/2 inches. Again, understanding that I'm using the standards of the day, it would mean you've basically "squeezed" a larger size of refrigerator in a space not intended for it. Now, here's the important point I would be getting at. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT, JUST BECAUSE A REFRIGERATOR CAN BE MADE TO FIT WITHIN A GIVEN SPACE, THAT IT WILL WORK FINE -- IN FACT, IT DOES NOT. Remember that the compressors have been reduced over several years. They no longer are as large and powerful as units made decades ago. The compressor simply doesn't have the strength. YOU NEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE BREATHING SPACE AROUND THE FRIDGE -- THIS IS BOTH THE SIDES, TOP AND ESPECIALLY THE BACK. If the circulation of air is diminished around the unit, it is the equivalent of suffocating the compressor. It will seem to work find for a year or two, exactly as yours has, but it will die an early death.
In addition, with all respect, there is not some mystical circuit board that handles the defrosting. There is a set of coils along the backside that freeze and will build up frost. In order to make the unit frost-free, the freezer and refrigerator will cool down, then slightly heat up. The heating cycle is to defrost that portion of water that has built up from the condensation. That "frost" is then melted through a series of tubes, funneling into a small pan on the bottom back of the fridge. There is a fan directly positioned around this pan and is used to evaporate this excess amount of moisture as it drips down; thus eliminating the need to manually defrost. The funnel tubing that runs into the pan, if too long, can become more easily blocked. Therefore I prefer to always trim this down to the shortest length necessary. Then, again, if the area is not provided with enough airflow, the fan running to produce evaporation can stop working and create a frozen tube and a buildup of frost. In such cases, assuming not parts have become permanently damaged, the proper solution is defrosting the unit, making sure to give it enough room to operate correctly.
I know the explanation is long, but it's detailed. The reason is to educate people in trying to not "barely" make the unit to fit. Give the fridge ample room to do the work it's intended.
Finally, there are some points you bring up concerning warranty coverage. Be aware that the warranty coverage is not an arbitrary time frame or set of conditions. The length of warranty and what may, or may not be covered, is a very accurately set of controlled statistics. All manufacturers know, statistically, the amount of units that will have problems and, they know the cost of it. It's how they are able to tabulate the fair market price for the merchandise. It is also why many manufacturers only offer a one year, limited warranty any longer. Many consumers have been taught that focusing on warranty coverage, during a purchase, is something bad. That if a product is made to last, why would warranty coverage be a consideration - right? Wrong. Warranty coverage is important. Many people don't focus on it enough and leaves the door open for these exact situations. Preferably, warranty is something one should consider long before it's needed. I use it as a shopping point and buy from someplace that offers both reasonably price and well backed extended warranty programs. By doing so, I force the retailer to accept the results of such a frustrating circumstance.
It's very important to understand too, why a manufacturer or retailer may require you use a certain set of service personnel. One is a per-established way of performing the service, making a little more secure that the problem doesn't represent itself. It is also a pre-approved set of cost for both the labor and parts. It's why, when any form of warranty coverage is performed, it is done so in a way that is in congruence to the manufacturer's guidelines.
Again, I know it's long, but you hopefully have a much better understanding of a much bigger picture. Give yourself enough room, or you'll be at this again in a relatively short amount of time. If you're unable to do so, I'd suggest selling the unit for a fair price and purchasing something smaller. It will hopefully give you better longevity -- not because of quality, just because it is better designed for a house of your's age.
Posted by WP2008 on 2012-11-26:
Hi my name is Kyle and I am a representative of Maytag. I am sorry to learn of the issue you are having with your appliance. If there is anything that I can do please reach out to me via e-mail at Maytag_Digital@Maytag.com please include your full name, user name, physical address, complete contact information, along with the model and serial number of the appliance you are having concerns with. Please also include what site we contacted you on for our records. Thanks
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