Whirlpool Washing Machines Consumer Reviews - Page 2

My husband and I bought a Whirlpool top loader in June 2006. We paid over $700.00 for the machine. About 2 weeks ago I put in a load of wash and when I later went to put the clothing in the dryer, found that the washer had stopped working and the clothes sitting in water with detergent. According to the timer the washer had only run a few minutes before shutting down. I repeated the cycle and the same thing happened so I used another cycle and the machine functioned without issue.

My husband and I read the manual and performed all the indicated tasks to troubleshoot the problem. We could not find anything so I called the customer service department for further instructions as was stated in the manual. I spoke with a very polite woman after answering questions to a computerized voice and after explaining the problem she stated that an appointment was needed to have a service person come out and determine the problem. On the day of the second appointment date {the first appt. date never reached the service company via computer so no one showed} the technician stated that the entire computer was shot and that I needed a new one.

Since it was costing me $80.00 just to have the guy find the problem and it is very expensive to go to a laundromat I told him to replace the computer {If I told him not to and called the Whirlpool representative and they assisted us with the purchase of the part I would still have to pay another $80.00 to have the guy come back and put it in}. It took 10 minutes for the technician to replace the computer and the total cost was $354.00 which was half the total cost of the washer. I was very upset at the cost of the repair, which was one half the price of the machine. The washer is only three years old and we do not abuse our appliances.

I went back to the place where I bought the machine and the guy said that I probably would not get any assistance from Whirlpool because we did not buy the extended warranty but that he would e-mail the appropriate person and they would get in contact with me. I never received a call after a week and called them myself. I spoke with a man who basically stated that he could not help me because the service man had already replaced the part.

I stated to him that "nowhere did it state and that not one person that I spoke to from Whirlpool tell me that if a part needed to be replaced that the service technician should not perform any work on the appliance until the customer called the company with a request for reimbursement or assistance."

If I refused to let the technician fix the machine and Whirlpool refused any compensation then it would cost me another $80.00 for another service call plus the cost of the part. Let us not mention again that the machine is only three years old and that I was also advised to obtain an extended warranty if available because there was a good chance that the electronics would have to be replaced again. I was very disappointed that Whirlpool would not stand behind their product and provide some sort of compensation-we have always purchased Whirlpool appliances but will probably not purchase another in the future due to this experience.

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...

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!!!!

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.

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. :(

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.