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Dishwasher Brands to Avoid—The Least Reliable Brands
Fun fact: Some of our experts recommended against Samsung dishwashers, despite it being positively reviewed in the Consumer Reports survey. We decided to name Samsung as one of the best dishwasher brands after reviewing dozens of customer reviews, in which we found that most complaints about the brand were left on the cheapest models. In other words, it’s sometimes worth it to pay a little extra for reliable appliances.
Two of our experts said LG was a brand to avoid. “When our clients have LG dishwashers, we’ll often recommend that they remove them and re-sell them before selling their homes,” says Martin Orefice, CEO of Rent to Own Atlanta. “These dishwashers are cheap—and most people know it. I’ve had more than one potential sale fall through because a buyer didn’t want to deal with an LG.”
The Consumer Reports survey found that GE, Maytag, Whirlpool and Frigidaire were the least reliable dishwashers, according to Huy. “Affordable upfront, but potentially costlier down the road due to repairs and premature replacements,” Huy says of the brands. “As the saying goes, you often get what you pay for in durability.”
LG and Whirlpool may not be recommended for dishwashers, but several appliance experts agree both are some of the most reliable washer and dryer brands.
What to Look for When Choosing a Dishwasher Brand
When looking for the best dishwasher brand for your kitchen, you should first look for one known for being durable and reliable (such as reading our reviews of the brands mentioned in this roundup). Additionally, you can look at customer reviews and online forums to read about people’s real-life experiences with these appliances.
Secondly, look for dishwasher brands with styles and finishes that fit with your kitchen’s aesthetics. Some are only available in one color or finish, while others may offer customizable paneling.
Last, but certainly not least, find a model that fits your needs. If you’re a single person who doesn’t entertain much, a four-place setting dishwasher is a better investment than a 12-place setting appliance. Keep in mind that more affordable dishwashers may not come with features such as delayed start or special wash cycles.
Why You Should Trust Us
As shopping editors and writers, we have years of experience researching and testing the best appliances for homes. The writer is a longtime homeowner who’s used many dishwasher brands and worked on appliances as a New York City maintenance worker.
We also spoke with multiple home renovating and appliance industry experts to find out their recommendations for the most reliable dishwashers. This includes Drew Hamblan, who’s worked with appliance companies on new builds and luxury home renovations; Nguyen Huy, a consumer trends analyst; Martin Orefice, CEO of Rent to Own Atlanta, a service that connects real estate investors with available properties and Brian Davis, a professional cleaner.
How We Found the Best Dishwasher Brands
For this article, we researched every dishwasher brand available on the internet and at home appliance stores. We looked at the company’s customer reviews, range of models and read through online forums to narrow down the list.
We looked for brands that had mostly positive customer reviews, were made of durable materials, had a warranty of at least one year (the industry standard) and offered good value for their price point.
Lastly, we surveyed experts with experience using, installing or managing properties with dishwashers. We asked them which brands they recommend, why they recommended them and their favorite models.
FAQ
Which brand of dishwasher is the most reliable?
Bosch was ranked as the most reliable dishwasher brand by a Consumer Reports survey of more than 75,000 homeowners, and by multiple experts surveyed for this article. Other top brands included Miele, Amana and Thermador.
What’s the difference between cheap and expensive dishwashers?
The main difference between cheap and expensive dishwashers is that the latter is more likely to last longer and work better than more affordable dishwashers. Cheaper dishwasher brands may also lack Wi-Fi or app compatibility, not have features such as delayed start and may not have fingerprint-resistant finishes.
How do I choose a dishwasher?
Start by finding a dishwasher that fits your need. Do you only need a four-place setting capacity or do you need to fit 10 or more place settings in at a time? Then, look for dishwashers that match your kitchen’s aesthetics and have positive customer reviews for things such as performance and reliability.
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