Seven Customer Complaints About Whirlpool Appliances

Customers of Whirlpool, the American appliance brand, point to seven common complaints about its kitchen appliances: declining quality, poor durability, bad customer service, ineffective repairs and replacements, warranties that are not honoured, protective plastic that is hard to remove, and smart appliances that complicate use. These are user opinions from forums and review platforms, not verified data.

Whirlpool, founded in the 1910s, pioneered the electric washing machine before expanding into fridges, freezers, ovens and microwaves. With over 100 years of history, it is a brand very present in homes. Some customers consider it one of the most expensive for what it offers and believe its products cannot be trusted to work well.

Quality that, according to customers, is not what it was

The first complaint holds that the quality of kitchen appliances has fallen. Users describe dishwasher control boards that fail, ovens with chipped enamel and microwaves that suddenly stop working without warning. A Reddit user on r/appliancerepair summed it up: “Does anyone else feel like around 2020 Whirlpool appliances turned to garbage? Their stuff gets worse every year.”

In 2026, Whirlpool reached a settlement in a lawsuit over a wiring harness problem in fridges made between 2018 and 2021. According to the lawsuit, the defect caused failures in the ice maker, ice dispenser, water dispenser and control panel.

Another Reddit user on r/Appliances claimed: “All my appliances are Whirlpool. They used to be a good company. Not anymore.” Some people speculate that the decline goes back a long way and place it at the merger with Maytag in 2006. Others believe the loss of quality affects the whole industry: “It’s an industry-wide phenomenon. Whirlpool may be one of the most flagrant and obvious examples,” wrote a Reddit user on r/appliancerepair.

Appliances that last less than expected

Durability is part of the brand’s historic reputation, which is why the second complaint carries weight. Some people say their fridges have lasted up to 30 years, compared with an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Others say their ovens have held up for three decades and that they have used their microwaves without problems for up to 25 years. A Reddit user on r/BuyItForLife wrote: “Nothing new will last. My Whirlpool kitchen is from 1988 and looks and works like new. No way would I get rid of this extraordinary equipment for the new junk they sell today.”

At the other extreme, some customers say their new fridges failed within a few months and others that they had problems after just a few weeks. There are also complaints about the longevity of microwaves, dishwashers and freezers. A Trustpilot customer said: “A freezer should last years, not months. It’s a badly built piece of junk, backed by a company that clearly doesn’t stand by its products.”

Customer service: hours on hold and unfriendly treatment

The third complaint points to very little support from the company when something goes wrong. A Reddit user recounted that, when trying to report a problem, they spent hours on hold and that, when someone finally answered, the person seemed uninterested in solving the problem. Other customers claim that staff, besides not helping, are rude.

The opinions are forceful. A Reddit user on r/Appliances wrote: “If you could give a company a -5 star review for bad customer service, it would definitely be Whirlpool.” On Trustpilot, one review said: “Whirlpool’s service representatives are rude and treat customers as if they were lying.” Another Reddit user on r/Appliances stated: “Whirlpool is one of the worst companies I have had the misfortune of dealing with.”

Repairs and replacements that do not solve the problem

Many customers acknowledge that a technician was eventually sent, but point out that on many occasions they fail to fix the problems. A Reddit user said that, after several attempts over a month, the technical service did not repair their fridge or freezer. They also criticised being asked to be at home around midday on weekdays, when they work.

This type of complaint appears repeatedly on Trustpilot and in Reddit forums, and also affects ovens, microwaves and dishwashers. Getting a timely replacement seems to be an equally big obstacle for customers.

Warranties that, according to users, are hard to enforce

The fifth complaint is that the company, besides ineffective repairs and difficult customer service, often fails to honour its warranty. A Reddit user on r/Appliances stated: “Someone in the industry told me recently that Whirlpool warranties are the hardest to deal with.”

Many users think the problem is not exclusive to Whirlpool and reflects the current state of the sector. One of them noted that many appliance warranties do not seem worth it because of the paperwork they demand from the customer.

The blue protective plastic that will not come off

Some appliances arrive covered with a bright blue plastic coating that protects them from knocks and scratches during transport. Many customers say they have struggled to remove it completely. A Reddit post with a video of a user trying to peel blue pieces off their hob had 1,000 upvotes.

Another Reddit user commented that they still have remnants in the crevices of a mini fridge bought 3 years ago. Another wrote: “There’s a level of hell reserved for whoever invented this protective coating on this Whirlpool cooker.” The brand recommends covering the appliance with packing tape, which sticks to the plastic, and then peeling it off slowly and gently.

Smart appliances that complicate use

In 2012, Whirlpool promised to offer its customers more modern smart appliances. Today it offers ovens with voice control and microwaves that are operated from a mobile app. Some customers say they cannot use ovens with “locked” smart screens, others that the touchscreens on their microwaves fail, and others that they have constant problems with the app or the Wi-Fi connection.

A Reddit user on r/Appliances described operating their oven: “Setting the temperature is an awkward, multi-step process through menus on a comically bad and somewhat slow touch interface.”

It is not a problem exclusive to the brand: in 2025, a J.D. Power study concluded that appliances with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have on average around 87 problems per 100 appliances.

What Whirlpool’s website offers in Spain

In Spain, Whirlpool’s official website points to its Customer Service, where you can book, change or cancel an appointment with an official technician, check protection plans, register the product and find the nearest authorised technician. The website’s copyright belongs to BEKO SPAIN ELECTRONICS, S.L., and the brand is used under licence from Whirlpool Properties, Inc.