Are all refrigerators complete junk these days?

[runwad]

We have a Maytag that we've probably had about 5 years no problems so far, knock on wood. Before that we had an Amana that only lasted 9 years. I was upset it only lasted 9 years. The one that came with this house that we moved in the garage lasted close to 40 years, I forget the brand? I've been reading reviews on freezers. Lowes is having a labor day sale with free deliver and 18 months same as cash thought I"d take advantage of. Those reviews are all horrible. I've decided to skip the freezer and just continue to make due with the freezers on top of the fridges in the garage and kitchen. I see that being a major loss if the freezer goes stocked with all that food.

 

[scbelleatheart]

]My kenmore fridge is about 17 years old and still going.[/B] Our old one that was in the basement gave up the ghost about 4 years ago and that one was over 40 years old. The new ones are just awful I guess. My co-worker had some issues with her 5 year old fridge and the repairman told her that most are designed to last 7-10 years now. I am not looking forward to replacing the fridge. I've been pretty happy with it.

The thing that annoys me is the newer stoves. My kenmore is about 16 years old and was working great until about three weeks ago when the oven just up and quit working. I had the guy come out and see if it could be fixed. Thank goodness it could. I hate the fact that everything is digital on the new stoves. I want my oven to have a dial. The repairman told me that the digital boards go bad quickly and often. I guess I will keep this one as long as I can!

Those were the good old days when Whirlpool (Kenmore) were meant to last. They brought in new engineers who had amazing ideas but they never worked. I could name several engineering designs that were a total flop on a specific year model. I asked if I could be an appliance tester to tell them the new ideas were stupid.
We have worked as subcontractors for WP since 1957 and their head engineer of one plant now works for us. He went to the head of cooporate about the shoddy appliances we purchased. The answer from coorporate was "these things are only meant to last 7 to 9 years". So mine are only 2 years old and the repairman is on speed dial.
If you pay attention, they make a change but only in one years model, find out it does not work and change it back.
I have a 2 year old WP fridge and I cannot use the ice maker after 4 repairs. Ready to junk the thing. My 16 year old WP works fine in the garage.

 

[pjlla]

Oh my gosh! These horror stories are scary! My fridge just turned 18 years old and really should be replaced.... the crisper and meat bins at the bottom are both broken and you risk losing a toe every time you need something in them (I'm the only one in the house who has developed a "knack" for opening them without injury).... and one of the door bins doesn't stay in place any more, so we had to remove it.... and just yesterday the ice dispenser seemed to be working funny. But I have NEVER had trouble with it cooling or not shutting or leaking or anything like that! So it scares me that I would be replacing one type of trouble (broken bins) for something more serious!

Please, someone come on here and tell me that it isn't all just CRAP out there! ................P

 

[DisneyEater]

We have a new Samsung with French doors and bottom freezer. We got it at Sears. It was a bit pricey but worth every dime! Have had it for several months and I just love, love, love it!

We have a French door Samsung with a bottom freezer and a pull out middle drawer purchased 15 months ago (Sears Model# RF4287HARS) and have had zero problems. It has been a great refrigerator.

ditto - we got a Samsung similar to this one from Lowe's on Black Friday - seriously I love this fridge!

On the flip side we're in sort of the same boat as you with our Kenmore washing machine- had it for 15 years and I have a feeling it's on the way out. So got to start looking at new ones....sigh

We have had a Samsung (french door, bottom freezer) for about 2.5 years now and are pretty happy with it. The ice maker doesn't work any more, but I am convinced that no ice makers last very long.

 

[scrapquitler]

Checking for online reviews only reveals bias... people happy with their refrigerators don't post glowing reviews, they have no reason to do so. People unhappy with their refrigerators have every reason to post about it.

Hence, most reviews are from unhappy reviewers.

I think you are right. I don't go online to post positive reviews, but if I have a problem...watch out!

 

[Flowerem]

I have a Samsung French door with freezer drawer on the bottom and love it. Mine has 2 ice makers too which comes in handy when we need extra ice. I haven't had any problems and it's about 1.5yrs old. Got it at Lowe's during some sort of sale.

 

[pandamom]

I love my Samsung too. We also have a French door Samsung with a bottom freezer and a pull out middle drawer. We purchased it at Best Buy several months ago and I really love the design -- especially the pull out middle drawer.

 

[book_junkie]

We have a stainless steel Frigidaire side by side that we got from Best Buy over 7 years ago and going strong. It looks very similar to this:

and no problems what so ever. Replace the water filter every year, that's the only maintenance aside from normal cleaning it's needed.

 

[dryvithome]

When we went to go get a new refrigerator, we were also somewhat worried by the online reviews, but it turns out, as a previous poster said, that most people don't go online and post how great the things are. Instead, we hit up consumer reports for a review and saw which ones were rated higher than the others and looked for longevity as well. We ended up with a Samsung french door with bottom freezer. Have had no problems with it and have had it for about five years so far. Also have a much older regular style whirlpool for drinks and whatnots. I've had it for 10 years now with no problems as well, and it was bought used from a business that went out of sale. No idea how long they had it before then. Good luck in the search. We also considered some scratch and dent stores, as some had better prices, but after dealing with the workers there we decided against it.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I've had my whirlpool side by side for going on 5 years now & it's perfect the ice maker works, water works, cools nicely. I had a maytag side by side that set on fire with in a year, thankfully the fire was in the freezer & the ice melted & put it out.

 

[momof1princess]

i've got a 12 year old kenmore side-by-side, and i LOVE it. the only thing we've ever had to do to it is replace the water filter. we also have a kenmore washer and dryer, and other than a quick replacement of a $3.00 part on the washer (which flooded my laundry room TWICE), there have been no significant issues with either one. just replaced our GE water heater last year-it lasted 11 years-no problems with it so far.

 

[averill94]

Oh my gosh! These horror stories are scary! My fridge just turned 18 years old and really should be replaced.... the crisper and meat bins at the bottom are both broken and you risk losing a toe every time you need something in them (I'm the only one in the house who has developed a "knack" for opening them without injury).... and one of the door bins doesn't stay in place any more, so we had to remove it.... and just yesterday the ice dispenser seemed to be working funny. But I have NEVER had trouble with it cooling or not shutting or leaking or anything like that! So it scares me that I would be replacing one type of trouble (broken bins) for something more serious!

Please, someone come on here and tell me that it isn't all just CRAP out there! ................P

Sorry to say that from what I have seen ...it is ALL CRAP unless you want to spend approx $3500! Nevermind mother boards and the parts that make the units run, just the basic construction and the shelves are garbage too. When we last purchased we went mid priced. BTW it rattles too!

Hang on to what you have gttot for as long as possible

 

[SGB13]

We just bought a GE profile french door style bottom freezer. It is only a month old, so we shall see how well it holds up. Our last fridge was a Wirlpool side by side that is 17 years old and still working fine. (except for the ice maker. I also believe the ice makers all die) Be sure you have enough room. Our new fridge does not store as much as our side by side.
Wish they made things like they used to!

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

We have lived in this house for 12 years replaced every appliance with new as they broke only for the new ones to die quickly. Washer 11 months LG would not honor warranty. It had been fixed once prior. Fridge 10 1/2 months. Stopped cooling would fill with water had to put towels on shelves and change daily. Dryer similar. I could go on and on. Bought a USED fridge at yard sale $20 bucks still going. It might cost more to run than new BUT it is still running. Replaced washer with $200 dollar model still going will Never buy a front load again. Oh the smell no matter what you do.

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

BTW my yard sale fridge is gold- almond color. Interesting. We have stove top only. My oven broke 2 years ago Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[nsmith]

I know it wasn't the most energy efficient, but our GE fridge from 1959 just gave out this spring. It was in the house when we moved in and we just never replaced it. We were heartbroken when it finally gave out because it was such a classic.

When my DH and I were newlyweds in 1988 our apartment came with a avocado green fridge. Inside the freezer door there was a label that said "New colors coming Spring of 1969".

They sure don't make them like they used to.

 

[angwill]

We have lived in this house for 12 years replaced every appliance with new as they broke only for the new ones to die quickly. Washer 11 months LG would not honor warranty. It had been fixed once prior. Fridge 10 1/2 months. Stopped cooling would fill with water had to put towels on shelves and change daily. Dryer similar. I could go on and on. Bought a USED fridge at yard sale $20 bucks still going. It might cost more to run than new BUT it is still running. Replaced washer with $200 dollar model still going will Never buy a front load again. Oh the smell no matter what you do.

Your comment on LG not honoring the warranty is exactly why I stay away from LG products. We ran into a similar situation with a product that was only 2 months old but because Best Buy insisted on trying to fix it first because we bought it there LG got out of their warranty. Had I known then what I know now I would have insisted Best Buy take it back and give us a new one.

Thanks for the advice on a front loader.

 

[spacemountainmom]

We have had a Samsung (french door, bottom freezer) for about 2.5 years now and are pretty happy with it. The ice maker doesn't work any more, but I am convinced that no ice makers last very long.

The ice maker in my 17 year old Kenmore is still going strong!

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

We have a French door Samsung with a bottom freezer and a pull out middle drawer purchased 15 months ago (Sears Model# RF4287HARS) and have had zero problems. It has been a great refrigerator.

My refrigerator caught on fire just this past Tues. It was a Kitchenaid side by side stainless steel bought in 2004.. We bought a dishwasher at the same time when we remodeled the kitchen and had to replace it last year. I am looking at replacing it with the Samsung one.

 

[sarah4770]

i have a Kenmore washer and dryer that are still going, after 17 years. I have a Frigidaire, refrigerator, would not buy another. Any new appliances from here on will be Kenmore, just because they are so reliable.