“Which brand breaks down the most?” is one of the questions our technicians hear most often. An earlier version of this page answered it with national surveys and online reviews. We have replaced that with something we can stand behind: our own repair records.
We looked at 11,094 washer, dryer, dishwasher and range or oven jobs with a known appliance type, booked from January 2024 through October 2026, and sorted them by brand and by the fault described. For refrigerators, see our separate study of the most reliable refrigerator brands, which covers 7,027 fridge and freezer jobs.
One point up front: this is a record of what we repair, not a failure rate. A brand that shows up often is usually a brand that is common in local homes, or one we repair under a manufacturer warranty contract. The useful part is the mix of faults within each brand.
Key Takeaways
- Each appliance type has its own typical problem. Washers: drain issues (19.9% of jobs) and leaks (18.2%). Dryers: noise (24.0%) and not heating (14.5%). Dishwashers: drain issues (22.9%) and leaks (18.3%). Ranges and ovens: burner or ignition problems (27.4%).
- Samsung dryers had the highest “not heating” share of any large dryer brand in our records, at 24.7% of jobs, against 14.5% for all dryers.
- Miele, LG and Samsung dishwashers had error codes in more than 30% of jobs. In our view that reflects how much these machines report through their displays, not only how often they fail.
- Frigidaire and Electrolux counts are inflated by warranty work. Warranty calls were 53.9% of our Frigidaire range jobs and 60.2% of our Electrolux dryer jobs.
- No brand in our records stands out as the one to avoid. Every major brand has a weak spot, and most of those weak spots are repairable parts.
How we counted the jobs
We pulled every job from our service records where the appliance type was washer, dryer, dishwasher or range and oven. Then we grouped them by brand and by the words in the customer’s description and the technician’s notes.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Jobs studied | 11,094 jobs with a known appliance type |
| Appliances | Washers (3,874), dryers (2,480), dishwashers (2,685), ranges and ovens (2,055) |
| Time period | January 2024 to October 2026 |
| Source | Our own job management records |
| Brands ranked | Brands with at least 100 jobs for that appliance type |
| Not included | Refrigerators and freezers (covered in our fridge study), microwaves, range hoods, garburators and jobs with no appliance type |
Brand. We used the brand on the appliance record and normalized spelling so each brand counts once. Jobs with no identifiable brand count in the “all jobs” totals but not in the brand rows.
Fault. We grouped jobs by keywords in the notes, for example “drain,” “leak,” “noise,” “not heating,” “error code” and “burner” or “igniter.” A job can match more than one group, and many jobs match none because the notes are short. Treat every fault share in this article as an estimate based on keyword matching.
Warranty. We show the share of each brand’s jobs that were manufacturer warranty calls, because those calls push a brand’s count up regardless of how reliable it is.
Area. The data covers all of our service teams, not only Surrey households, so it reflects the Lower Mainland and the other areas our group serves.
Washers: drains, leaks and error codes
Across 3,874 washer jobs, drain problems came up in 19.9%, leaks in 18.2%, noise in 15.8% and error codes in 11.9%.
| Brand | Jobs | Warranty share | Drain | Leak | Noise | Error code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool | 645 | 0% | 23.7% | 17.5% | 13.3% | 18.9% |
| LG | 521 | 0% | 20.9% | 19.6% | 15.2% | 19.0% |
| Samsung | 515 | 0% | 17.1% | 24.5% | 17.9% | 13.0% |
| Blomberg | 299 | 2.0% | 15.7% | 14.4% | 9.0% | 5.0% |
| GE | 241 | 0% | 17.0% | 19.9% | 20.7% | 3.7% |
| Maytag | 235 | 0% | 20.0% | 15.7% | 16.6% | 15.7% |
| Frigidaire | 219 | 21.0% | 25.1% | 12.3% | 30.1% | 3.2% |
| Electrolux | 178 | 50.6% | 15.7% | 18.0% | 16.9% | 12.9% |
| Kenmore | 149 | 0% | 20.1% | 16.1% | 22.8% | 8.1% |
| All washer jobs | 3,874 | 3.7% | 19.9% | 18.2% | 15.8% | 11.9% |
What stands out:
- Samsung washers had the highest leak share at 24.5%. Door boot seals, fill hoses and drain pump connections are the usual places we look first.
- Whirlpool and LG had the most error code calls, about 19% each. A code often points straight to the fault, which can make the repair quicker.
- Frigidaire had the highest noise share at 30.1%. Note that 21.0% of those jobs were warranty calls.
- Blomberg had the lowest noise share of the large washer brands at 9.0%, and one of the lowest error code shares at 5.0%.
A washer that will not drain is often a blocked pump filter or a kinked hose, not a failed motor. If yours is stuck mid cycle, book washer repair in Surrey and we will find the cause.
Dryers: noise and not heating
Across 2,480 dryer jobs, noise came up in 24.0% and not heating in 14.5%. Drain, leak and error code calls were rare, as you would expect for a dryer.
| Brand | Jobs | Warranty share | Noise | Not heating | Error code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 360 | 0% | 25.0% | 24.7% | 3.9% |
| Blomberg | 345 | 1.2% | 17.1% | 9.3% | 1.4% |
| Whirlpool | 257 | 0% | 23.3% | 15.6% | 7.8% |
| LG | 192 | 0% | 24.0% | 13.5% | 11.5% |
| Electrolux | 186 | 60.2% | 54.8% | 3.8% | 2.2% |
| Maytag | 146 | 0% | 32.9% | 13.7% | 1.4% |
| GE | 131 | 0% | 25.2% | 6.1% | 2.3% |
| Kenmore | 119 | 0% | 20.2% | 22.7% | 7.6% |
| Frigidaire | 102 | 25.5% | 31.4% | 12.7% | 6.9% |
| All dryer jobs | 2,480 | 5.8% | 24.0% | 14.5% | 5.3% |
What stands out:
- Samsung and Kenmore dryers had the highest not heating shares, 24.7% and 22.7%. In electric dryers the usual causes are a burnt out heating element, a blown thermal fuse or a failed thermostat. A clogged vent can cause the fuse to blow again, so we check airflow as part of the repair.
- Electrolux had a noise share of 54.8%, far above any other brand. Most of those jobs (60.2%) were warranty calls, so this is a small, specific group of machines rather than a picture of every Electrolux dryer.
- Maytag dryers had more noise calls than average at 32.9%. Squeaks and thumps usually come from drum rollers, idler pulleys or the belt.
- GE had a low not heating share at 6.1%. Only Electrolux, at 3.8%, was lower, and its jobs were mostly warranty noise calls.
If your dryer runs but stays cold, or has started to squeal, see our dryer repair in Surrey page.
Dishwashers: drains, leaks and error codes
Across 2,685 dishwasher jobs, drain problems came up in 22.9%, leaks in 18.3% and error codes in 17.3%.
| Brand | Jobs | Warranty share | Drain | Leak | Error code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch | 347 | 4.0% | 30.0% | 13.8% | 28.2% |
| Whirlpool | 249 | 0% | 25.7% | 15.3% | 7.2% |
| Frigidaire | 244 | 34.8% | 26.6% | 19.7% | 8.6% |
| KitchenAid | 233 | 0% | 18.0% | 18.9% | 7.7% |
| Samsung | 184 | 0% | 26.6% | 20.1% | 32.1% |
| LG | 171 | 0% | 18.1% | 19.3% | 36.3% |
| Blomberg | 171 | 1.2% | 19.9% | 27.5% | 17.0% |
| Miele | 152 | 0% | 36.2% | 8.6% | 38.2% |
| GE | 133 | 0% | 18.8% | 33.1% | 13.5% |
| All dishwasher jobs | 2,685 | 4.1% | 22.9% | 18.3% | 17.3% |
What stands out:
- Miele, LG and Samsung had error codes in more than 30% of jobs, and Bosch in 28.2%. These machines show a fault code for most problems, so owners tend to describe the code when they book. That raises the error code share without meaning the machine fails more.
- Miele and Bosch also had the highest drain shares, 36.2% and 30.0%. Drain calls on these models are often a blocked filter, a clogged drain hose or a failed drain pump.
- GE and Blomberg had the highest leak shares, 33.1% and 27.5%. Door seals, spray arm problems and a cracked sump are common causes we find.
- KitchenAid had the lowest drain share of the large brands at 18.0%.
A dishwasher showing an error code or leaving water in the tub is usually worth repairing. Our dishwasher repair in Surrey page explains what a visit covers.
Ranges and ovens: burners and heating
Across 2,055 range and oven jobs, burner or ignition problems came up in 27.4%, not heating in 12.4% and error codes in 8.6%.
| Brand | Jobs | Warranty share | Burner or ignition | Not heating | Error code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire | 304 | 53.9% | 20.1% | 13.2% | 7.6% |
| Whirlpool | 209 | 0% | 26.3% | 10.0% | 5.3% |
| KitchenAid | 163 | 0% | 25.2% | 14.1% | 8.0% |
| Samsung | 129 | 0% | 23.3% | 19.4% | 12.4% |
| Bosch | 116 | 4.3% | 21.6% | 12.1% | 13.8% |
| GE | 116 | 0% | 35.3% | 12.1% | 9.5% |
| All range and oven jobs | 2,055 | 9.2% | 27.4% | 12.4% | 8.6% |
What stands out:
- GE had the highest burner or ignition share at 35.3%. On gas ranges that usually means a weak igniter, a dirty burner or a spark module fault.
- Samsung had the highest not heating share at 19.4% and the second highest error code share at 12.4%.
- Frigidaire is our largest range brand by count, but more than half of those jobs (53.9%) were warranty calls. Its burner share, 20.1%, sits below the average for all ranges.
Gas work should always be done by a qualified technician. If a burner will not light or an oven will not reach temperature, book oven repair in Surrey.
Why job counts are not failure rates
It is tempting to read the biggest number in each table as the worst brand. Please do not. Three things drive a brand’s job count up that have nothing to do with how well it is built:
- How many are installed locally. Whirlpool, LG and Samsung are very common in Lower Mainland homes, so they appear often in any repair record.
- Warranty contracts. We repair some brands under manufacturer warranty, and those jobs come to us whether or not the brand is reliable. Frigidaire and Electrolux are the clearest examples in these tables.
- Who calls a technician. Owners of higher priced machines are more likely to repair than replace, so those brands can show up more often for the same fault.
The fairer question is “when this brand breaks, what usually breaks?” That is what the fault shares answer, and it is more useful when you are deciding whether to repair.
What this means if you are buying or repairing
If you are buying, pick the features you need and skip the ones you do not. Each extra system, such as steam, Wi Fi controls or a built in water dispenser, is another part that can fail. Then check that parts and service for the model are available locally.
If your washer or dishwasher will not drain, check the filter and drain hose first. Drain faults were the most common washer and dishwasher problem in our records, and many are quick fixes.
If your dryer is not heating, stop using it until it is checked, and have the vent cleaned at the same visit. A blocked vent is a common reason elements and fuses fail early.
If your appliance shows an error code, write it down before you call. It helps us bring the likely part on the first visit.
If you are weighing repair against replacement, age matters more than brand. Our guide to repair or replace by age walks through the decision, and our service rates page lists what a visit costs.
Limitations
- Counts are not failure rates. We do not know how many of each brand are in use locally.
- Fault groups come from keyword matching on short notes. Some jobs are missed or counted in more than one group, so all shares are estimates.
- Warranty work inflates counts for Frigidaire and Electrolux in particular.
- Appliance age was not recorded consistently, so we cannot compare brands at the same age.
- The area is wider than Surrey. The data covers all of our service teams.
Frequently asked questions
Which appliance brand breaks down the most?
Our records cannot name one, because job counts are not failure rates. What they show is that each brand has a typical weak spot, such as leaks on Samsung washers, not heating on Samsung and Kenmore dryers, and burner faults on GE ranges.
Which brands should I avoid?
We do not recommend avoiding any major brand based on this data. Choose a model with the features you need, local parts availability and a technician who services it.
Are Samsung and LG appliances worth repairing?
In most cases we see, yes. The common faults in our records for both brands, such as leaks, error codes, heating elements and drain pumps, are part replacements rather than reasons to replace the machine.
Is this data only from Surrey?
No. It covers all of our service teams, so it reflects the Lower Mainland and the other areas our group serves. We serve Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Delta from our Surrey team.
Where is the refrigerator data?
Fridges and freezers are covered in our separate study of the most reliable refrigerator brands, linked at the top of this page.
Sources
- Our washer, dryer, dishwasher and range job records, 11,094 jobs (Surrey Appliance Service Pros, January 2024 to October 2026)
- Our fridge and freezer study: Most Reliable Refrigerator Brands: What 7,027 Repairs Show
Need an appliance repair in Surrey?
We repair every brand in these tables, from Whirlpool, LG and Samsung to Bosch, Miele and Blomberg. See our full list of appliance repair services or book a visit online.
Header photo: The appliances section of a Home Depot store by Harrison Keely, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 4.0, cropped.
