Which dishwasher is not to buy?

Which dishwasher not to buy depends on reliability data, but several brands and models consistently show higher service rates and lower owner satisfaction and should be avoided. Based on Yale Appliance service data and Consumer Reports predicted reliability, you should be cautious with very cheap budget dishwashers under 400 dollars from lesser-known brands like Magic Chef, Midea low-end, Farberware, and Danby, which have first-year service rates over 20 percent and poor parts availability. Among mainstream brands, avoid older Samsung dishwashers from 2016-2021 that had well-documented leak and control board issues leading to higher repair rates, although newer Samsung models have improved. Frigidaire budget models often score low for drying performance and have higher rates of pump and control failures. Viking and other luxury pro-style dishwashers have very high repair costs and lower reliability than Bosch or Miele despite premium pricing. Also avoid any dishwasher with a known class action for leaking or fire risk without proof of redesign. Features to avoid include dishwashers with only a hard food chopper instead of a removable filter, as they are noisier and clog more easily, and models with plastic tubs that stain and retain odors versus stainless steel. For best reliability, stick with Bosch 300 and 800 series, Miele, KitchenAid, and LG QuadWash models which have service rates under 8 percent and Excellent cleaning scores.