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GE Washing Machines

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Lots of things can, and do, go wrong with GE washing machines, including:

• Transmission failure
• Incompetent service
• Damage to clothes

Or, as Ann of Philadelpia puts it:
As an employee for an appliance parts wholesaler, I can tell you that the GE washer (also sold as Hotpoint and RCA) is the worst design in the history of major appliances.

Others we've heard from recently would probably agree ...

Tatiana of Buena Park, CA November 18, 2009

GE Washer, top load, model #WJRR4170G0WW stopped working only after 2 years of normal use. It turns out that a defective part, the motor, part #WH20X10051, caused the problem. GE now has re-manufactured this part due to the defect, but has failed to notify its customers or reimburse them for their trouble. Our situation has caused us time, money and pure frustration! Not only that, all our appliances in our kitchen are GE, except for our dishwasher.

There are thousands upon thousands of complaints about GE Appliances going bad after 2 years or less. A National Class Action Suit was settled against them in 2006 for 304 defective models of GE Refrigerators! Now a firm is doing research regarding their line of microwaves since there are many complaints about the microwaves causing major problems, even catching on fire. GE has turned a blind eye and is ignoring the very people who pay their mortgages! There are hundreds of people who would be willing to file a class action law suit against them. Help!

GE is totally unethical in its business practices. If you are reading this, please send your complaints to 60 minutes, as I did. Get the media involved. What GE is doing is no less than criminal. When we are at Lowes or Home Depot looking at appliances to buy, there should be a warning sign that says, "Beware, this appliance that you will pay 450 for will break after 1-2 years." That is no less than robbery. Time, money and frustration. The smell of the motor burning cause the whole house to smell like burning plastic! Don't let them get away with it. You worked hard for that money! They pay their million dollar mortgages with it!

Loretta of Schertz, TX November 14, 2009

Purchased GE Washer in September 2009. It broke the 3rd time we used it. When it agitates, the mechanism inside causes a deafening rubbing sound and leaks water. Had GE repair person come out and fixed it. He said no recalls were out for PRODUCT: WPRE 6100G1WT. The washer now does this all the time. We cannot afford the GE repair person to come out. I need a washer and cannot afford that either. So many consumer claims are noted about GE's poor performing appliances. Please consider a class action suit against GE.

saundra of camarillo, CA November 9, 2009

I bought a GE top load washer and gas dryer on 10/16/09. First time i put my clothes in the dryer it made a noise that sounds like metal grinding against metal. I call the store where i purchased it. I wanted the dryer replaced since i have only had it a week and used it once. I was told to call a repair tech. I called tech they came out and he was not able to hear the noise because the noise didnt happen while he was here. I come home from work and use the dryer and hear the noise again. I'm like crap why wasnt the rep able to get machine to make noise.

Ok a week later Sunday 11/8 cant take the noise from the dryer and call. And on the darn service line they say Common problems Loud Noises i'm thinking to myself if its a friggen common problem why didnt the repair tech check the cause for the common noise problem. well if that isnt bad enough the customer service wont replace my machine they want to send another tech to check problem. I deside to call the store before the first 30 days go buy and have the machine replaced.

What did i get from John the sales person at the store about the return policy. I cant return the product unless the repair tech hears the problem and put in a repair or replacement request. I'm like are you serious I have owned this product less than a month had a service tech out to my house and I cant do anything.I thought EG was a brand to be proud of I know now i should have checked this site out before paying for these disappointing products. This store got an A rating from the BBB. So much for the BBB

Jennifer of Saegertown, PA November 2, 2009

We purchased a GE coin operated washer in January 2009, the motor went out of it in March 2009 and Home Depot replaced the washer with no problem. After we received the second washer, 2 more motors went out and we had at least 2 other service calls. After numerous phone calls/arguments with Ge, they did replace the washer; however, they said they no longer made our model and that the only commercial machine available was a smaller version than we had.

We received the new washer on 10/17/09, we were not there when the delivery company dropped off the machine and our tenant said it was dropped 3 ft. off the back of the truck. I again reported this to GE, they said if we had any trouble with the machine all we had to do was call...what a joke that is. Our tenants can't even wash clothes in it without it jumping all over the place.

We called on 10/30/09 to tell them we wanted a different machine and they will not replace it? They said they had a 7 day return policy, how can that be when we had to have the coin box installed to even use it. I would never purchase a GE appliance again. Their customer service is awful and extremely frustrating. Definately do research before purchasing a GE washer. Since January, our washer has been out of service on and off. It's probably only worked a total of 3 out of 10 months. We've lost the coin income from the washer not being operational.

linda of corinth, MS November 1, 2009

We have been married 13 years and started our marrage with new ROPER Appliances. The washer and dryer set were absolutely wonderful. After 10 years we decided to buy a much more advanced, and Fancier, if you will, GE Washer From Lowes. This machine is less than 3 years old, Used Correctly, in a 2 person household. It quit working so, I hired a technician reffered to us by Lowes only to find out the motor has burned up in our washer ! The price quote we got on just the motor is only about 85.00 less than we paid for the new washer !

Since I cannot produce the original reciept, and did not purchase the extended warranty We are just out of luck !! I find this very un-acceptable. I've talked to 2 more technicians and they all said this model machine burns up motors regularly. We are 2 grown adults, that wash just our laundry. I fully expected this machine to last well as many other GE items we have used over the years. This model is JUNK !! A company as large as GE Should easily be able to help consumers such as ourselves in some way.

I do not expect free replacement but, I honestly believe GE is aware this model has a motor problem and still sells. The price has actually gone up since we purchased ours but, I'm sure none of the components have beed changed or up-graded to help with this problem. The model number to my machine is - WLSR30000G5WW. I would love for you to help me out in any way you can, A free motor replacement ? A Good Discount on said motor replacement....I would greatly appreciate a response, and any help you can give us. Please help to restore our confidence in your products.

Bridget of Carefree, AZ October 21, 2009

I called 10/20/2009 about a GE Spacemaker front-loading washer we purchased in 2/2007. It does not currently have a warranty. I have had problems since the washer was fairly new with mold growing on the inside and outside of the rubber gasket that the door closes onto. I suppose I should have reported it then, but really thought I could take care of it.

This gasket keeps the water inside the washer. There is a small section in the middle of the manual that says to wipe the gasket after each use, otherwise there is no warning about special care regarding this. I do far more than this. I wipe the gasket inside and out, and dump water out of the drawer and then wipe the inside of that cavity with a towel and then leave the door to the washer open for hours after doing several loads of laundry to help the interior dry out, which it never does. It has always smelled mildewy inside, except for when it was very new. I live in a very dry climate and still have a problem with the washer smelling mildewy.

A few months after getting the washer I was horrified to discover an actual mold colony (black and elevated) growing on the inside of the gasket. I cleaned it with bleach the best I could, but never could completely remove the stain. Since then I have been extremely diligent in wiping the gasket dry (altho because of the design this is quite difficult to do) and the other steps I mentioned. In addition I have run the washer with special tablets purchased at Lowes that remove the musty smell from washers like this. I do not know if they contain fungicide. I also have run bleach through the empty washer in an attempt to kill mold spores, but that didn't seem to work, at least on the gasket itself. I am going to try wiping the gasket with straight bleach, although the people I spoke with at GE did not suggest doing anything of this nature. I do not know if this will damage the rubber.

They had no explanation for why this is occuring, even after my ongoing attempts to reduce moisture. This is an appliance designed to be wet, so I do not understand why all this is necessary, or why the company does not make a big point of this in their printed materials. I do believe this may be a known problem with this washer, from something one of the consumer relations reps said to me, but the only remediation offered was to replace the gasket at no charge. I still have to pay for the home service call and labor, they will not budge on this. My worry, and I repeatedly stated this to the supervisor and to the previous rep, is that there are mold spores inside the washer, behind the perforated steel inner liner, which will not be removed by simply replacing the gasket. Perhaps running bleach through it has killed those, but I do not know. I find their lassaiz-faire attitude about this type of problem extremely odd, warranty or no warranty, since mold is a health hazard and I have done so much to remove and prevent it. Although to be fair they only know what I tell them, but still you would think they would do more if for no other reason to keep a customer with a house full of GE appliances and to prevent a potential lawsuit.

I did not find the supervisor that I spoke to to be very concerned or friendly and certainly did not offer to do anything other than what the consumer relations rep offered. I did tell him I was not happy with the remediation offered and would take care of this problem only because I need a washer. The washer will be replaced next year with another washer by a different manufacturer that offers better customer service and a safe product.

cheryl of rantoul, IL October 20, 2009

i purchased a washer in january 2009 in june the machine started having problems called ge customer service they sent a repair person had motor replaced well within amonth later started having problems again making noise shaking .called ge again sent repair tech again found loose bolt . he stated he never seen that happen to where he can remove with his had . so he repalaced it within 2 days washer stoped spinning called repair again . they said needed part was without for 2 weeks attempted to explain everytime i have service call i miss work not worth losing job over and going to laundry matt . when have machine that should work asked them to replace due to is defective not reliable at all getting run around . G.E is large co cant believe i am being treated like this for purchasing their product . i lost alot due to this issue and all i want is for them to replace with new one .

Susan of Mendham, NJ October 13, 2009

I bought my GE profile in December 2007 and the motor is broken. The service tech got 106 with tax for the call. The bill to repair machine would be 650! I can buy a new machine for 500. No more GE.

Joseph of Jackson, NE October 8, 2009

Our GE washer is almost 3 years old. I have to call a repair person to come to our residence to clean the pressure fill switch. Without this cleaning every three months @ 150 per visit, the tub will overflow and flood our basement. The washer has done this since it was new. The first few times it was on warranty.Once the warranty was up, we let it flood the laundry room. There was no real damage to anything since we had a concrete floor. My wife finally got tired of walking through water so we started to call the repair person which turned out to be about every three months. I called GE customer service and was told that there was nothing they could do since it was off warranty. I purchased their product in good faith and if I could afford to buy a new washer I surely would -- but not GE.

Carla of Escondido, CA October 7, 2009

I purchased a GE Washer model # WHDRR418GOWW on May 17, 2007. On October 1, 2009 the machine made all sorts of noise and was completely off balance when it was going into the agitate cycle. I had to stop the machine, remove the wet clothes and call for service.

Today I had to have the motor/inverter and shaft & Mode Shifter replaced. Parts # WH20X10051 and WH38X10017. Of course this was not covered under warranty, why I do not know. In the past these parts would more than likely have been replaced if the product was less than 5 years old. G E has really let me down. I had to pay 254.53 to have this machine repaired by a G E service tech. This is more than half of what I paid for this machine.

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