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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 ...

Ann of Stamford, CT August 6, 2009

The front load High Energy clothes washer I bought from County Appliance in Stamford, CT is the most poorly designed and mal-functioning washing machine I have ever owned. If you put too many towels in the washer (more than 2) it gets off balance and will not spin water out of the load. If you put in too few clothes, it also gets off balance and won't spin out the water. And, the machine makes a loud banging sound and moves all over the floor when this happens. I am constantly stopping loads and re-arranging the clothing. It is the most poorly designed machine and customer service at GE refused to listen to me. The machine is 3 months old and I told them I wanted them to take it back. They refused. The machine has been serviced twice and had a broken water pipe at three weeks. I will never buy another appliance from GE nor will I ever shop at County Appliance again.

Holly of Auburn, PA August 6, 2009

I purchased a front-loading washing machine in February 2008. Since I have had this machine I have had to have it repaired four times. The first time it was the gasket, after that the timer/lock mechanism. I have been without a machine for one month today,and I was told that it will be another two weeks until the machine will be repaired.

Don of Bluefield, VA July 30, 2009

I purchased a GE washing machine (model no. WPRB8050D1WW) in January 06. The machine started leaking in December 08. The transmission and motor had to be replace - seems to be a problem with this machine. It took until March 09 to get the parts replaced. In the meantime spenting alot at laundrymat. Warranty covered parts but not labor. June 2009, machine starts leaking again.

This time GE agreed to cover labor as well as parts. Again a new motor and transmission, washed one load and machine leaking again. Contacted repairman and informed me outer tub would also have to be replaced. GE then wanted to give me a 70 dollar discount on a 430 machine. I said no I could beat that deal at the local Lowes and I wanted machine repaired. So GE sent parts but after consulting with repair shop said machine was unrepairable due to bent shroud. This was the first time the shroud had been mentioned.

I checked the shroud and it is not bent but GE said they would have to take work of repair shop. Now GE refuses to repair a 3 year old machine and wants me to shell out another 360 dollars for another piece of junk. When I mentioned to the costumer service MANAGER that she should check the number of complaints concerning GE products on the internet, she informed me that she had a life and did not have the time. I realize GE is more than appliances, but no wonder their stock nosedived long before the recent recession if this is the attitude of management. Never again will I buy a GE product and thankfully I got rid of GE stock several years ago.

Ann of Mount Vernon, MO July 30, 2009

For the second time, since purchasing and installing in 5/30/08, the spin cycle is not working on my GE washer. The first time to repair, no charge. This time (same problem) I'm told 145 plus parts plus whatever else needed since I didn't purchase the extened warrenty that was offered. For the same repair to be needed within 1.5 years, two months "out of warrenty" is absymal!

I feel that the repairs should be done without charge, since it's the same parts giving the problem. The cost of repair is going to be over 1/2 the cost of the new machine. This is big money out of my pocket.

Sandy of Todd, NC July 28, 2009

I have a service contract on my GE dryer. I contacted the number listed on my contract for a repair and was told that the ONLY company they contracted with was A&E Factory Service and that I would need to be home between 8-5 for service. I could not believe that it was necessary to take an entire day off work to have my dryer repaired.

In this day and time, I cannot afford to take off an entire day of work. I'm sure that A&E Factory Service gave the lowest bid on service contracts, but GE is sacrificing their customers for their bottom line. This will be the LAST service contract I purchase from GE.

j of pueblo, CO July 15, 2009

So bummed to be reading all these reviews. I have ge adora washer/dryer also, about 1 1/2 yrs old...they suck!!! all the same complaints, won't rinse/spine, clothes wet and stink, may save water...so what when you have to run them over and over using energy to get the water out! the cycles last forever and they just suck!!!

Julieanne of Idaho Falls, ID July 7, 2009

Bought a new GE Front Loader washer and matching dryer in May 2009. Have had 3 prior service calls and am waiting for a repair person as I am writing this. I have the same problem, washer will not spin or drain. I have gotten the run around from the service department even though I purchased 5 year extended warranty. Contacted consumer relations and all they want to talk about is setting up service appt not why the same problem keeps happening. Spent 07.03.09 waiting all afternoon waiting for repair person from authorized GE repair and he didn't show or call. I finally calle Home Depot extended warranty service he finally called (at 5:35)to say he was running late.

I run a taxiservice, I don't have time to sit and wait for service that isn't going to show or even have the courtesy to call and tell me what is going on. I have always bought and been very satisfied with GE washers before. Bought my first one in 1965 and used through raising 3 children. Sold it to a friend in 1990 and it is still working. So of course, when I bought a new one I went back to GE. Wrong move. Apparentely GE is like other manufacturing companies in US who have built obselescene into their product. And, service is a joke. Consumer relations and service are a joke at GE.

I am sure I will have to call them agai for repair as they have built a defective product and won't admit it.I have spent approx. 300 at laundromats since the purchase of this machine plus time I didn't have. Also, the soap dispenser leaks soap when you are loading soap into it, so I wonder how much soap is actually going into the wash cycle. My sister is in the market for a new washer and I have told her not to buy GE and I will advise anyone else who is buying a new washer the same

Danny of LaCombe, LA July 7, 2009

Bought a new high efficiency front load Profile GE washer and Electric Drier. These things are the same kind of energy efficient as water saver toilets. They use 50% less water but you have to cycle them 4 times to get them to work. Do the math. The cycle times on these things are measured in hours instead of minutes. Immediately started getting mildew smelling clothes. Called for service and they cleaned the trap that is hidden in the front under a service panel that is difficult to get to. Problem persisted. Service called. Same result. Take a shower and dry off and you smell like old sneakers! Calling GE was useless as the bozos they send out don't know enough to install them much less service them. They are parts changers.

This machine seems to know the value and color of clothes as anytime you put something expensive and white in it, you can be sure it will come out with brown grease stains on it. If you put in some expensive color item it will decide that now would be a good time to dump some little cache of bleach that it has been hiding from 5 loads ago. Many of our clothes develop small holes for no apparent reason. It only happens to your favorites. The drier just stopped turning altogether and the motor would trip out on thermal overload. I used to have an appliance repair business so even though it was in warranty, I was fed up with their so called service and tore into it myself. Everything spun freely. I tested all parts and all function tested fine. Put it back together and it works fine.

I HATE intermittant problems. Mine is about two years old and I have not encountered the transmission or gasket problem yet. I think it's time to donate these things to charity or sell them cheap with a disclaimer and abandon GE. By the way, LG is no better on there appliances or service.

Robert of Wilson, NC July 1, 2009

End of Feb 2007/early March 2007: purchased a GE Top Load Washing machine model # WDSR2080G2WW to replace our 30 year old Hotpoint. Our Hotpoint was used daily and never had a service call until it died after 30 years of use.

End of Feb/Early March 08: GE Washer transmission, motor, and brakes were replaced, parts and labor under warranty.

April 09: transmission was replaced again, but this time we had to pay 125 for labor.

July 1, 09: transmission has died. The family-owned business we purchased the washer from directed us to call 1-800-GE-Cares and report it as a "lemon". GE employee was sympathetic but said we needed to call the Customer Care Phone Center at 1-800-626-2001. Their hours are 8am-5pm EST M-F and 9am-4pm EST Saturday.

This is the third transmission failure in a washing machine we've had barely 2.5 years. Our research reveals that transmission failures were not uncommon with GE Washers in the late '90's and into the early 2000's, but our experience indicates that chronic transmission problems still exist. Faulty parts? Faulty design? Regardless, this is unacceptable.

After the first few months of ownership, the washer developed a constant squeaking on spin cycle that could be heard several rooms away and a strong mechanical burning smell. A few months after installing the 2nd transmission, the noise and smell returned. Noise and smell were constant after 3rd transmission was installed and it burned out completely after only 2-3 months.

Knob to set water level also broke off after two years and was replaced the same time the 2nd transmission was replaced.

Mark of Juniata, NE June 27, 2009

GE Front Load Washing Machine Model No. WCVH6270FWW purchased on 04.02.2006 to replace a recalled Maytag front load machine, turns out to be nothing but junk. After only 3-years, what I would refer to as the inner tub spindle (which is a sub part to item #311 on the parts diagram) totally fell apart. We're talking about a 400-500 part, not counting the labor. Come on! 3-Years! My parents have a Maytag that is going on 30-years, washing clothes for 7 children. Sorry GE, you will not be getting our next washing machine purchase. Oh, by the way, did I mention that only 2-months ago we replaced our GE washing machine that lasted 9-years with 4 repair jobs in between. After the 4th repair, we vowed that if it breaks down again, it will get replaced. Well, it got replaced all right.... not with GE. We purchased Bosch this time.

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