LG Dishwasher Reviews

Upon the first use, this dishwasher gave the dishes- particularly glassware- a strong smell similar to a riverbank with submerged, slimy roots and vegetation. At the beginning, the smell would sometimes not occur until about 20 minutes after the cycle ended, but it would last indefinitely on dishes put into the cupboard. The dishes would hold this odor, even when completely dry, unless we rinsed and dried all the dishes by hand or set them all out on the counter for 3 days to air out.

On my first 2 warranty service calls to LG, 5-12-21 and 6-7-21, the technicians recognized an odor but could find no mechanical issues with the machine. The 3rd time I called, on 6-7-2021, LG refused to send someone to my house, saying that they would not send someone for the same issue since they found nothing at the last service call. (Incidentally, a technician told me that if LG has to send someone 3 times for the same issue, the policy is to replace the machine.)

For the next 2 years, despite efforts to clean and drain the machine, try different cycles, and various dishwashing products, the smell continued to get worse and worse. Eventually, when we opened the dishwasher after any cleaning cycle, our entire downstairs would reek like a riverbank. The only thing that helped somewhat was running a cycle with the dishwasher empty and some Clorox bleach in the bottom. That was only effective for one load following the bleach load.

We have lived in our home for over 30 years and had two previous dishwashers with no problems. The only time I have ever smelled this swamp odor in my home was several years ago when I left a pitcher of water undisturbed and unrefrigerated for about a month. It produced a thin slimy film and that very characteristic submerged-vegetation-in-a-swamp odor.

On 6-23-2023, I tried again to get some satisfaction from LG. After several calls, hours on the phone and weeks of waiting, my case was escalated to the Presidential Liaison. I was told that the best they could do was give me a courtesy check for $100 for my troubles, and a rebate for 20% of the machine cost. I expected $100 plus $206. I did receive the $100 check, and then I received a coupon off the price of my next LG appliance purchase for $58 with a notice that the case was closed. After 2½ years of dealing with stench, we replaced the LG dishwasher with a Bosch model a couple weeks ago – NO MORE SMELL.

I have read reviews on LG and found that this issue is not unique to our machine. I believe I know what is causing the problem, which comes from the factory. Dishwashers are tested at the factory to be sure they function correctly. A portion of that water remains in the machine until it is installed and used by a customer. I believe that impure water was introduced into my washing machine and bacteria multiplied inside it, to the point where it cannot be rinsed or washed away without taking the machine apart. I have this machine in my garage, and I think it could easily disassembled and tested for internal bacteria. I believe the public need to know that this is a very possible problem they could have with a new dishwasher, and that there is absolutely no recourse or satisfaction through either LG or Lowe’s.

I called LG back and told them the problem was not solved after their recommendations. They refused to send a technician. I bought the dishwasher two months ago (so of course still on warranty). I called customer service at the store where I bought the dishwasher and they convinced LG to send a technician (you have to beg, even though you spent nearly 900$ for a defective product!) The technician looked at his Iphone and told me to change soap and not rinse the dishes before loading them in the dishwasher. But, he also brought a part called turbidity detector and said, "If the problem continues although you change soap and stop rinsing the dishes, it would be a good idea to change this detector."

I followed his recommendations but nothing changed. I called LG back and they told me: «we don't send a technician for an code error». Pardon me ? I have a brand new dishwasher that doesn't work properly (this error code keeping the dry cycle from functioning) and I have to manually dry my dishes each time? A dishwasher is supposed to wash AND dry. LG continued to refuse to send another technician. What a lousy service! Now reading all the reviews I realize many customers are dissatisfied with LG and won't buy a LG product ever again...just like me. They just don't care about their clients, they just want your money!

The bottom rack is a nightmare and a fight to get in and out. I don’t believe the rack is the right one, I was told they would send me a new one and it would take time because they are really slow that was 9 months ago. Still no new rack. My husband is a smart guy and very mechanically inclined and he didn’t install it incorrectly or forget to level it, anyways he checked everything again. Sadly in all my years of using dishwashers (30 years easily) I have never purchased dishwasher cleaner. Crampy apartment dishwasher worked better than this one. Clean the trap weekly?? Again, I never did this until my 16-year-old one I replace was showing signs of I am really old. I took my dishwasher apart and cleaned it really good once and which I continued to use for 2 more years before replacing it with this piece of junk. I wish I had my old one back.

4. Hot Water Heater.

So after showing him I was using 4 different things. He told me it wasn’t the dishwasher but I need to get a better hot water heater in order for my dishwasher to actually wash & dry dishes. My setting are on dry but nothing is dry, they are more wet the next day after I get around to putting them away than when I washed my dishes for my dishwasher to wash them. (Not issues with a 16-year-old machine) One thing we learned was the dishwasher doesn't do anything to dry your dishes the only way they dry is from your hot water, this is the energy-efficient feature. Told to run my hot water for 5 to 10 minutes every time before using the dishwasher to get hot water flowing.

The dishwasher is energy efficient but in order for it to work you have to waste water and electric from the water heater. Hmmm, are people really this stupid?? He checked the reading on the machine, was told everything is working fine and there was no issue with the machine. The repair man was very nice, on time, communication was excellent from setting up the appointment, reminding us, calling to let us know he would be here in 15 minutes and offering us to call him with any more issues. What I really learned was LG suck. After the purchase, you need to waste more water, spend 8.99 for Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner regularly, 28.75 for 70ct Cascade Pods Quantum or 53.90 for the 70ct of Cascade Pods Platinum, 19.99 for Lemi Shine Pods, 10.29 for Finish Rinse Aid.

This is a lot of supplies to maybe have your dishwasher actually wash your dishes. Oh let’s not forget, you may need to replace a hot water heater and make sure it is set high. It would be a lot cheaper just go back to washing by hand since the dishes have to be cleaned even before you put them in the dishwasher. Sadly, we are now looking into a brand-new dishwasher that is really a dishwasher. LG dishwasher is just expensive hole filler in your kitchen. We are not purchasing from Home Depot either since you get no help with issues on appliances from them and no returns. Only nice thing I can say about it is does looks good and is quiet. I have the same issues with LG washing machine.