Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Washing Machines?

Among the CR members surveyed, the most commonly reported washer problems were tangled or balled-up clothes (11 percent), odor (9 percent), and mold or mildew (7 percent). Five percent reported issues with non-spinning drums, water drain failure, clothes not cleaning, or excessive vibration over time.

In our 2023 survey, we found that mold, mildew, and odor complaints were much more common among owners of many brands of front-loaders and compact washers. And HE top-load washers were singled out for not cleaning clothes thoroughly.

Below, CR members can view highlights from our reliability survey and find washer brands that score well in both the survey and our lab performance tests. If you’re shopping for a new appliance, check our washing machine buying guide to learn the pros and cons of different washer types, and review our complete washing machine ratings to see how 120-plus models performed in our tests and for details on their features.

Mold, mildew, and odor complaints haven’t slowed the popularity of full-sized front-load washing machines. Buyers of this washer type represent 43 percent of our surveyed sample. Large capacities, superior cleaning performance, and superb water and energy efficiency make front-loaders an attractive choice.

For the eighth consecutive year, LG is the most reliable brand for HE top-loaders (the type without an agitator in the middle). It’s the only brand out of the seven in our survey to earn the highest rating for predicted reliability, and the only one to score a strong rating for owner satisfaction.

GE, GE Profile, Maytag, Samsung, and Whirlpool HE top-loaders garner mid-level ratings for reliability, but all of these brands get dinged for their unfavorable owner satisfaction. Specifically, Maytag and Whirlpool earn mediocre owner satisfaction ratings while GE, GE Profile, Samsung, and Kenmore (which rated less than satisfactory for reliability) disappoint with failing marks.

LG’s top-notch reliability and strong owner satisfaction ratings help catapult its HE top-loaders to high spots in our ratings. Overall, the LGs perform well in our tests, too. The LG WT7150CW, specifically, is one of a handful of relatively budget-friendly washers in this category to earn our highest rating for washing performance. It’s also an eco-friendly Green Choice model, designated by its green leaf in our ratings.

Among the 12 top-load agitator brands rated in our survey, one brand’s superior reliability has remained relatively unchanged for the past seven years. Once again, Speed Queen receives our highest tier rating, earning top marks for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. LG also earns a top-tier reliability rating from our members, followed by Samsung and Hotpoint, which both receive favorable marks for reliability. However, when it comes to owner satisfaction, LG’s owner rating is merely passable, Samsung’s mediocre, and Hotpoint’s poor.

Seven other brands—Admiral, Amana, Frigidaire, GE, GE Profile, Maytag, and Whirlpool—earn at least middling marks for reliability, but Maytag is the only one of that bunch with acceptable owner satisfaction ratings. Amana, Frigidaire, GE, and GE Profile join Hotpoint with bottom-barrel owner satisfaction scores. Kenmore bottomed out for reliability and scored unfavorably for satisfaction.

Speed Queen agitators as a group have earned a cultlike admiration among CR members because they’re so long-lasting. But they’re less predictable when it comes to cleaning clothes, ranking in the middle of the pack in our tests. Though it earned a very good Overall Score, our testers found the Speed Queen TC5003WN to be loud, just adequate in washing performance and water efficiency, and mediocre in energy efficiency. Its quieter cousin, the TR7003WN, rates very good on washing performance, but less than satisfactorily on energy and water efficiency. Both Speed Queens claimed capacity is only 3.2 cubic feet, which is smaller than most full-sized washers we test. 

If size, performance, and energy and water efficiency are top priorities, you may want to consider an eco-friendly Green Choice washing machine like the LG WT8405CW (the highest-rated top-load agitator we tested). It costs about half the price of the Speed Queens, offers more capacity (5.3 cubic feet), and is more effective at cleaning.

Electrolux, LG, and Miele shine as the most reliable compact washer brands, earning the best possible ratings in this wildly divergent category in our survey. Miele is the only one of those three with the best possible owner satisfaction rating; the other two are simply passable.

Samsung models earn favorable scores for predicted reliability but weak scores for overall satisfaction. The reliability of Asko, Bosch, and GE compacts is only middling. The first two brands earn just okay ratings for owner satisfaction, while GE receives the lowest possible rating in that measurement. Our survey also shows that Whirlpool is the least reliable compact brand, earning rock-bottom ratings in both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

Miele’s standout reliability rating helps elevate the Miele WXF660WCS to the very top of our compact washer ratings. It costs hundreds less than the Miele WXI860WCS, a comparable model with the same excellent ratings for satisfaction and performance as well as water and energy efficiency.