Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate

Save products you love, products you own and much more!

Save products icon

Other Membership Benefits:

Savings icon Exclusive Deals for Members Best time to buy icon Best Time to Buy Products Recall tracker icon Recall & Safety Alerts TV screen optimizer icon TV Screen Optimizer and more

    Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Washing Machines?

    Based on CR’s surveys of nearly 65,000 consumers, these popular brands come out on top in terms of reliability

    When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

    green arrow pointing up with a Front-Load LG-WM3400CW Washer
    Laundry day isn’t so fun when your washing machine breaks down. CR's member surveys provide the inside scoop on the most reliable washer brands.
    Photo: Consumer Reports

    An unreliable washing machine can throw a big wrinkle into your everyday life. In fact, reliability is the factor that CR members are most likely to deem very important when weighing their next washing machine purchase. That’s why it pays to invest in a quality washer that’s built to last so that you can avoid repair costs. Our latest member surveys that record owners’ experiences with nearly 74,500 washing machines can help you find just that.

    In this article Arrow link
    MORE ON WASHING MACHINES

    Our survey reveals which brands are most reliable in each of the four washer categories we test: front-loaders, top-load agitators, HE (high-efficiency) top-loaders, and compacts. Current survey results are based on CR members’ experiences with 74,479 washing machines purchased new between 2014 and 2024. This includes CR members who own washers from top players like LG and Samsung, longtime mainstays like Maytag and Whirlpool, and underdogs like Amana and Hotpoint. 

    We use the results to calculate the likelihood that newly purchased models from a brand will develop problems or break within the first five years of use—and how likely owners are to recommend their washer to friends and family. We factor these ratings into the Overall Score for each model in our washing machine ratings.

    LG represented more than half of the washer purchases made by our members in 2024, ranging in market share from 68 percent of front-loaders to 25 percent of top-load agitators. New brands in our survey included Admiral (a Whirlpool-affiliated brand) and GE Profile (GE’s premium line of higher-end appliances). LG and Samsung are new to the top-load HE survey as well. Kenmore and Samsung front-load and top-load HE washers slipped in reliability this year, whereas Asko rose from non-recommended to a passable reliability rating. Among compact washers, Samsung slipped into a non-recommendable tier.

    Make a greener choice for your laundry room by choosing one of the best eco-friendly washing machines from CR’s tests.

    Most Common Problems With 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.

    Best Front-Load Washer Brands

    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.

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


    Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer has been a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports since 2021, covering laundry, cleaning, small appliances, and home trends. Fascinated by interior design, architecture, technology, and all things mechanical, he translates CR’s testing engineers’ work into content that helps readers live better, smarter lives. Prior to CR, Keith covered luxury accessories and real estate, most recently at Forbes, with a focus on residential homes, interior design, home security, and pop culture trends.