Dishwashers Reviews

Consumer Reports has the most credible dishwasher reviews. Editors test new dishwashers on an ongoing basis, updating ratings every six months or so. Over 47 models are currently ranked and evaluated for loading flexibility, cleaning ability and noise. In addition, Consumer Reports offers repair data culled from a yearly survey of over 130,000 subscribers. Subscribers are now also invited to write product reviews online. J.D. Power and Associates, best known for its surveys on vehicle satisfaction and reliability, also surveys appliance owners. Over 12,000 respondents evaluated their dishwasher brand for reliability, price, performance and style. One nice aspect about the J.D. Power survey is that it separates results for a manufacturer's high-end and low-end lines. For example, there are separate ratings for Kenmore and Kenmore Elite and for Whirlpool and Whirlpool Gold. However, J.D. Power doesn't ask owners to rate specific models.

Good Housekeeping also tests dishwashers, but its most recent roundup is a few years old (though it does test a few current models on occasion). James Dulley, in his Sensible Home reports, also examines new dishwashers that are quiet and efficient. EnergyStar.com and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) offer lengthy lists of models that save energy and money. We looked to ThatHomeSite.com for owner opinions and discussions of mostly high-end dishwashers. We found good practical advice here, along with installation tips and feedback on repair issues. Finally, we considered some user-written reviews found at sites such as Epinions, RateItAll.com and Sears.com, which provide insight into customer service issues and how well a dishwasher will hold up over time.

Dishwasher technology hasn't changed that much in the last decade, so basic cleaning ability is generally good for all but the cheapest dishwashers, though pricier models are often quieter. However, reliability and noise level vary from brand to brand and between dishwasher models. The best scores for overall satisfaction and reliability go to Bosch, according to J.D. Power. Kenmore Elite models are a close second in this survey. Although owners say they paid more for the Bosch dishwashers, they find that performance and reliability over the long term justify the expense. Whirlpool Gold dishwashers also score more highly, with the lowest rate of repair overall. Owners like Whirlpool Gold's styling, performance and price about equally.

Fisher & Paykel is mainly known in the U.S. for its Dish Drawer models ( *est. $700 for a single drawer , *est. $1,500 for a double drawer ). These look nothing like a traditional dishwasher. Rather, the Dish Drawer looks just like its name would suggest -- a pull-out drawer. While appliance enthusiasts love the look of the Dish Drawer models, they are expensive and prone to leaks, pump problems and control issues. In U.S. surveys, about one-quarter of all Dish Drawer models need repairs. Fisher & Paykel also earns low scores for long-term reliability at Choice.com.au, an Australian review publication similar to Consumer Reports. In one survey, Fisher & Paykel models had the highest repair rate of any brand.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

We found good reviews for most dishwasher brands. Bosch is judged the best brand according to an owner survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, so we've included a top-rated Bosch dishwasher in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Kenmore Elite dishwashers (made by Whirlpool) also perform well overall. We've seen some recommendations for LG dishwashers, but this brand hasn't been making dishwashers long enough to have a proven track record.