Dishwasher Brands to Avoid in 2025: Real Reviews, Worst Offenders, and Tips
Ever unboxed a shiny new dishwasher, set it up, and then found yourself Googling “why doesn’t my dishwasher clean dishes right” within a month? You’re not alone. A staggering 13% of all dishwashers purchased in the UK end up being reported for a major fault in their first two years. What’s wild is, it isn’t always the cheapest ones that leave you in the lurch. Sometimes even flashy, big-name models turn out to be nothing but headache factories. That’s why knowing which dishwasher brands to avoid in 2025 will save you a bucket of money, time, and frustration you never thought you’d need to spend arguing with customer service.
How Some Dishwashers Fail (And Why You Should Care)
The root of pain with unreliable dishwashers isn’t just bad engineering. It’s about how the brand supports you when things go wrong, and how their design choices either make your life easier or drive you crazy every other night.
I’ve seen dishwashers do everything short of blow a fuse: leave greasy smears on plates, sound like a cement mixer at 3am, or refuse to dry plastics no matter how many cycles you run. According to a 2024 Which? appliance reliability survey, complaints about dishwashers sky-rocketed by almost 30% compared to five years earlier. It’s basic stuff — poor build, short-lived parts, and customer support so slow you’ll want to wash by hand out of spite.
- Control boards are failing sooner — Many units use cheaper electronic boards that fizzle out mid-cycle. Once that’s fried, you’re left with a blinking error light and little hope unless you want to drop £180+ on a new one.
- Leaking door seals and spray arms — This usually happens as soon as the warranty ends, leading to soaked floors or cabinets that warp and mold.
- Noisy machines — Some brands cut corners on insulation and motor quality. Ask anyone with a budget Hotpoint or low-end Beko and they’ll tell you about the racket.
- Poor washing performance — Some units simply never get dishes clean. Maybe water pressure’s weak, maybe the filters clog too easily. A machine that can’t clean is pointless, no matter how many bells it has.
It’s not just bad luck. Brands use cheaper materials and outsource production to different factories depending on the market, making it impossible to know if you’re buying this year’s hero or villain model. Even two identical-looking units can have totally different innards depending on which day or plant they came from.
Brands That Struggle: Stories From Real Households
While you might expect only little-known brands to make the list of worst offenders, some industry giants have left plenty of households fuming in recent years. Here’s the hard truth about the dishwasher brands you might want to steer clear of in 2025, based on repair record, warranty issues, and sheer volume of complaints from actual users.
- Hotpoint: Once a staple of British kitchens, Hotpoint dishwashers have taken a nosedive according to a May 2025 FixMyAppliance report. Owners report frequent breakdowns after only 14–18 months. The recurring problems? Clogged filters that are nearly impossible to unclog, random electronic faults, and flimsy racks that warp easily. Nearly one in five machines needs repairing inside two years.
- Beko: Super affordable upfront, but the hidden costs stack up. Recent models like the DIN26410 had a 22% failure rate in warranty claims last year. Consistent complaints: persistent leaks, weak water pressure, and motors that die after light use. Loud cycles are the norm — several customers have compared them to “an early 90s washing machine spinning out of control.”
- Indesit: Bottom-tier parts, bottom-tier performance. Reviews posted all across Trustpilot and AO.com in 2024-25 mention software glitches that freeze wash cycles mid-run, with replacements taking over three weeks. Don’t expect much from their customer service – folks report hours of hold music and repeat callouts for the same issue.
- Frigidaire (UK imports): Not as common, but imports turn up on discount sites. They look fancy with stainless finishes, but their spray arms often get clogged, the detergent dispenser jams, and—oddly—the display lights give out within a year, forcing blind operation.
- Amica: Strong on low prices, weak everywhere else. The biggest headache: short-lived pumps and spray arms. After a handful of cycles, the noise picks up, then the water no longer sprays evenly. Parts are tricky to source, leaving most owners stuck with a half-functional dishwasher.
These brands rarely make it three years before hitting trouble. But before you write off all of them, remember, it’s not every single model or every last unit. Higher-end Hotpoint or Beko models sometimes rate fine. Still, with so many duds, do you want to take the risk?
Brand | Reported First-Year Fault Rate (2024) | Most Common Problem | Customer Service Score (out of 10) |
---|---|---|---|
Hotpoint | 18% | Filter and Electronic Board Failure | 5.2 |
Beko | 22% | Pump Failure, Leaks | 5.0 |
Indesit | 25% | Software Faults | 4.6 |
Frigidaire (UK Imports) | 19% | Spray Arm Clogs | 5.7 |
Amica | 23% | Pump and Spray Arm Failure | 4.9 |

Warning Signs Before You Buy
Truth is, some of these dishwashers look great on paper — energy efficient, stylish controls, and surprising warranties. None of that matters much if they break down within a year, right? There are a few red flags you can spot before you buy, even if you’re shopping online.
- Lots of bad user reviews, with specific complaints repeating: If you see a trend of “broke down in 6 months” or “water leaking everywhere,” take it seriously. Buyers don’t tend to make up mechanical issues out of nowhere.
- Ultra-low prices compared to similar feature sets: Be suspicious of dishwashers that cost way less than others with the same size and wash settings. Cheap often means they’ve cut corners on the pump, motor, or seals — the stuff that actually matters long-term.
- Only a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty: The best dishwasher makers are so confident that their gear lasts, they’ll back it for 2-5 years parts and labor, often with in-home support. Brands that stick you with just 12 months are practically telling you to expect trouble.
- Support emails or numbers difficult to find on their site: If a brand hides contact info, their service may be slow and painful if (when) you need help.
- Unbranded controls, generic parts listings, vague specs: A sign that the company is chasing budget at all costs, with little investment in real testing or quality parts.
A little digging pays off. Do a quick search for model-specific issues. You’d be surprised how fast common problems pop up in Facebook appliance groups, or in honest reviews (the 2- and 3-star ones are goldmines of truth). If you’re actually standing in the shop fiddling with displays, open the machine and check the racks, door, and spray arms for cheap plastic or odd seams. If it feels flimsy, it probably is.
How To Choose A Reliable Dishwasher (Without Regret)
Sick of feeling like you’re rolling the dice with every dishwasher? Here’s how real people land machines that last — and save cash in the long run. Start by reading past the star ratings into the actual experiences. Four and five stars can hide early reviews, boosted by folks who love the look or are just happy it fit under their counter. What you want are stories from those who’ve had their dishwasher through Christmas, birthdays, and back again.
- Check Dishwasher Repair Data: Consumer sites like Which? and AO have real-world data on repair rates. Bosch, Siemens, and Miele tend to top the no-surprises charts, lasting longer without parts drama. Even their budget models perform better than most mid-range units from unreliable brands.
- Go For The Best Warranty
- Consider Local Part Availability: Don’t buy a brand with parts you can’t get locally. It’s a world of pain if your unique model needs a pump shipped from abroad.
- Stick With Trusted Sellers: Big box retailers and well-rated independent appliance stores often have better support than direct-from-China online deals.
- Check Energy and Water Ratings: A reliable dishwasher keeps running costs down. Anything with an A rating (or better) won’t wreck your bills.
- Ask Around: Real opinions from folks you trust — not just a “Top Ten” article — can save you from an expensive mistake.
To help you spot winners, here’s a quick cheat sheet of brands that score better than most, both for longevity and backup:
Brand | First-Year Fault Rate (2024) | Parts Availability (UK) | Warranty Length | Average Consumer Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bosch | 6% | Excellent | 2 years | 8.6/10 |
Siemens | 5% | Excellent | 2 years | 8.7/10 |
Miele | 4% | Outstanding | 5 years | 9.3/10 |
AEG | 8% | Very Good | 2 years | 8.2/10 |
If going new isn’t in your budget, don’t overlook gently used Bosch models. People often upgrade just for a new colour; some of the older versions run better and last longer than new “affordable” models. Check local Facebook groups, repair shops, and eBay listings for deals on these workhorses.
No brand is perfect, and every company has a lemon or two in their lineup. But steering clear of known bad apples and following these tips massively reduce your odds of spending your Sunday elbows-deep in a soapy, broken machine.