Maytag Corp.
Announce Recall of Washing Machines

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis-
sion, in cooperation with the firm named below, today
announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer
product. Consumers should contact the manufacturer or re-
tailer for further instruction.

Name of Product: Maytag Front-Loading Washing Machines

Units: About 5,000

Manufacturer: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., of South Korea

Distributor: Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa

Hazard: If the front-load washer is operated at maximum load
capacity, the spinner could malfunction and break apart,
posing a safety risk to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves white Maytag front-load
washers with model number MAH9700 and a serial number from
10188468GA through 11683946GJ. The model and serial numbers
are located inside the door opening and below the rubber
boot.

Sold at: Major department and appliance stores nationwide
from April 2005 through May 2005 for about $1,300.

Manufactured in: South Korea

Remedy: Consumers should use care not to exceed the
listed capacity of their machines, and should contact
Maytag for a free in-home service call to replace the
washer's control board.

Consumer Contact: Consumers can contact Maytag at (800)
462-9267 anytime, or visit the company’s Web site at
www.maytag.com

A $1,300 Maytag washing machine is made by Samsung in Korea?? Who'da thunk!

--Bob

I received a a check for $299.01 from Maytag to purchase another Maytag product. It was for a multi million $ settlement against their first Maytag Neptune washing machine. Any reason I should not invest in another Maytag washer? I need another washer but fear problems with their products. Anyone had any experience with their newer machines. Mine is about 8 years old. Had problems from day one and the Maytag man visited often.

I purchased a Maytag Neptune front loader 8 years ago. This was suppose to last me for YEARS!!! I can no longer use it. I've had one problem after another and was told by Maytag that i was not eligible for any compensation--even thought I sent in all the appropriate paperwork. Now the bearings are shot. One repair company said they see this all the time and it should have been a recall. $800 to fix it! No way. I will not purchase another Maytag product. Not honorable and I feel like I've been "taken for a spin!"

I am a former Maytag Factory Tech. I say former because Whirlpool came along and bought Maytag, and the folks in the Ivory tower at Whirlpool decided they didn't need the Maytag Repair Man any longer, an Icon for 50 years. Customer service has taken a back seat to PROFIT! The majority of the work is being farmed out to SEARS, I'm sorry, A & E Factory Service (I believe to be a joint effort between Whirlpool and SEARS). I'm sorry to hear of your bearing problem, it is an expensive repair. The newer model Neptunes that have the solid door without the window are good machines, they have had all of the bugs worked out of these models. The newest models with the Glass door are either a Whirlpool built unit or a Samsung built in Korea unit. If you try to get satisfaction from Whirlpool on your bearing problem you are wasting your energy, believe me.

I had a Maytag for over 25 years and had to replace it in 2005 but purchased the Atlantis. I did hear about the Neptune problems and am not sure how long this new one will last me. I did notice the Whirlpool ones don't have that curve in the front even though they say Maytag I was told about the difference.

They don't make anything to last long anymore. They're all risks we have to take.

My next door neighbor has this washing machine. They just bought their house from an older gentlement who didn't do much laundry. Well, they have small children so they always closed the washer door; only to find out that you're "supposed" to keep it open or else mold can form.

Now, all her laundry stinks to high heaven and because she didn't buy the house until after the class action suit had ended she has no recourse.

Between my next door neighbor's issues and my issue's with Maytag/Jenn-Air, I am just absolutely disgusted at the people in the ivory tower. Getting rid of the Maytag Repair Man?? What is this world coming too???

I'm convinced that Maytag makes faulty appliances on purpose, so they can have a recall and then offer a pitance to have it repaired or replaced. Then they hope that the customer replaces the faulty item with one of their own.

Well, don't do it people!! Stay away from Maytag/Whirlpool/Jenn-Air and any other company that affiliates with them. I totally agree that they are only out for the profit!!

I'm not sure the problem is just with "washers". It's not just Maytag. Products are just not made with any Quality Control, they are using cheaper parts to keep the profit up. Cars will not last as long either for the same reason.

If you read some reviews there many lemons on many products.

I hate to be one of those people who said I told you so, but...

More and more major manufacturers are finding the freight across the ocean cheaper than making the product in North America. It's been going on for years and we, as a consumer society have been buying into it for the savings we think we see.

Whirlpool Corporation control Maytag, Amana, Jenn-air, KitchenAid and many others. They have abandoned North American manufacturing in search of profits from off-shore labor rates, which translate to poor(er) quality.

Although, it is getting tough to find a truly made in America product. I firmly believe North America makes better quality products.

Any complaints you have about Q.C. should be sent to Whirlpool Corporation to the attention of the CEO. Eventually, the suits will get the message.

Regards,
Gasman

I agree with both of you about the quality of products today and the exodus of American factories to foreign sites.

Interesting discussion. Don, thanks for all the interesting points you've made. You've always been very informative and I love reading your reviews.

Thanks for contributing,

Lorace

I was looking to purchase a used Maytag Neptune 4 wash/dry set. They are both front load (without the windows). Purchased in 2000. Are these models problematic, or are they the earlier models that received high marks?

Greatly appreciate your help.

I bought a Maytag Neptune in 2000 - since then we have had the problems with stinky clothes, etc.. but it all happened on a slow time frame. I did file for the class action suit in 2005 because we were getting mold on the inside of the door frame for some reason. But since then I have gotten nothing - no info - no moola! I called back in 2005 to see what was happening and they just gave me the usuall company answer crap and that more info would come. Now in 2007 my washer just went belly up! I called the number for the suit 2 more times and the first time I got nothing but directed to a service dept. but it would come out of my pocket. I decided to pull open the back to see what was happening cuz the water wouldn't "spin" out of the tub. Be glad you were not in the same room when I found what I did! MOLD MOLD MOLD GOOOEY MOLD! GROSS! It was caked with it! All the drain hoses were full of black gooey mold! I called the suit hotline again and now they claim that I never filed for the suit! What idiots! Why would I call in '05 if I didn't file? So now I'm left with nothing but a broken stinky washer! From what I have been reading a LOT of though - even if I did get something from the settlement, it would only be $200 towards a new Maytag top-loader. How does that compare with the $1300 I paid in 2000?

conclusion: MAYTAG SUCKS! BIG TIME! I will never purchase ANYTHING from Maytag again! I saw the same kind of suit on one of their dishwashers now too!

As an ex Maytag Factory Service Technician, I think that Maytag has been receiving more grief than they deserve. I don't see people bringing class action suits against car companies because their cars didn't last 20 years. Maytag was on the leading edge of technology when the developed the first front load washer for private home use that was manufactured in the United States. Yes problems did arise from being the first. New technology runs this risk. These problems are not unique and are not limited to the Maytag brand name. Now instead of being a Maytag technician, I work for a local independent. Whirlpool bought out Maytag. I am sure that Mr. Maytag is rolling over in his grave. They made cheaper products. Sold more. Drove down the cost and forced the competition to do the same. The great American dream? I would estimate that 1/2 of their line is made overseas. For the people that wanted to see Maytag shutdown, you got your wish. Now you have Whirlpool. Most of the Maytag products you see on the market now are nothing but Whirlpool units with the Maytag name on them. They even have the nerve to call one that is coming out the Maytag Centinnal (spelling?). And yes another 4 manufacturing plants shut down in the US and moved overseas along with all the infrastructure of a great American company that is no more.

The fact of the matter NO appliance is really built last to longer than 10-12 years nowadays. It's just not in the cards. I mean look at the price of TVs, they are getting cheaper everyday just like appliances and nobody ever fixes them because it is too expensive. I think that in couple of years it will be the same with appliances. Every thing is being built more and more disposable. So when you go out to buy your next appliance buy it something middle of the line. I would always take out the extended warranty as well. Average repair on an appliance is $150.00 and with they way they are building the something will go wrong.

When they first came upon the scene Montgomery Wards sold their Color TVs under WARDS label{ samsung chasis }, Big Mistake wanna know why ? Samsung so far has only a partial of the repair manuals available, I talked to another Technician he said good luck on obtaining parts.

I recalled back in the 1970's the DC connector on the Cassette Recorder cracked, ordered the part from the store, backordered to when ?? today that part aka 1.0-3.0mm plug and jack and you can go to any parts catalouge to get them even at your local store sells cell phone accessories probably has it.

The Tech will not service Samsung or Gold Star appliances.

I believe that Maytag is owned by Whirlpool Corp. you may wish to read the WIKIpedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maytag as of 2007 read the scoop.

WHAT WAS I THINKING? I bought a Maytag Neptune front loader washer and dryer in 2002 after the birth of my daughter. I owned an old White Westinghouse for thirteen years prior to the purchase so I sold the set after I went with Maytag. I thought that I was getting the best in the industry. If I knew then what I know now, I would have kept my WW until they died. Maytag has been nothing but trouble!!! The water level switch went out one month after the factory warranty and water was everywhere. After replacing the hardwood flooring downstairs ($9000.00 later), my insurance company tried to get some $ back from Maytag but wasn't able to. Now it is three years later and the control boards need to be replaced to the tune of $485.00. With all of the money that I putting in this machine, it makes more sense to go buy a new BOSCH washer and dryer. At least they will last!

I'm in a similar situation, and am waiting to hear back from the store I purchased my Maytag Neptune MAH9700 Front Load washer from. We purchased our washer in June 2006, so it's only 18 months old. The washer smells really moldy, so much so that the whole mud room smells awful. It smells so bad I'm afraid to let our dog sleep in the room. Unlike some of the other threads I've read, our rubber gasket is one of the "new and improved" with drainage holes. It doesn't seem to help.

Hopefully I'll be a little better off because we purchased the extended warranty so everything should still be covered. I read that there's some kind of trap door in the back of the washer where items like infant socks can get stuck.

Any updated information on newer machines