Which dishwasher brand is the most reliable?

Blocked pipes and failing to clean properly are among the most common dishwasher problems. But if you buy from the best brands, you're much less likely to encounter them in the first place. 

We've researched the reliability of the most popular dishwasher brands, including Miele, Bosch, Beko and Hotpoint. 

In our exclusive large appliance survey, we ask more than 6,000 dishwasher owners if they're happy with their machine, and if they have experienced any problems with it. 

Only with the help of our data can you see the dishwasher brands that are worth your money.  

Already decided on a dishwasher brand? Head to our dishwasher reviews to find the model that suits your needs and budget

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Which dishwasher brands develop the fewest faults? 

The table below summarises this year’s results, based on dishwashers bought in the past seven years. 

Dishwasher brands are ranked by their reliability rating, which is based on various aspects of our fault data for the brand's dishwashers. 

The 'proportion faulty' is the percentage that experienced a fault, and the 'proportion repaired or replaced' is the percentage of dishwashers that were repaired or replaced due to the fault. 

Which? members can log in to view which dishwasher brands are the most and least reliable, and which our members are most satisfied with. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Which dishwasher brands do owners recommend? 

As well as faults, our survey also reveals the dishwasher brands that real customers are most satisfied with, and which they’d recommend to a friend.

In the table below, see the customer score for the top nine brands, along with ratings for the brand's value for money and reliability for reference.

Visit our dishwasher reviews to see all the models we've tested – you can filter by brand, type, price and more. 

Which? members can log in to view which dishwasher brands last the longest before they need to be replaced. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

The three most common dishwasher faults

Taking good care of your dishwasher – cleaning it regularly, for example – could help you avoid your dishwasher encountering a major problem. However, things can happen. 

Our survey of more than 6,000 dishwasher owners also revealed the three most common dishwasher faults.

1. Not cleaning properly (14% of all faults reported)

A deterioration in how well your dishwasher is cleaning could be down to a number of basic maintenance problems.

To try to fix the problem, first clean the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher, as this could be clogged.

Second, check the holes in the spray arms. If one of these is blocked, you can use a toothpick to unclog it.

Third, refill the salt and rinse aid, as these help your detergent and dishwasher work to the best of their abilities.

Finish by running the dishwasher empty on a hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner, to give the drum and pipes a proper clean.

2. Blocked pipes (13%)

If your dishwasher isn't draining properly, you should first check to see if the filter is blocked.

However, if after following our guidance the problem persists, it could actually be down to a blocked pipe – it's the second highest individual fault reported in our survey. 

If the waste water pipe is connected to the sink waste, there could be a blockage that's causing the issue. You can generally tell, as the water drains away very slowly, or not at all.  

You could try a DIY fix of pouring a solution of baking soda and vinegar into the machine, wait for a minute, then flush it down with boiling water. Or, you could attempt to use a plunger to shift the blockage.

3. Not emptying water (12%)

The number one cause of a dishwasher not draining is that the filter or pump needs unblocking and cleaning. Thankfully, it's easy to do yourself, so you won't need to pay for a professional. 

If this doesn't work, the drain pump itself could be broken and need replacing. These are fairly cheap and not difficult to replace yourself, so it's worth trying before replacing your whole dishwasher.

To prevent this problem happening in the future, make sure you clean the filter of large bits of food every week, and use a dishwasher cleaner every few months to keep your machine in tiptop shape.

Read our guide to common dishwasher faults and how to fix them 

How easy is it to repair a dishwasher?

The most commonly reported dishwasher problems relate to cleaning and draining, but electrical problems can develop too.

You may be able to resolve some of these yourself without calling in the experts. Check your appliance's instruction manual for a troubleshooting guide for common problems.

For major faults, such as a broken motor, a fix may not be easy or cheap, so you may need outside help. 

First, consult your warranty to see if the dishwasher is still covered. If not, then consider dishwasher repair services.

If your dishwasher is too expensive to repair, or even beyond repair, then you may be better off investing in a newer, more energy efficient dishwasher. 

By law, retailers must offer a way to responsibly dispose of your old dishwasher when you buy a new one, although they can charge a fee for the service. 

Need a dishwasher repair service? Search Which? Trusted Traders to find an approved trader in your area.

Which dishwasher brands offer the best guarantees?

Most dishwasher brands either offer a one or two-year parts and labour guarantees as standard. Some will let you extend this for parts for up to 10 years if you register your machine.

Some brands go beyond what's standard for a parts and labour guarantee, including:

• AEG – three-year guarantee as standard on selected machines.
• Grundig – three or five-year guarantee on selected machines. 
• Ikea – up to five-year guarantee on own-brand models.
  
• John Lewis – three-year guarantee as standard on own-brand machines.

You have legal rights if you have a faulty product. Find out how to get a refund, repair or replacement

How we determine the most reliable brands

Which? has a wealth of information on the UK's favourite brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they'd be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home.

This year, 14,481 Which? Connect panel members and members of the public told us about more than 50,000 individual products. We calculate a brand's customer score, fault rate and proportion replaced or repaired, based on the results of our yearly survey.

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best dishwashers to buy.

For more on our tests and what it takes to get a Which? Best Buy recommendation, read how we test dishwashers