Survey reveals NZ's best and worst home appliances

The DishDrawer range has had a troubled history. Photo / Supplied

Fisher & Paykel dishwashers have been downgraded by their users in the latest Consumer NZ survey on appliance reliability.

In February Consumer gave "recommended" status to a Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer model.

The DishDrawer range features one or two pull-out drawers instead of the usual hinged vertical door.

The "recommended" rating was for a two-drawer model because it performed well in testing for Consumer and the DishDrawer range had improved to an "average" rating from users in the 2009 survey on reliability.

But in the latest reliability survey of users, the DishDrawer range falls back to the "worst" category, where they join standard Fisher & Paykel dishwashers and the Baumatic brand.

The DishDrawer range has a troubled history, featuring on television's Fair Go programme in 2003 after buyers complained of problems including rust and noisy motors.

In Consumer's 2008 survey, they remained "one of the least reliable dishwashers in our survey".

Commenting on the latest survey, the Consumer website says nearly one in five dishwashers purchased in the past five years had needed to be repaired - "making them the least reliable appliance in the survey.

"However, their overall reliability has shown a steady improvement since our 2005 survey when one in three dishwashers had needed fixing."

The most common problem in the latest survey was programme failure.

But in the Fisher & Paykel standard dishwashers the door closure, including the seal and handle, was the main trouble spot.

The most reliable dishwasher brands in the survey of more than 18,000 Consumer members and subscribers were Asko, Bosch and Miele. Rated average were Electrolux, LG, Simpson, Smeg, Westinghouse and Whirlpool.

The survey included more than 6000 dishwashers. Consumer analyses only those brands for which it receives more than 50 responses.

The reliability ratings are calculated from whether an appliance needed a repair.

Problems caused by accident or misuse are excluded, as are power surges and problems like mice chewing the wiring.

100 per cent franchise tops survey

The 100 per cent franchise has topped a survey of appliance store customers' ratings of after-sales service.

The survey of Consumer NZ members and subscribers found that regional or franchise chains such as 100 per cent, Waikato-based Heathcote Appliances and Autel Appliances rated highest. The Autel chain was placed in receivership in February.

National chains, such as The Warehouse, Bond & Bond, Dick Smith and Noel Leeming, fared poorly. The Appliance Shed, a newcomer in the survey, also did poorly.