The top performers

These brands scored best for reliability, satisfaction and service. This information gives you an indication of expected lifespan for various brands and can help when choosing a product.

Most reliable brands 

Bosch, Siemens, Miele

Highest owner satisfaction

Miele

What we found

• The most popular dishwasher brands from the respondents were Bosch (30%) and Miele (19%).
• The most common faults people had with their dishwashers were poor or uneven cleaning, not drying well, and problems filling and draining water.
• Bosch and Miele owners are less likely to report having had problems than AEG, Asko, Fisher & Paykel and Smeg owners.

Reliability and satisfaction

For reliability and satisfaction we looked at an eight-year purchase period, 2013–2021.

We found Miele owners complimented how quiet their dishwasher is and commented that it cleans well, while Miele also received the highest service score for their service and support.

Bosch owners also liked that their dishwasher cleans well in addition to being reliable. On top of being one of the most reliable dishwasher brands, Miele also received the highest satisfaction score from its owners, topping the list with an owner satisfaction score of 92%. 

Fisher & Paykel had one of the lowest reliability scores, which is perhaps related to the fact that it had a relatively high proportion of drawer dishwashers in the sample and they're less reliable than other types of dishwashers. 

Drawer dishwashers were more likely to have poor or uneven cleaning and broken racks/baskets than other dishwasher types. Over half of drawer dishwasher owners have had problems since purchasing it, which is significantly higher than other types. 

Owners of a drawer dishwasher liked it being compact and easy to use, but there were complaints that it doesn't clean or dry very well and that the interior is flimsy.

Warranty and your consumer rights

The stated manufacturer's warranty is one of the things you'll likely consider when purchasing a dishwasher.

However, it's just as important to understand your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Your rights mean that you're entitled to a free repair, replacement or refund if your dishwasher develops a major fault within the first few years. 

Your rights still stand even if the manufacturer's warranty has expired and you didn't buy an extended warranty.