Appliance Repairability Guide: Why Americans Struggle With Pre-Purchase Inspections

How do I know if an appliance is repairable before I buy it, and why do smart appliances fail faster?

A customer looks at washers and dryers on display at a Lowe's Home Improvement store in Miami on June 27, 2022. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Repair technicians have been saying it for years, and the data are catching up. Appliances built in the 1970s generally lasted 30 to 50 years. Today, washing machines, ovens, fridges, and dryers get replaced about every decade.

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers trade group data show appliance lifespans dropped from 11 to 16 years in 2010 to nine to 14 years by 2019. The problem compounds at the point of sale: Unlike consumers in France, American buyers have no standardized repairability label to consult before purchasing.

Your ability to check the repairability of an appliance before you buy is limited, but there are things you can do and concepts to keep in mind.

Quick Answer: How Do I Know if an Appliance Is Repairable Before I Buy It?

Pre-purchase repairability auditing is difficult in the United States because no mandatory scoring system or database exists for appliances sold here. Your most accessible tools are iFixit teardown guides, independently produced and searchable by model number, and a manual check of third-party parts availability at retailers like RepairClinic, PartSelect, and AppliancePartsPros before you commit to a purchase. Avoiding models with app-dependent core functions is often the single most protective decision you can make without specialized research.

Why Modern Appliances Fail Faster

Two design trends drive the compressed lifespan most households now experience with their appliances:

Sealed Components

Manufacturers have moved toward glued enclosures, proprietary fasteners, and soldered-in parts that make internal access expensive or impossible.

By far, appliance repairability is cited by repair technicians as the most impactful factor for appliance longevity. When repair cost approaches replacement cost, the design has effectively mandated replacement.

Software Dependency

Appliances with Wi-Fi modules, touchscreens, and app connectivity carry a second lifespan clock alongside their mechanical one. When a manufacturer discontinues a companion app or stops pushing firmware updates, a functionally sound machine can become operationally useless.

Control board failures, touchscreen malfunctions, and Wi-Fi connectivity issues rank among the most common and expensive smart appliance repairs consumers encounter after warranty expiration, often requiring both advanced diagnostics and specialized parts.

France Has a Repairability Index. America Does Not

Since January 2021, France has required manufacturers of washing machines, smartphones, laptops, televisions, dishwashers, and other appliance categories to display a mandatory repairability score from 1 to 10 at the point of sale.

The index is part of France’s effort to combat planned obsolescence and transition to a more circular economy. No equivalent standard exists in the United States, and no federal legislation currently requires appliance manufacturers to disclose repairability information to consumers before purchase.

A joint report by the Public Interest Research Group and iFixit found that 89 percent of appliance repair professionals have at least occasionally been unable to find manuals when needed, and 93.5 percent reported difficulty finding necessary schematics.

Some information is available to in-network or authorized servicers exclusively; other information is only available via software that is prohibitively expensive for small shops.

Your Right to Repair Is Expanding

State-level legislation is beginning to address this access gap. California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Colorado have all passed Right to Repair laws requiring manufacturers to provide the parts, tools, and information needed to fix phones, tablets, laptops, appliances, and other consumer products.

Oregon’s law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2025, is the first in the nation to restrict parts pairing, a practice that requires replacement parts to be authenticated using manufacturer proprietary software before they will function.

According to Repair.org, 84 percent of Americans support laws requiring fair access to repair, and households save an average of $330 annually by repairing instead of replacing.

The Financial Case Against Smart Appliances

Smart features add Wi-Fi modules, touchscreens, and app integration to fundamentally mechanical products. While these features can be very useful, a problem that can arise is asymmetric lifespan: A quality mechanical washer may run reliably for 15 years, while its software ecosystem may reach end-of-life far sooner.

J.D. Power reliability data show owners who actively use Wi-Fi features report roughly 92 problems per 100 appliances, far above the rate for non-connected models.

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The less expensive smart appliance costs 86 percent more per year of service. Major component replacements, including control boards and sealed systems, run $300 to $800 or more.

How to Check Third-Party Parts Availability

Before committing to any major appliance, search the specific model number on eBay, Amazon, RepairClinic, and PartSelect. Households with appliances from international brands such as Samsung, LG, Bosch, and Thermador often face the longest repair waits, with single circuit boards sometimes taking months to arrive.

By contrast, domestic brands like Whirlpool, KitchenAid, GE, and Frigidaire generally experience fewer delays because their distribution networks within the United States are stronger and better stocked.

Key components to verify by category before purchase:

• Washing machines: water inlet valves, door seals, pump motors, control boards
• Refrigerators: compressor start relays, door gaskets, fan motors
• Dryers: heating elements, thermal fuses, drum belts
• Dishwashers: pump assemblies, door latches, control panels

If parts for a given model are available only through the manufacturer or priced above 40 percent of replacement cost, the unit carries significant repair risk before you ever bring it home.

FAQs About Planned Obsolescence and Appliance Repairability

Are Older Appliances Actually More Reliable Than New Ones?

In several categories, the data say yes. Research published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology found that washing machine lifespans dropped from 19.2 years to 10.6 years between the early 1990s and early 2000s, a 45 percent decline, with technicians attributing the change to computerized control boards, added components, and the shift from steel to plastic and aluminum.

What Should I Do if the Appliance I Need Is Only Available in a Smart Version?

Look for models where smart features are add-ons rather than integrated into the core control board. Smart appliance repairs often require both advanced diagnostics and specialized parts, making them more challenging and expensive than basic mechanical fixes. Prioritize brands that publish service manuals publicly and have a documented history of supplying parts to independent technicians.

Do American Consumers Have Any Legal Recourse When a Manufacturer Refuses to Provide Repair Parts?

Increasingly, yes. More than ten states have introduced right to repair legislation in 2025 alone, with advocates tracking 41 active bills across 20 states covering everything from consumer electronics and home appliances to farm equipment. If you are in California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, or Colorado, existing laws give you enforceable rights to parts and documentation for covered products. For all other states, filing a complaint with your state attorney general creates a record that supports the broader legislative case. Check repair.org for current state-level legislation status by product category.

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