You are not alone--I had similar issues with a Kenmore washer and dryer (not top of the line, but about $800 total) from Sears. Problem after problem, and I always had to take 2 days off work because they don't equip a technician with the basics in his truck. For example, my plastic tub in the washer cracked. Instead of ordering the part when I made the appointment (I was too stupid to see the crack, the techician had to see for himself.) I had to go through 2 appts. this was about 6 months after my warranty ran out.

With the dryer it was a relay or something so it would no longer start. I could see not having a tub, but a part that's less that 4 inches?

Let's just say I've paid over 50% of what I originally paid for the washer and dryer. I also filed a complaint with the BBB but they could do nothing.

Sadly, I bought kenmore because my parents had a kenmore washer and dryer from before my birth until after I graduated from college. Only a few minor repairs needed that my father could handle.

Next time I'm goig el cheapo--when it breaks I'll just buy new, since most repairs cost a minimum of $300 anyway.

I would feel a lot less unhappy if the BBB or Sears customer service understood that we aren't trying to get something for free - the product is bad and should be recalled.

And you're absolutely right. We should consider washers and dryers disposable, just buy the cheapos and toss 'em when they break.

I have worked for many appliance Retailers. I read this story and I feel that I don't feel it is sear's problem that there was a problem here. Sears from the beginning offered you a Master protection agreement, NOT an extended warranty! That from the beginning there would of been no issues. Machine would of been covered under No lemon guarantee, You wouldn't of had to wait and go after sears with the better business. You declined what they offered to Protect you and your investment. They were willing to stand behind the product for up to 5 years I believe and for a lot less money then it would cost you to get the items fixed by some one! I don't feel sears should be held responsible. They offer a manufactures warranty and you chose to stick with that. Maybe you should of went after consumer reports instead! There the one that made your mind up not to purchase the Master Protection Agreement. Which also gives you a annual preventative maintenance check. I know I have a dishwasher from sears. I paid $139.99 for a 5 year on my dishwasher and it cost sears 120.00 a year to come out and make sure my Kenmore Dishwasher (which is built by Whirlpool for Kenmore) Is in tip top working shape. This year I got new Racks since my water kills steel and they were rusting.. That's $250 for them.. didn't cost me a cent except the original $139.99! I have a Kenmore HE 3 front load washer as well... My sister was doing laundry her Bra under wire ripped the Gasket on the door. Should sears of been held responsible? No but did they fix it? Yes why? I had a master protection agreement on that too.. That's an expensive part as well I would of been out that if I didn't! So Sears does stand behind there products. Their brands and all the other brands they carry as well. If you choose for sears not to stand behind it when the product breaks you should deal with it then instead of going after a company. They gave you the option penny's a day and you declined it! Sears can work on getting more service Tech's back on the road though to cut down the wait for service!

AJ, I will agree to disagree with you. I think that a brand-new top of the line product should not fail 4x within 2 years. Standing behind a product means taking care of KNOWN defects without a person having to buy an additional guarantee. We aren't talking about my misuse or a bra gone haywire, we're talking about a problem common to these machines.

I did not mention that I have an elliptical machine for which I DID buy an extended warranty due to the heavy use, bands and motors and the fact that they are troublesome pieces of equipment.

My previous washers/dryers (GE brand) worked for 20 years with ZERO problems. No, I don't think you should have to buy a warranty for everything you purchase.

Why not just up the price and genuinely make sure your product is worthy of your name?

Unfortunately, the issue is that with a product, regardless of what happens, you get a 12 month limited manufacturer's warranty, which in this case is through Whirlpool. Sears can't do anything to change it. They can only offer their 'protection agreement' or what have you. This is a manufacturer problem.

My grandparents own an Oasis series (they live with my aunt and uncle - they needed a large size) and it has never had a problem in a year. Sometimes you can get products that the manufacturer produces which is called a lemon, meaning there was an error in it's construction at the manufacturer. Lemons are not covered by Whirlpool, or Sears - unless you buy the extended warranty.

Understand that this could have happened anywhere. As a person who works retail I know that it really doesn't matter where you buy from so much as who manufactures it. My grandparents went to Sears because their warranties *tend* to be top notch. There are problems sometimes, but for the most part get the job done. Their products *tend* to be just as good as well.

Hey, guess what! The technician just left and I need a new Interface on my dryer. I won't be able to use it for another week while we wait for the part to arrive! Yippee, I get to spend a few hours at my local (20 min away) laundromat!
Guess I'm just unlucky when it comes to Sears appliances.

You say you researched this washer for months, so my question to you would be: how come you didn't find anything about this so called major defect in all your research? Don't blame your bad luck on a whole company. Any brand you buy will have it's problems.

wow. I don't understand the hostility. I did have bad luck with my appliances and now 4 technicians have told me this series is problemmatic. All I'm saying is that the major defects still haven't been reported. I went on Consumer Reports and it's still rated high.

I got a bad set. As did the many, many, many others on the internet. I'm disappointed. Why am I not allowed to express that freely? Other companies don't want their customers to feel so discouraged. But Sears doesn't care and I do feel cheated. I won't shop Sears as their customer service re: this incident was abysmal. Being kind and considerate and understanding could have changed my opinion, but customer service is not their priority, nor is standing by a product that has significant problems.

I did my part. I researched. I chose what was recommended. Now their part is to make sure that their brand lives up to its reputation. That is NOT my job. My job at this point is to be able to wash and dry my clothes at will. Not based on the whims of a malfunctioning, poorly constructed machine.

Alexandria, I agree with some of your problems. Sears did fix it though while under warranty and there was no charge though right? I am just trying to figure out what you want sears to do? Its out of its warranty Period! Of course they would have to charge you to fix it! Instead the charged you for a agreement so you didn't dish out all sorts of cash. That's all the manufacturer guarantees a product to be free from defects for! Sucks dont it? And yes we all had that machine that was 20 plus years old and nothing went wrong with it. Heck my mothers old Kenmore top load did 4+ loads of laundry a day from 1979-2003 and she bought it used from friends in 79 that only had it for a little over 2 years and they as well used it that much they got rid of it because they always needed new things! But when's the last time you saw a product truly last that long? Not in today's day and age! Too many gizmo's to go wrong circuits and what not. They didn't have them on the older machines! Nothing is built like it use to be. You can thank America for that! My neighbor has a LG that's 2 years old from Lowes. Things had nothing but problems since day one and guess what? They wouldn't stand behind it, it as well was a defective machine from the beginning just like yours seems to be. Latest thing the springs broke inside as it went into the spin cycle. She is a single retired woman and works out of her home doing realestate. Her machine does not see much use! I do agree with you as well you shouldn't have to buy a Warranty on everything you buy. What's nice is when you do buy it though and you never have to use it. That's why sears does offer the option to cancel and get your full purchase price back if you have no issues under the manufactures defect warranty. I just like the fact they they give you preventative maintenence at no cost. Some thing no other retailer gives! I did it on my Generator I never had a problem I canceled the Repair agreement they sold me on that. Same with my Tractor and my computer when they sold computers! Yes I shop there a lot and I have had your bad experience as well. It is frustrating I can agree. I don't understand why a tech would tell someone that there are a lot of these problems going on it just makes you more frustrated! They told me that on my original washer that replaced our old 25 yo Kenmore. What replaced it was the 80 series top load and it was NOTHING compared to what we had so after a year I was fed up and yes Sears Roebuck and Company stood behind it and picked it up that's when I went to the HE3 which today has hit 1526 loads of wash and just the one issue which wasnt due to a defect. But that was a different Sears. After 2005 they merged with K-mart so maybe that's where your problem is? Also most companys will not issue a recall until the cost of the recall cost more then any lawsuits they may have coming in against them! Sucks how big businesses work!

Yes, AJ, it all really sucks. My idea of customer service, from Sears or any store, is that is sells a quality product....especially when something costs $800.

I bought something for $40 (no warranty, nothing) from Walmart and over a year later it broke. They replaced it free of all charges because they care. In fact, Super Kmart also bends over backwards to keep customers happy.

I'm just sayin that this Interface Relay is a very common problem with these Sears machines and a better company would fix the problem that is inherent in this product. Obviously a lot of loyal Sears fans are out there, but these are my (now) $2100 machines and I expect them to work.

I bent over and bought the service plan for these pieces of crap. I will now get them fixed for free whenever they break. That is NOT entirely the point. It is a known defect. Just google "kenmore oasis beeping" and see what you get. A known defect should be repaired by Kenmore and/or Sears.

I guess I will await the class action law suit results, though, because Sears won't do the right thing on their own.

Alexandria, I wish i was able to help you

Thats too bad. To think 11 Years ago sears was the Number One Company In America to Shop at and to Work For!!! Look What K~MART has done to them! I bet if there are any OLD TIMERS left there they have had it with the Place! I know I worked for them For 22 Years and in 06 I left K~mart was the worst thing in the world To happen to Sears. They dont train people anymore they dont have replenisment teams. They use the sales people who they take and take and take from so them make NO money anymore! The company then steals from the sales people with there Once Source and all sorts of programs they have in effect and now there New call Center. I wont even shop there anymore! If they let there sales people actually Sell vrs doing all sorts of tasks they might turn a profit. If they Paid people decent instead of droppign the commission on everything they may have people that actually care about there jobs and go out of the way to make customers Happy but they are just driving them selves in a deep deep deep hole and eventually they will go bye bye like Wards did! Oh Well sears you did it to your sell you can thank Lacy for Letting Lampert Buy them! Lampert does not care about Sears if he did he would care about the People that works for him and make sure they get Paid and make sure that they get Recognized for the work they do and Fix the Service Dept and Instalation Dept! Instead Its a call this number and you jump from here to there to just end up where u started and that it then your fed up and dont even want to be Bothered! Im sure if you shopped there even in 05 They would of replaced your machine and Stood Behind it totally! Your Utmost Satisfaction Would of been Very Important to us and we would want you to come back again and again and you most likely would of! But not no more they make it seem like oh so we pissed you off we dont need you as a customer anyway! WELL HELLO THERE NOT ATTRACTING ANYONE NEW!!! HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE CAN SEARS PISS OF??????? THE COMPANY IS SOOOOOO NAIVE! They probably dont even know that people are afraid to buy from them due to they dont know if there going to be aroudn in a year or 2 cause they are not attracting any new Customers! They dont know how to merchandise anymore! Someone in Hoffman Estates tells a store in upstate NY what they can Sell or in Downtown Miami! Use to be Store owned Sales you fought to sell stuff in your market You could order for demands. They hardly have stuff in stock anymore! Its a shame!

We bought the Kenmore Elite Canyon Capacity washer and dryer set a year and a half ago. IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES WE HAD EVER MADE! We got the error codes which were fixed after a new mother board was installed. These DO NOT live up to the claim of being able to wash I believe 18 pairs of jeans or thick bath towels with no problems. The dryer took FOREVER to dry and the washer went off balance EVERY time I used it. I mean everytime. I called sears and they came out and the techs told me on several different times the machines WILL NOT do as sears claims. I couldnt even fill it half way without it going off balance. We had a garage sale and sold them both. We are looking at the new LG models and from consumer reports and reviews Ive seen they are great. We are moving into our condo next month and have a stacked washer dryer. We want to sell it and get the new all in one washer dryer. The only complaints Ive heard is that you should get the extended warranty which I always do and that it takes it a while to dry things but it cleans the clothes GREAT! If you are looking to buy the Kenmore Elite... DONT ! You willjoin the elite club of not having clean clothes and constantly trying to make the machine level off! They are TERRIBLE! DONT BUY THEM!!!!!!!!!!

full disclosure: I sell fridges at Sears part time.

Sad but companies only need to live up to the letter of the law or agreement. Lowes and HD would have most likely done the same thing.
I get a kick out of Consumer Reports... This model is great. This one stinks. Turns out they are both really Whirlpools with almost identical construction. Oops. Customers come in saying Kenmores are very good. Well they are as good as whose fridge it REALLY IS.

Shrug: You were offered the protection plan. You declined. You rolled the dice and lost. If someone buys a top freezer with no ice maker and declines the PA. I shrug. They are cheap and simple. (in a relative way) When they buy a complex fridge with a ton of toys and they decline the PA, I wince. The new fridges do alot of things unavailable even 10 years ago. They are now computers that happen to keep your food cold.

One thing I always emphasize is who really makes whatever they are looking at. Im gonna tell you like it is when you buy from me. I steer my customers away from some of the turkeys (there are not that many but there are some) I know about. Ill bluntly tell you dont buy that. The more complex the item, the more the protection plan makes sense. period. Complex appliances are insanely complex these days and they cost insane amounts to fix.

Please dont take this as an attack. The probability of you buying something from me is remote. Here it is straight up:
1) The more complex it is the more the PA makes sense.
2) The more complex they are the more they cost to fix.
3) If the power company sends a brownout or a spike your way you can fry your PC boards and its a crap shoot whether the tech will see that and tell you that is not covered by a warranty because its the power company's fault, not Whirlpool's or whatever.
4) As for the PA, The PM is nice. The 250 dollar food insurance is nice, the incidental breakage coverage is nice, but think of the PA as disaster insurance. I read you are well versed in disasters.
5) Since you wont buy from Sears again Ill give you the 2 biggies to look for in coverage.
a) UNLIMITED. some give you X dollars coverage for a fee and when it runs out you are SOL.
b) Lemon guarantee. Sears is 4 strikes and its out. Yes you have to ask for it usually unless its so dead the tech cant fix it. PUSH PUSH PUSH.
6) Get a good salesman or woman. The best way to tell is if they steer you to certain best bang for the buck items not necessarily the most costly. 75% of my business is 10 models and no, not all are Kenmore's. Though most are and Im gonna tell ya what brand it really is. Some models are what I call orphans. There is better cheaper.
BUY from the salesperson who gave you real info. Im not saying dont shop best deal among stores.
If you have a problem your good salesperson will take care of it. Give them a day to fix something. In the past week I ordered a missing door bin for a customer and got panel dimensions for a panel front for another to give to their contractor.
7) Realize many companies are OEM'ing other companies. Some GE's are made by LG. Kitchenaid is really Whirlpool. Kenmore makes NOTHING. etc etc etc. A good salesman will know the real source of most of their models from memory or a simple glance at certain features.

Kenmore is specs. Its built and contracted to companys that build it to Kenmore Specs and then its lab tested. One thing sears does that no other retailer does. They have Quality Labs where they test Diehard Craftsman and Kenmore. Its their brands it has to hold up to their standards. Other retailers take it home try it out for a week if they liek it they buy it. Not sears they put through circuit tests durability tests and all sorts of other tests. But yes some times stuff does not show at first and turns out to be a problem down the road which sucks. But at least you know that Sears had always been known for quality. They make companys build their products to give you the best bang for the buck! Too bad some of these companys are using crappy parts! But thats what happens when we live in a disposable society dont blame break downs on a company blame it on the Joneses

We have had nothing but problems with our just over 1 year old HE4 dryer that dries clothes at the speed of hanging out clothes on a clothes line, after code and panels replaced it is now out of warranty. Then, the HE3 washing machine we bought at the same time has had a panel installed under warranty, after a service call to fix the machine because it would not turn on, I was informed a switch was bad in the door. The tech said I could go ahead and buy an extended warranty for $180.00 which would cover the repair and still have a warranty left if something else goes wrong. Well.......it did, the shocks on the drum BROKE and the drum then hit the lower panel damaging the lower panel. The Tech said the repair would cost over $800.00 which he in turn offered us a $500.00 voucher toward another unit. When my wife asked him to just fix the problem he said that $500.00 was their limit, and did you not read the small print?? He also informed us that he runs in to this all the time, but that he is only the messenger. There was no small print when we bought the warranty because we bought it over the phone right then with the verbal "when anything goes wrong it will be covered"
I am very dissapointed in the Kenmore products and even more so about the misrepresentation from Sears. I don't want a $500.00 voucher because I don't want any other Sears products.

I will NEVER, EVER buy anything from Sears again!!! I am stuck with the Oasis Elite washer and dryer and did buy the 5 year warranty. These machines have been nothing but trouble and grief since I purchased them 18 months ago. I just had the repairman out today for the 5th time in about 14 months. He has already replaced 2 parts in the washer and tells me that he can't find anything wrong with the dryer, or with the washer which continues to do the rumba on the rinse cycle, go out of balance if you put more than a miniscule amount of laundry into it, and DOES NOT CLEAN MY CLOTHES! I'm sure many of you have been dismayed to see that the washer also tends to eat your clothes with its frentic pulling and jagged motions.Sears customer service stinks. I do not have the lifespan to wait through the damned eternal voice menus anymore and then wait to be scheduled for "service" and finally be a prisoner of my house while waiting for the repairman to show up. The lemon replacement policy is a joke: you need to have 4 parts replaced within a 12 month time period in order for Sears to replace an appliance. Fat chance that they will allow that to happen. It took them 6 weeks to mail me the replacement parts for the washer. The repairman had told me that he would bring the parts the following week and install them. As I said, that did not happen. After I waited 2 weeks, I had to call Sears and track down everything myself---the parts hadn't arrived because they had never been ordered. I had to keep calling Sears to make those parts appear in 6 weeks. Left up to them, the parts would have never arrived. When I finally received the parts, I had to call those losers again to schedule the repairman. They call this service? I paid over $2000 for top of the line machines with a 5 year service policy. Like many of you, I researched through Consumer Reports (Bah!) and relied on the Sears/Kenmore reputation that I had known as a child. Obviously, the world has changed drastically. Sears is Sears in name only. The smartest thing I can do now is junk their worthless, useless appliances and buy anything else---a bucket and scrub board would be an improvement at this point---and then make those incompetent nincompoops refund the balance of my "service policy."If a class action suit is going to be filed, please include me!

Today, I search the internet for answers as my Kenmore Elite, which was purchased at Sears 13 months ago, was giving me a variety of error signals and not filling with water. (yes the water was on, I checked that first) Now I find these comments and I am horrified. It sounds like the variety of signals make me a winner of a new interface thingy! I agree that a protection plan was offered to me but I agree with Alexandria, include that in the price if it is needed but if I pay SOOOO MUCH for the top of the line, why is it not top of the line? When you look at this from a green perspective, why are we making items that use so much of our materials that only are built to last a year? This disgusts me.

Well said.
"Top of the line" Bah.

You walked out of the store with the manufacturer's warranty which was 12 months. Sears offered you a Master Protect Agreement where THEY would take on the responsibility for 5 years. You refused.

It has now been 15+ months. Sears is not responsible for your appliance breaking past the warranty. Try taking something back to Wal-Mart 15 months later and see how far you get.

Sears does a damn good job of telling people about those Master Protection Agreements. They are worth their weight in gold if you ask me. Sears will ALWAYS stand behind them no matter what the manufacturer says or does.

Just like a car, appliances need maintenance. The MPA is a great way to get yearly maintenance for free.

You said "no", Sears said "ok" and now it's broke. Who is to blame? Not Sears!

We bought a kenmore elite about 1 1/2 years ago. It was such a big washing tub. Then all of a sudden, the washer kept stopping and reading a F on it. Well my husband called sear's. Well they came out a week later, and the repair man say's he needed a part. he will have to order it, which now take's longer. Then they will send someone out AGAIN!! Well haven't heard anything yet! I'm ticked off!!! Then the service guy tell's my husband, you shouldn't wash your rug's with rubber backing in them, WHAT!! Should I just trough them away. Then he said, when you put the big bath towel's in to wash, don't throw the hand towel's in with them!! WHAT!!! I am soooo discusted I can scream. I will not buy anything at sear's again, I have had it. Thank's for listning.

I don't care what anybody says, I completely agree with alexandria. I too bought a Kenmore Elite Oasis 14 months ago and just last night during dinner it came on by itself. Now its cycling randomly through the spin speed cycle and beeping none stop. I payed 900$ for this machine because it could do alot of laundry and I have a husband and 6 children whose laundry I have to do several times a week. I also did my research and thought it to be a good product. My previous washer last 16 years and I payed 250$ for it...never had a single problem. I just thank God I didn't buy the dryer which I was thinking of doing this year.
Anyways I called got the run around....70$ for a tech to come out blah blah. Then after doing some research read about the recalled control board and called them again. When I brought it up they admitted to it and now they are sending someone out in two weeks to replace it. If this machine has more issues I will personally see it to the dump and head out to buy a regular old 350$ washing machine at leats it will do the job the Oasis isn't doing right now.

It's sad when you have to feel relieved each and every time the machines function as they should. I hold my breath with every load. I am still surprised at the people who write in that it's our tough luck. Sears has generated a lot of negativity with products they won't stand behind. I'm sorry for everyone who has bought these machines.

Well,
We spent well of 5K on all new appliances to include refridge, wash, dry, stove, microwave and all of them but the stove and dryer have had something gone wrong with them. This was the Kenmore Elilite series product line. Microwave light bulbs 22.50 a pop, Washer circuit board $454 and now the Microwave wont heat and the plastic latch on the fridge broke and the list goes on.

Like so many other customers we expected to buy quality products that last more then 5 yrs before breaking but instead we get something that only last only 15 months and breaks. And all of the Manufactures and Dealers want to do is have you pay for the Extended Warranties and "Master Protection Plan" on top of the profit margin for the products themselves.

Parts are being sold to customers 2 to 3 times what they cost and of course the fees that technician charges for the initial visit plus each appliance he looks at.

The bottom line is that manufactures do not make products like they used to do. So it is unrealistic to think most anything you buy today will last 5 yrs. So dont buy the TOP brand models and KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.

To the guy that is a dealer here, if you tell your customers that the Kenmoore Elites series products WILL break in less then 24 months and they need to buy the Master Plan or look at something else then I can respect that.

But,if you casually mention it during the sales deal and act like its no big deal then that rates up there with a used car salesman.

All of us hate buying junk, but it is what it is. Our intent is to sell all of these appliances before the end of the extended warranty that I did purchase and go with something simple.

As far as Kenmoore Elite is concerned. DONT BUY

Well just a quick update..... Technician showed up yesterday to install the "upgraded" control panel to my washing machine. I should have known something was up when he looked doubtful as soon as he took one look at the machine. He put it in and it seemed to fix the problem *no more beeping and random cycling*. Then he turned to me and said that it sounds like the bearing on the drum is getting ready to go. I said "It's sounded like that since the day I bought it". Then he asked me if I had the service agreement and when I said I didn't I might as well have said I had 6 weeks to live.
Anyways 30 minutes after he left the machine started beeping again and throwing random error codes up like they were popcorn. Needless to say I caved this morning and called up and ordered the master plan at 129$ for the full year. The only consolation I have is that they are going to get sick of coming to my house because if this machine so much as smells funny Im calling. Which reminds me....I have to call monday and set up a time for them to come out since it just came on by itself again even with the lid wide open and no clothes in it...can anybody say exorcist.
Like so many others have said DON"T BUY KENMORE PRODUCTS!!! I've already told all my family and friends and I'm thinking of having a t-shirt made that says it just so I can walk around sears during days I'm bored.

Oh Marie, I'm glad you have your sense of humor. But you'll never be bored at Sears, you'll be bored at home waiting for the technician.....

WOW! I am so sorry for you but quite happy its not only me......... I am so disgusted with Sears. We too have the Kenmore Elite Oasis, dream washer/dryer but we paid full price. They stink and are only 16 months old! The washer constantly refuses to spin, if you notice is does not have a spin only cycle either, so once restarted you need to waste water in order to spin your clothes. When It goes into a spin cycle is bounces around my basement and then goes in to a UL code and the lid unlocks itself. Three weeks ago, just past the MR expiration it flooded half our basement! The water was almost covering the base of my brand new eliptical! When we called Sears to complain they told us our warranty expired but for the LOW cost of $227.56 we can have a new warranty and they can send someone to our home for repair in TWO weeks. Lucky us, we were off to our local laundromat a place I used to frequent BEFORE I spent $2,000 on a high-end washer/dryer.

Today was our big day... the tech was to come to our home between 8-12, my husband took a vacation day from work. At 9:12 when the repair man called our home it was the one minute my husband in the loo. No phone number was left, just a message Hi this is sears sorry you were not home. At 9:20 a representative called our home to reschedule our appointment. Needless to say I was irate and spent the day on the phone with Sears Repair. Now we are rescheduled for Saturday, after I refused to relent and let poor "Bob" off the phone. I am happy to read all of these blogs so I can be prepared to go back to the laundromat this weekend too! Please respond we are very willing to go for a class action suit. This is a very inferior product! Not only did we drop the inital money we have had to spend money at the laundromat, on a wet vac to clear out the 4 inches of water in our basement and replace our wrkout mats and equipemnt. UGH!

I to will never buy another sears product. I have the Kenmore Elite washer and dryer. The handle on the dryer has broken off twice - a terrible design!!! The washer has been called for service 3 times in 8 months. Error code, beeping, stopping in the middle of the cycle - all the same problems everybody else reports. My last not very fancy washer and dryer without a computer on it lasted 15 years with out a service call. This thing is a hunk of junk and I also refuse to buy the service plan. I've never boughgt a service plan on anything before and never looked back. This time, I'm not so sure. The waiting for repair person is a joke also. I was told they would be out between 8-12 3 days prior to my appointment and then the night before they called and said sorry it would be between 11-3. That is ridiculous - can't wait around forever for somebody to come and fix my washer every month.