This sub-$700 Whirlpool-built basic washer ships with a documented control board defect: the water level sensor fails and locks the drain pump into continuous operation, sometimes starting itself in the middle of the night to run empty. The $225 board replacement plus labor costs more than buying a used machine, and the failure hits reliably at 12-18 months, confirmed by techs as a known service bulletin issue. Even if you dodge that sensor lottery, the auto-sensing chronically underfills, leaving clothes half-dry during wash. Save another $200 for a machine without a systematic failure mode baked into the design.
This 4.5 cu ft front-loader cleans well and spins efficiently, but Maytag's modern reliability doesn't match the badge's vintage reputation. At least one buyer watched their brand-new unit die during the first load, and when appliance forums debate washers, they consistently point shoppers toward LG or Speed Queen instead. If you find this one steeply discounted and need the capacity, it'll probably handle your laundry without drama, but at full retail you're paying for a name that no longer carries the weight it once did.