GE's bottom freezers are budget appliances with a budget lifespan, and the warranty process won't save you. The most common failure hits at 3-4 years: the fridge compartment stalls at 43 degrees while the freezer keeps working, a cooling system defect techs can't fix even after multiple visits and an 8-week service ordeal. Manufacturing quality shows immediately (freezer liners crack from overfilled foam within weeks, shelves bend, compressors scream at 74 decibels), and the sealed-system warranty becomes a runaround when you actually need it. Buy only if you're gambling on short-term use or scoring a deal that assumes replacement in four years.
Whirlpool once meant a fridge that outlasted your mortgage. The current French door lineup trades that legacy for a systematic ice maker defect: the valve sticks, the water line freezes, and the entire assembly dies within two years. Whirlpool acknowledged the flaw but only fixed newer production, leaving earlier buyers with a $2,000 appliance that can't make ice and vegetable drawers too shallow for a head of cabbage. If you're willing to disable the ice maker and overlook sloppy assembly (insulation hanging out, crooked badges), the box itself is spacious and affordable. If you want features that work or a brand that still stands behind its name, spend the extra $300 on GE or Bosch.