GE built refrigerators that outlasted marriages and mortgages, but that company sold in 2016 and the new owner hasn't fixed the known problems. French-door models fail systematically: the fridge compartment won't hold safe temperatures (43-49°F when milk spoils at 40°F) while the freezer works fine, a sealed-system fault that costs as much as replacement. Basic top-freezer models without ice makers hold up better, but you're still buying a nameplate that once meant indestructible and now means service calls. If you find a pre-2000 unit secondhand, grab it; if you're buying new, the score reflects the gap between the badge and what actually arrives.
Whirlpool's side-by-side layout still delivers where it matters: narrow footprint for tight kitchens, eye-level freezer access that beats crawling into bottom drawers, and a fingerprint-resistant finish that actually stays clean. The ice maker is a ticking time bomb, though, failing within 2-4 years with frozen water lines and broken assemblies that cost real money to replace, and the fridge runs noisier than it should while struggling to keep door shelves properly cold. Buy this if you need the layout and can skip the ice dispenser entirely, or budget for repairs upfront; walk if you want the convenience features to actually work past the warranty period.