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.
Big capacity and quiet operation can't save a washer that dies young. The WA50 handles heavy loads well and runs whisper-quiet when it works, but control boards fail within three years with alarming regularity: the machine clicks but won't power on, sometimes for hours, sometimes permanently, and door locks quit without warning or error codes. Appliance techs call the internal parts flimsy, and a $400 main board replacement is a real risk on a machine that should last a decade. If you need 5+ cubic feet, spend the same money on an LG or basic Speed Queen that'll outlast this by years.