Thermador builds a genuinely excellent dishwasher: lab-best cleaning, library-quiet operation, and the kind of rack flexibility that makes loading feel like a small daily win. The problem is what happens when the $2,000+ machine breaks. Owners who've needed service report waits stretching past two months, repair bills hitting $400 on three-year-old units, and parts shortages that leave expensive kitchens stuck with a dead appliance. Unless you're comfortable self-insuring a luxury purchase with spotty service infrastructure, spend half as much on a Bosch 800 Series and bank the difference for your next remodel.
Viking dishwashers combine luxury pricing with bottom-tier reliability, a rare feat in the appliance world. Consumer Reports ranks them among the worst dishwasher brands for 2026, and 90% one-star reviews point to systematic quality failures, but the real problem is parts support: dispenser units get discontinued mid-ownership, sometimes within weeks of failure, stranding owners with expensive dead weight. If you need the matching stainless for a Viking range, buy a Bosch or Miele and have it paneled; if you loved the old Asko-sourced Vikings, buy an Asko directly and save the markup.