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The Appliance Everyone Is Replacing Right Now
Repair data shows a clear failure cluster at year seven.
By Marcus Okafor, Appliances & Cleaning Editor · Published August 13, 2026 · 2 min read
Photograph: WDnet Studio / StockSnap
Aggregated service-call data from three independent repair networks shows dishwasher control boards failing in a tight cluster between years six and eight — well inside the expected life of the machine around them.
Why it's happening
Electronics are now the shortest-lived component in most appliances. Mechanically, pumps and motors routinely outlast the board that controls them.
Repair or replace
As a rule: if the repair costs more than 40% of a comparable new machine and the unit is over seven years old, replace. Below that, repair — the new machine will not last longer.
What to look for next time
Board availability, published spare-parts periods and a manufacturer with a service network near you matter more than a marginal energy rating difference.
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