The European study of more than 18,000 white goods was conducted by Warranty Direct who sent questionaires to 9,895 customers. The response rate was 37.6%.
The study found that upmarket brands, including Smeg and Hoover, are less reliable than much cheaper fridges, washing machines and dishwashers. In one case, nearly half of all Whirlpool washing machines broke down after 12 months.
Researchers warned shoppers to buy carefully in the run-up to Christmas when spending on appliances. Experts said households could face repair bills of up to $500 just months after buying a new washing machine. Some fridge freezers sell for more than $5,000, but the study found that one in eight is expected to break down within a year, compared to fewer than one in 50 of the cheaper models made by the likes of Zanussi, the report claims.
