Maytag MVWC565FW1 Washing Machine – Dead After Only 3 Years

Updated on 2023-08-23

In 2019, our Maytag Atlantis washing machine finally died after providing over 17 years of service.

For our next washing machine, I wanted to buy a different brand because the Maytag Atlantis washing machine gave us problems. First, after about 5 years, the washing machine began to intermittently leak. Second, the washing machine was very loud during the spin cycle. Third, the machine easily became imbalanced, sometimes rocking so hard that the machine would move from its location.

My wife was paying for the next washing machine, so I lost the battle on what brand to buy. She wanted another Maytag washing machine. So we purchased the Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine from a local Home Depot for a little over $500.

My wife liked the Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine because it had knobs (no digital display) and it had an agitator. However, I think the washer worked more like a machine with an impeller than an agitator.

The Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine took some getting used to because it was quite different in regards to operation than the Maytag Atlantis washing machine.

During the summer of 2022, I began noticing gray flakes stuck to clothing after washing them in the Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine. I knew about the recommendation to use the cleaning cycle to remove built up residue, but I thought that my using homemade laundry detergent, as well as vinegar as a fabric softener, negated the need to run the clean cycle. However, the gray flakes indicated otherwise.

In August 2022, I ran bleach and vinegar separately a number of times in the Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine, using the clean cycle. A few wash loads later, I began to notice a squealing sound when the washing machine drum would spin, both during the fill cycle, as well as during the spin cycle. I used a cup of concentrated bleach when I ran the clean cycle, forgetting that the bleach was concentrated. I should have only used 1/3 of a cup. Therefore, I thought maybe my using too much bleach was the cause of the squealing sound.

Not long after the squealing sound started, my wife and I began noticing oily black spots near the back left corner of the machine. I made a mental note to research the squealing sound and the oily black spots to see what the cause was and if the issue could be easily fixed. However, I never got around to doing the research.

I came down one Friday in December 2022 and my wife told me that the Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine wouldn’t work. She said the machine wouldn’t spin during the spin cycle and that the machine emitted the smell of burning rubber.

I researched the possible causes of the Maytag model MVWC565FW1 washing machine not spinning on YouTube and I quickly learned that even if the issue could be fixed, I wouldn’t be able to do the work due to my spine issues because you had to turn the machine upside down to access the bottom area. It was time to call an appliance service repair company.

I settled on two or three local appliance service repair companies and I called my first choice. The owner of the company called me back the next day and after explaining the problem we were experiencing, he told me that in all honesty it sounded like the transmission was failing and he recommended buying a new machine. I told him I still wanted him to come out and take a look at the machine. He told me he could come out in three days.

The owner of the appliance repair company showed up a bit earlier than the scheduled time. He was able to get the machine to run, which was a surprise to me. He pulled the machine out and then he slightly tilted it forward. He showed me evidence of the transmission failing; there was a pool of oil under the washing machine.

The owner of the appliance repair company said that the machine was making the squealing sound because the motor was overworking to compensate for the transmission failing. He said we could still use the machine for a while longer, but he recommended only washing small light loads. He said the best solution was just to buy a new machine.

I couldn’t believe it. The machine was only three years old and it needed to be replaced. I told my wife we were not buying another Maytag washing machine. I and the owner of the appliance service repair company recommended buying a Speed Queen because of their legendary reliability.

When I told my wife the price of a Speed Queen washing machine, over $1,000, she balked. She made the comment that she didn’t think we should spend that much money on a washing machine since we don’t plan to be in our home very much longer. However, after providing choices of other brand models, my wife warmed up to the idea of buying a Speed Queen washing machine and we ended up buying the model TRW5003.

I decided to purchase the Speed Queen model TWR5003 washing machine from Appliances Connection, the second major appliance online purchase I’ve made. Delivery lead time for purchasing the same model locally would have taken longer, which is why I chose to make the purchase with Appliances Connection.

I don’t think I will ever buy another Maytag washing machine again after our experiences with the last two models we have purchased.

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