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Published October 16, 2026. Prices and specs checked October 16, 2026.
GE’s GTW525ACWWB carries the longest washing machine warranty of the five brands compared here. Its owner’s manual gives five years on every part, labor included. On top of that, the motor gets ten years and the basket a lifetime term against rust. Maytag’s MVWP586GW comes closest, per maytag.com. However, LG and Samsung stop paying labor after year one, and Whirlpool’s guide gives washer parts one year.
I have owned washers for most of my adult life, top-loaders and front-loaders both, and one lesson keeps repeating. The part that quits is rarely the part with the long warranty. After all, motors and drums get the ten-year and lifetime promises because they seldom fail. Instead, pumps, door locks, lid switches and control boards are what go, under the one-year term. Then comes the labor. After year one, the technician’s visit can cost more than the part. So a parts-only motor warranty can still leave you holding most of the bill. I keep the receipt. Stapled to the manual, or photographed the day the washer arrives. Besides, every maker below wants proof of the purchase date before it pays for anything.
The short version:
- Longest full coverage: GE GTW525ACWWB, at 5 years of parts and labor.
- Close second: Maytag MVWP586GW, also 5 years of parts and labor.
- Longest drum term: LG, with a lifetime drum, parts only.
- Newest motor term: Samsung, at 10 years for washers bought April 1, 2026 or later.
- Shortest: Whirlpool, at one year on washer parts, per its own guide.
- Lowest price per covered motor-year: LG WM4000HWA, at $92.90.
What Does a Washing Machine Warranty Cover?
Five things decide whether a washer warranty is worth much. Each brand below is rated against them, in this order:
- Motor years. The drive motor is the priciest single part, so makers hang their biggest numbers on it.
- Drum, tub or basket years. A cracked tub or a rusted basket usually ends the machine.
- Labor coverage. Parts only means you pay the technician. Yet most shoppers skip this line.
- What voids or limits it. Commercial use, unapproved parts and bad installs are the usual outs.
- The claim process. Who you call, what you show them, and whether registration matters.
Every term below comes from the maker’s own warranty page, owner’s manual, spec sheet or product page. Also, a blank cell means the maker’s pages did not state that figure.
Washing Machine Warranty Comparison
GE and Maytag are the only two of the five that pay labor past year one on their reference models. Both, however, stop at year five.
| Brand and reference model | Full parts and labor | Motor | Drum, tub or basket | Labor after year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE GTW525ACWWB (top-load) | 5 years | 10 years | Lifetime, against rust or corrosion | Free to year 5, then yours |
| Maytag MVWP586GW (top-load) | 5 years | 10 years, parts | 10 years, parts | Free to year 5, then yours |
| LG WM4000HWA (front-load) | 1 year | 10 years, parts only | Lifetime, parts only | Yours |
| Samsung WF45B6300AW (front-load) | 1 year | 10 years if bought April 1, 2026 or later | 3 years, part only | Yours |
| Whirlpool WTW5057LW (top-load) | 1 year |
Sources, brand by brand. GE’s terms come from its owner’s manual 49-3000373 (revision 09-24), linked from the GTW525ACWWB support page on GE’s site. Similarly, Maytag’s come from the MVWP586GW product page on maytag.com. Meanwhile, LG’s come from its USA washing machine limited warranty PDF on lg.com. Samsung’s motor term comes from its washer and dryer warranty page, and the tub term from its WF45B6300 spec sheet. Finally, Whirlpool’s comes from the warranty guide on whirlpool.com.
Best Washing Machine Warranty
Rated against the five criteria, the order runs GE, Maytag, LG, Samsung, then Whirlpool. Still, the warranty belongs to the model, not the brand. That matters more than the ranking.
GE Washer Warranty
GE’s manual splits its washers into tiers. Every model gets one year on any defective part, labor included. The GTW585, GTW538, GTW485 and GTW480 add ten years on the motor, and you pay labor after year one. However, the GTW525 goes furthest. It gets five years on any part with free labor and ten years on the motor. The stainless steel basket also gets a lifetime term if it rusts or corrodes. After year five, the labor on both is yours. GE even puts “5-yr Limited Warranty” in the GTW525ACWWB’s product name on its site. The manual also extends coverage to the original purchaser and any succeeding owner.
Maytag Washing Machine Warranty
Maytag’s MVWP586GW product page lists five years of all parts and labor plus a ten-year limited parts warranty on the basket and motor. Its footnote limits that to use in a single-family home for non-commercial purposes. Maytag’s ten-year warranty page names another tier, too. The MVW6230RH top-load pair gets five years of parts and labor plus five more years of parts on drive motors. Otherwise, Maytag includes all parts and labor in year one. Its ten-year parts list names the drive motor and wash basket, depending on the appliance. In short, a Maytag can mean five years of free labor or one. Read the product page before you read the price.
LG Washing Machine Warranty
LG’s USA washing machine limited warranty covers internal and functional parts and labor for one year. The drum motor (stator, rotor and hall sensor) gets ten years, and the stainless steel drum gets a lifetime term. Both, however, are parts only. LG’s text says the customer pays for any labor or in-home service to replace them. Also, coverage is valid only for the original retail purchaser, on a unit bought through an LG authorized dealer. LG’s WM4000HWA product page prints no warranty years of its own. However, it does advertise a 2-year limited warranty on select appliances bought through December 31, 2026 via the ThinQ app, with Wi-Fi connection required. The page does not confirm the WM4000HWA is one of them.
Samsung Washer Motor Warranty
Samsung’s washer and dryer warranty page lists a one-year standard warranty for parts and labor and ten years on the digital inverter motor. A footnote limits that motor term to washers purchased on April 1, 2026 or later. Also, a dated receipt is required for a claim. Samsung’s WF45B6300 spec sheet (revision V6) adds three years on the stainless steel tub, part only. However, that spec sheet printed twenty years on the motor. The current warranty page says ten, so ten is the figure used here. The page also promotes a free 2-year extension redeemed through the SmartThings app. Yet it gives two different end dates for that offer, so confirm it before you count on it.
Whirlpool Washer Warranty
Whirlpool’s warranty guide on whirlpool.com says washer and dryer parts are covered for one year from the date of delivery. It adds that the warranty may vary by model. Note that clock. LG and GE both count from the date of purchase instead. The WTW5057LW product page lists only “Limited Standard Warranty – Included,” with no years and no components. Moreover, nothing on the Whirlpool pages we read extends motor or tub coverage for this model. On these five criteria, that puts Whirlpool last.
Is Labor Covered Under Warranty?
Only in year one on the LG, Samsung and Whirlpool reference models. GE’s GTW525 and Maytag’s MVWP586GW carry labor to year five. After that, every long term in this guide is parts only.
That split is the whole game. A parts-only motor warranty pays for the motor. But it does not pay anyone to pull the old one and fit the new one. For example, LG says so plainly: the customer is responsible for any labor or in-home service. GE’s manual says the same about years two through ten on the motor for its GTW485 tier. Similarly, Samsung marks both its motor and tub terms as part only on the spec sheet.
There is one more trap at GE. For non-residential or multi-housing use, such as apartments and hotels, GE’s manual cuts the warranty to one year on defective parts only. You pay all labor. So if you plan to keep a washer past year five, the labor years matter more than the motor years.
What Voids a Washing Machine Warranty?
Commercial use limits or ends coverage at GE, Maytag, LG and Samsung. After that, the exclusions differ in ways worth knowing before a cheap repair or a move into an apartment.
| Brand | What voids or limits it | Who is covered | Proof required |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE | Improper installation, delivery or maintenance; misuse or commercial use; freezing temperatures; apartment or hotel use cuts it to 1 year, parts only | Original purchaser and any succeeding owner, home use in the USA | Proof of the original purchase date |
| Maytag | Long terms apply only in a single-family home for non-commercial use | ||
| LG | Parts not approved by LG; unauthorized modification; wrong current, voltage or plumbing codes; improper installation; rental or commercial use | Original retail purchaser, bought from an LG authorized dealer | Dated receipt or delivery ticket |
| Samsung | Misuse; unauthorized repairs; non-Samsung parts; commercial or rental use; improper installation; power surges | Receipt, invoice or order confirmation | |
| Whirlpool | Not installed, operated and maintained per the instructions; unauthorized modification; damage from non-Whirlpool parts | Proof of purchase with the retailer’s name and address |
The parts line is the one that catches people. LG excludes improper repair using parts it did not approve. Likewise, Whirlpool excludes service damage from parts that are not Whirlpool brand. Samsung, too, lists non-Samsung parts. Use a cheap aftermarket pump, and any damage it causes is yours under all three. The freezing clause is GE’s alone. It is worth knowing if your washer lives in an unheated garage.
How to Claim Washing Machine Warranty
Have the model number, serial number and dated receipt in hand, then go to the maker. The steps are close to identical across all five:
- Find the model and serial number. LG’s warranty says they are on the rating plate on the back of the washer.
- Find proof of the purchase date. GE, LG, Samsung and Whirlpool all ask for it.
- Run the maker’s troubleshooting first. Whirlpool asks you to check its Product Help page and the Problem Solver in the Use and Care Guide before calling.
- GE: schedule at GEAppliances.com/service or call 800.GE.CARES (800.432.2737).
- Maytag: schedule at service.maytag.com or call 1-800-344-1274.
- LG: call 1-800-243-0000 or use the repair scheduling page on lg.com.
- Samsung: choose Request a Repair on samsung.com’s Repair Service page, or call 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864).
- Whirlpool: schedule at service.whirlpool.com or call 1-800-253-1301.
Samsung is the one maker that ties a repair to registration. Its support page says you must register the product to start a warranty repair.
Washing Machine Warranty Cost
Per year of covered motor, LG’s WM4000HWA is cheapest at $92.90. Per year of full parts-and-labor coverage, GE’s GTW525ACWWB wins easily at $206.80.
First, we took the price on each maker’s own product page. Then we divided it by two numbers: the longest term stated in years, and the years of full parts-and-labor coverage. Lifetime terms have no year count, so they stay out of the division.
| Model | Maker’s price | Longest term in years | Price per covered year | Full-coverage years | Price per full-coverage year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG WM4000HWA | $929 | 10 (motor) | $92.90 | 1 | $929.00 |
| GE GTW525ACWWB | $1,034 | 10 (motor) | $103.40 | 5 | $206.80 |
| Samsung WF45B6300AW | $1,049 | 10 (motor) | $104.90 | 1 | $1,049.00 |
| Maytag MVWP586GW | 10 (motor and basket) | 5 | |||
| Whirlpool WTW5057LW | 1 | 1 |
The arithmetic: $929 ÷ 10 = $92.90. Then $1,034 ÷ 10 = $103.40, and $1,034 ÷ 5 = $206.80. Finally, $1,049 ÷ 10 = $104.90. LG’s $929 is the sale price for the white WM4000HWA on lg.com, against a regular $1,199. GE’s $1,034 is the price on its GTW525ACWWB page. Samsung’s $1,049.00 is the figure on its WF45B6300AW page. Maytag listed the MVWP586GW as temporarily out of stock, with no price. On top of the table, LG’s drum and GE’s basket carry lifetime terms.
The full-coverage column is the one I would shop by. A cheap motor-year is parts only. A cheap full-coverage year pays the technician too.
Is an Extended Warranty on a Washer Worth It?
Only one of the five makers publishes a starting price. Whirlpool’s guide says its plans start as low as $34.95. Its footnote calls that sample pricing based on the product’s age, and it is not specific to laundry. By contrast, LG sells Premium Care by quote only, and its support page says registering gets you a best-price offer on it. Similarly, Samsung’s warranty page lists Samsung Care+ plans of 3, 5 or 7 years without prices. Maytag’s product pages offer a Domestic & General plan with no price shown.
GE’s extended protection page gives no major-appliance prices either. It does say coverage begins the day after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. It also pays up to $50 in laundry reimbursement if a washer is not fixed or replaced within 14 days. My rule is short. If the factory warranty already pays labor to year five, a plan buys little in those years. On a one-year-labor washer, get the quote and weigh it against the cost of a single service call.
Washer Return Policy
GE’s own store gives the shortest free return window, at 7 days after delivery. By contrast, Whirlpool and Maytag give 15.
| Maker’s own store | Free return window | Later returns |
|---|---|---|
| GE | 7 days after delivery, no restocking fee | Days 8 to 30: 25% restocking fee plus a pickup fee |
| Whirlpool | 15 days from delivery | Days 16 to 30: 20% restocking fee, $50 minimum |
| Maytag | 15 days from delivery | Days 16 to 30: 20% restocking fee, $50 minimum |
| LG | 14 calendar days after delivery | Days 15 to 30: 15% fee |
| Samsung | Request within 15 days of delivery | 15% restocking fee unless the washer arrives damaged or defective |
A return window is for a dud, not a slow leak. Two weeks rarely gives an intermittent fault time to show, which is why the warranty terms above matter more. Bought from a store instead? GE’s returns page says to contact that retailer. For how the LG, Samsung and Maytag front-loaders compare on capacity, spin and running cost, see our LG vs Samsung vs Maytag front-load washer comparison. Short on space? Our portable washing machine guide covers the small ones. For what goes in the drum, see laundry sheets vs pods vs liquid.
Every warranty term, price and return window above comes from the maker’s own pages and documents, named in the sentence where each figure appears. How we work is written up in our editorial standards. More laundry and cleaning guides live in Cleaning.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
Washing Machine Warranty Coverage
How Long Is the Warranty on a Washing Machine?
One year of parts and labor is the baseline at all five brands compared here. Longer terms depend on the model. GE’s GTW525 and Maytag’s MVWP586GW both get five years of parts and labor. GE, Maytag, LG and Samsung all reach ten years on the motor on at least some models, mostly parts only.
Do I Need to Register My Washing Machine for Warranty?
Only Samsung says you must register to start a warranty repair, and it registers samsung.com and SmartThings purchases automatically. LG, GE and Whirlpool ask for proof of the purchase date instead. Maytag’s warranty page offers registration without saying it affects coverage.
Does GE Warranty Transfer to New Owner?
Yes. GE’s washer owner’s manual says the warranty extends to the original purchaser and any succeeding owner, for products bought for home use in the USA. LG’s washing machine warranty is the opposite. It is valid only for the original retail purchaser.
What Washers Have the Best Warranty?
Of the five reference models, GE’s GTW525ACWWB has the best warranty. It gets five years of parts and labor, ten years on the motor, and a lifetime term on the stainless steel basket against rust or corrosion. Maytag’s MVWP586GW is next, with five years of parts and labor and ten years of parts on the motor and basket.
