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Folks rely on Consumer Reports to help them find great appliances, from top-rated fridges to trustworthy dishwashers. This non-profit org does independent testing and research to help people make smart purchases that fit their needs. They also advocate for better product quality and consumer safety.
But sometimes, Consumer Reports uses their expertise to flag the worst products, so folks can avoid buying them. That’s the case with the Hotpoint HDF330PGRWW dishwasher ($299 at Lowe’s). This model got the lowest score out of 127 24-inch dishwashers reviewed by Consumer Reports, with poor marks in areas like upper rack wash performance, ease of use, and noise. Even its energy efficiency, the one bright spot, was outperformed by dozens of other dishwashers. So it’s often cited as one of the worst kitchen appliances around.
Where Consumer Reports says the Hotpoint dishwasher falls short
Consumer Reports has 6 million subscribers who help them evaluate products. They survey members about their experiences, and also test products themselves. For the Hotpoint HDF330PGRWW, they found no performance areas where it ranked above average. Issues include no option to adjust the upper rack, no delayed start feature, and no cycle time remaining display. But they did say it had decent cycle times, even for full, dirty loads. Still, among the 27 dishwasher brands surveyed, Hotpoint ranked lowest for owner satisfaction.
What to know about the Hotpoint dishwasher
Hotpoint’s been around since 1911, making a range of appliances like fridges, ovens, and dishwashers. They’re considered a value brand, sold by retailers big and small. In the US, GE Appliances owns the Hotpoint brand, while in Europe it’s been part of Whirlpool and now Beko.
Customer reviews on Lowe’s website are mixed, with about 63% recommending the model. It has a 3.7-star rating from over 2,600 reviews, and 20% gave it just 1 star. One reviewer said it required 5 service calls in the first 15 months, with issues like faulty control boards and rusting racks. They also complained the plastic tub didn’t get hot enough or clean dishes properly.
