How to Avoid Buying a Lemon Appliance

Washers, for instance, may come with a 10-year warranty, but the fine print may say that applies only to the motor, while the whole appliance is covered for only one year. So if the control panel stops working, you’re out of luck. State laws may require retailers to post their return policies, and not doing so can have consequences. In California and New York, for example, if terms aren’t properly displayed, the retailer must provide a full refund within 30 days.

Also, see how returns work. A policy might say you can send an appliance back to the manufacturer but at your expense, says Ruth Susswein, director of consumer protection at Consumer Action, a nonprofit. That’s not a small amount if you’re shipping back a dishwasher.