5 Common Problems With GE Appliances

GE, short for General Electric, is a large and storied company that's been around since the 19th century, with a presence in several verticals. Yet for the typical home cook, it's the brand's kitchen appliances that come to mind. The company makes a wide-ranging lineup of culinary technology, including fridges, cooktops, ovens, ranges, and even trash compactors.

So when you're shopping for your next appliance — whether new or used — you'll likely encounter a model from GE. Despite some customer complaints, by no means is the brand one to avoid; many of its products garner a positive reputation in the industry. Still, there's a known set of issues that linger with GE appliances, with certain machines more faulty than others.

For example, GE's fridges can struggle with cooling, while the brand's ice-makers are known to freeze up. Sometimes a GE microwave might stop spinning, and on other occasions, a stove simply does not ignite. Not to mention, the brand's dishwashers are known to clog, creating frustrating stagnant water. Such issues are usually fixable, but nevertheless cause a headache, making it handy to know GE appliances' potential pitfalls.

While not one of the refrigerator brands to avoid according to Consumer Reports, GE's versions do encounter some issues, with a lack of cooling being a frequent downfall. More often than not, the issue impacts the refrigerator portion of the appliance, while the freezer maintains normal operation. "I've noticed that the last few days, my refrigerator would not cool below 47 [Fahrenheit] degrees[,] but the freezer portion is working fine," a Reddit user posted. They noted that they tried several troubleshooting steps, most of which didn't ease the issue.

It's a prevalent problem that's accompanied by abundant guides addressing the issue, which boil down to a handful of common causes. Technicians report that condenser coils, the evaporator fan, and draining issues are all usual fault points, making it a tricky problem to fix on your own. Such issues may even impact how long your refrigerator lasts – a defect to know while shopping for a new unit.

Sometimes, it's the fridge section that poses problems, but on other occasions, GE customers report that the icemaker is a letdown. This freezer component is known to fail while making ice. Even worse, the issue is often presented in a frustrating fashion; "[My] broken ice maker makes a constant whirring sound[,] and the ejection fingers just turn endlessly," reported a Reddit poster.

The cause of failure doesn't ease the headache — a fractured plastic piece is one reason widely circulated online. Other common faults include a water line that unintentionally freezes, an inlet valve that's not supplying properly, as well as an ice maker arm that's accidentally shut off. Some of these simpler causes can be fixed by yourself at home. However, more often than not, you'll need to call up a repairman, making this another troublesome flaw.

While microwaves are becoming a thing of the past, it's nevertheless not an appliance you want to have issues with. GE's build is prone to a simple yet crucial malfunction: the turntable stops spinning. Oftentimes, the issue is accompanied by no warming, either: "GE countertop microwave doesn't heat, [the] table doesn't spin but control panel and interior light [act] like [they're] running," explained one Reddit poster. On other occasions, it's exclusively the motor that causes problems.

Such a malfunction results in inconsistently heated food, making repair crucial. Thankfully, correcting this problem is straightforward. Oftentimes, GE microwave turntables simply get dislodged, meaning that the part needs an easy refastening. And occasionally, the part's movement may be limited simply due to lodged food. However, if the appliance isn't heating, you'll need more serious maintenance, if not a full microwave replacement.

Few kitchen breakdowns are more frustrating than a faulty dishwasher — not many people are keen to scrub dinnerware by hand. Buy the appliance from GE, and you might encounter a model that doesn't drain properly. Unfortunately, standing water is among the most common issues when a dishwasher breaks down. With GE models, there are a few simple fixes to try, like clearing pipes, examining the filter, as well as investigating the drain pump.

Worryingly, consumers note that such easy troubleshooting may not always resolve the issue. "I've tried to clean the air gap[;] I cleaned the filter. I tried to descale it this morning and water still pooled at the bottom," wrote a frustrated Reddit poster, who owns a GE Profile. At such a stage, it may be necessary to take the machine apart, a laborious undertaking with a dishwasher. As a result, you'll want to keep this frequent malfunction in mind.

GE is known for its stoves, which generally work reliably and are well-priced. Still, there is a malfunction that afflicts the appliance: an improperly functioning burner. Whether the ignition doesn't light altogether or the burners stay on a frustratingly low heat, it's an issue reported by many customers.

"One of the burners on the range doesn't light. I can smell the gas[,] and I can hear it click to light but doesn't light without a flame source," stated one GE stove owner on Reddit. In some situations, simply a burner and electrode cleaning is necessary. However, the fault can persist past such standard maintenance. Stoves are a difficult (and potentially dangerous) appliance to fix at home, making this an especially tricky breakdown.