You’re standing in the middle of a big-box store, looking at a shiny French-door refrigerator with a price tag that seems too good to be true. It’s a Kenmore. Your parents had one. Your grandparents probably had one that lasted thirty years in a basement. But then you remember hearing somewhere that Sears went under, or at least mostly under. Is the brand still the same? Honestly, the answer is a bit of a rollercoaster.
People ask me all the time: is Kenmore a good brand? If you want the short version, it’s basically a "yes, but with a giant asterisk."
The thing you have to understand right away—and this is what trips most people up—is that Kenmore doesn’t actually make anything. They never have. For a hundred years, they’ve been the ultimate middleman. They take an appliance made by someone else, slap a Kenmore badge on it, and sell it to you. That means when you buy a Kenmore, you’re actually buying an LG, a Whirlpool, or a Frigidaire in a different outfit.
The Mystery Behind the Badge
If you go into this thinking Kenmore is a single manufacturer with a single factory, you’re going to be frustrated. It's more like a curated collection.
In 2026, the landscape of who makes what for Kenmore has shifted slightly, but the core players remain the same. If you’re looking at a Kenmore dishwasher, you’re almost certainly looking at a Whirlpool. If it’s a high-end French-door fridge, there’s a massive chance it’s an LG under the hood.
This leads to a weird reality: the "goodness" of the brand depends entirely on which specific machine you’re touching.
I’ve seen people absolutely trash Kenmore because their refrigerator’s compressor died after three years. Usually, that’s because they bought a model manufactured by LG during the era when LG was struggling with its linear compressor designs. Meanwhile, the guy next door has a Kenmore top-load washer that’s been chugging along for a decade without a single hiccup. Why? Because that washer was built by Whirlpool using a platform that’s been perfected over thirty years.
Reliability: The Real Numbers for 2026
If we look at recent reliability data, Kenmore occupies a strange middle ground. According to recent service rate reports, brands like Speed Queen and Miele still own the top spots for longevity. But Kenmore often lands in the top five for "value-to-reliability" ratios.
- Refrigerators: Kenmore top-freezer models (often made by Electrolux/Frigidaire) are remarkably solid. They are simple. They don't have fancy screens to break.
- Laundry: Their top-load washers are workhorses. If it has an agitator and a Kenmore logo, it’s probably going to last you 10+ years.
- Cooking: Kenmore ranges are generally made by Frigidaire, which is known for having some of the most durable heating elements in the business.
The "Avoid" list for Kenmore usually centers on the ultra-complex models. The more "smart" features you add to a Kenmore, the more you're asking for trouble. Why? Because Kenmore’s software support isn't always as snappy as a direct-from-manufacturer brand like Samsung or LG. If a Wi-Fi board fails on a Kenmore, finding the exact replacement part can sometimes feel like a scavenger hunt.
The Sears Ghost and Warranty Worries
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Transformco.
Sears filed for bankruptcy years ago, and Transformco bought the Kenmore brand. You can still buy Kenmore at Lowe’s, Amazon, and Home Depot. But the support system has changed.
Back in the day, you called Sears and a guy in a blue van showed up. Now, warranty service is handled through a network of third-party contractors. This is where most of the "Kenmore is bad" reviews come from. It’s not necessarily that the stove broke; it’s that getting someone to come fix it under warranty took three weeks.
If you’re buying Kenmore today, I’ll give you a pro tip: check the first three digits of the model number before you buy. This is the manufacturer code.
- 110: Whirlpool
- 790: Frigidaire
- 795: LG
If you see a "110" on a washing machine, you're getting a Whirlpool-built tank. That’s a "good" brand.
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Is It Better Than Buying Name Brand?
Price is the only reason Kenmore still exists. Honestly, they are often $200 to $400 cheaper than the identical LG or Whirlpool sitting next to them.
You’re getting the same internal components. The same motors. The same drums. You’re just losing the "prestige" of the name brand and sometimes getting a slightly different handle design or button layout.
But there’s a catch.
Manufacturers often save their newest, coolest tech for their own labels. You won't find the absolute latest AI-driven laundry features in a Kenmore. You get the "last year" version of the technology. For most people, that’s actually a benefit. Last year’s tech has the bugs worked out. It’s proven.
The Final Verdict
So, is Kenmore a good brand?
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Yes, if you are a savvy shopper. No, if you just pick the first one you see because it’s on sale.
If you stick to their laundry and cooking appliances, you are getting some of the best value in the industry. These are parts-compatible with Whirlpool and Frigidaire, meaning any repair guy in town can fix them with parts from the back of his truck.
If you are looking at their refrigerators, be careful. Stick to the simpler models. Avoid the ones with "too many" features, as the manufacturer behind those (often LG) has had well-documented issues with compressors that Kenmore’s warranty doesn't always cover as long as LG’s own 10-year warranty would.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Purchase
- Check the Model Prefix: Use a "Kenmore Manufacturer Code" chart online to see who actually built the machine. Aim for Whirlpool (110) or Frigidaire (790) for maximum longevity.
- Skip the Smart Tech: Kenmore is a budget-friendly value brand. Buying a "Smart" Kenmore is like buying a budget car with a luxury infotainment system—it's the first thing that will break.
- Verify Local Service: Before buying, call a local independent appliance repair shop. Ask them, "If my Kenmore breaks, do you have trouble getting parts?" If they say yes, skip it.
- Compare the Warranty: Sometimes the manufacturer (like LG) offers a 5 or 10-year warranty on the compressor, but Kenmore might only offer 1 year on the same part. Read the fine print.
Kenmore isn't the king of the kitchen anymore, but it's far from "junk." It’s a brand for people who want a Whirlpool but don't want to pay the Whirlpool tax. Just know who you're actually inviting into your laundry room before you sign the receipt.
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To get the most out of a new Kenmore, always register the product immediately on their website to ensure you get safety recalls and firmware updates, and always keep a digital copy of your receipt, as Transformco's records can be spotty compared to the old Sears system.