Calypso Class Action Suit Settled
This might be old news, but the class action law suit brought against Whirlpool Corp. and Sears has been settled. Deadline for any affected by this suit is May 7, 2007. Read about the settlement here and about the various problems and complaints at Consumeraffairs.com.
From a service standpoint – Calypso washers are about the worst things that I can think of to service. I don’t mind the technology – in fact the concept of bouncing the clothes up and down through the water/detergent is a good idea. However, the access to components is near impossible and the testing procedures are also complex and more difficult than necessary. I guess the engineers thought that they would never break – hence the service difficulties. It’s hard to believe that the engineers that designed this unit also designed the Whirlpool Direct Drive Washer which is a joy to service.
22 Comments
Joanne
Wow! Everything posted on here I have experienced too! I too didn’t know there was a class-Action Settlement. I was never notified either. We all paid a lot of money for these crappy washers. I am just reading this now. I have called Whirlpool many times, & of course they were less than helpful! My walls & flooring are ruined from the water leaking all over the place too! For the consumers who didn’t know about this settlement until it was too late really sucks! I will NEVER purchase another Whirlpool product! If anyone else has anything to add about the settlements, Please let me know. Thanks again for nothing, Whirlpool!!!
D Adam
2017… After fighting with misc stains, rips/ tears, lint, etc, etc while using our Sears Calypso washing machine… Why was I not surprised to find this site with so many similar stories!!! I hope Sears goes belly up! What a perfect example of an ultra subpar company with no morals or ethics!!
Art Bolick
Bought my Calypso in 02….Had repairs in 2012, had problems recently and repairman couldn’t fix. Had to do with water pump. Couldn’t fix because parts were discontinued in 2012. I spent hour trying to find parts on the net and parts are not available. I need information about the class action activity. Need to know how to contact who can help me.
I live in NC. If anyone can help me, please do.
Linda Stone
Hello
This calypso washing machine is why I will never buy a Whirlpool appliance again. Not only have they provided us with a substandard product but they have done nothing to make it right by me. My previous washing machine was a G E which served us well for many years. Could it be they are designing inferior technology on purpose?
Head Wrench
Designing inferior technology goes against corporate self-preservation. I don’t think they did this on purpose … exposing themselves to multi-million dollar lawsuits and bad publicity. It was just a crappy product that designers and engineers probably fell in love with and couldn’t see the obvious design issues. That’s my opinion anyway.
Laurel
Wow, so much trouble with this washing machine. I bought mine in Oct. 01, it cost a lot. I got the set, they were delivered and hooked up. I used this machine for a couple months and got a call for Sears to come give it a check up, they did that and changed my plastic tub to stainless steel, and cleaned it all out. I had a service contract and they come back the next year to do the cleaning and check it all out, they said it was fine. I didn’t buy another service contract, I have had zero problems with this machine until this week. Now 13 years, 5 mos later. It is leaving what appears to be rest globs on my clothes, it’s ruining them, so I had to quit using it. I don’t want another machine, my clothes have never been so clean as with this machine. Hubby did take the bottom plate out and cleaned out a lot of money, $3.55, no pennies or dimes, so where did they go? I am sure there were many of those also. I did see where the stink come from and cleaned that. I am thinking it’s about time for a new machine and from the problems everyone else is having with this type machine I am not going to trust my good luck far enough to buy something similar. I am very sorry for everyone who has had misery with their machines. I feel so blessed to have had a good one. I was NOT informed of a class action law suit btw.
Anna
I Also had one, complaint until I got a new front end loader of my choice before the class action suit, I was getting lint, and grease in my cloths i was lucky because i believe i was one of the first to complain and had a 4 year warranty.
Dora
Ohhh my gosh i’m so frustrated with my Calypso washer and reading all this post makes me even more frustrated, knowing that Sears wont do anything to fix it….it is very upsetting knowing that Sears was aware of this issues and continued selling this washers i bought mine four years ago,,, if i only have known about this!!!
Eydie Adams
Well, I’m one of those unfortunate souls that purchased this crappy Caypso washer (I could use more colorful language but I’ll keep it clean here).
I’ve had the mother boards go out on this machine so many times that I could have bought a new washer many times over. Of course, Whirlpool is trying to tell me that there was never an issue with this machine. Are they kidding???
I’d join another class action if there was one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Head Wrench
Sorry Lois. Not sure how to advise you on this one. If anyone reading this post has found some way of getting some sort of satisfaction, can you post your experience here? Many more people read this post than those who actually comment and all are looking for some sort of answer.
Lois
Can anyone help me now? I have found out there was a class action lawsuit against the Whirlpool company for my Calypso washer? I surely didn’t know it either. The Sears technicians have been to my house over 17 times. So far the water pump has been replace several times, and bleach was getting on my colored clothes; so i decided not to use the bleach dispenser. Then my towels started pulling threads. We thought it was our fault until today. And this has been happening for a few years. But today it was definite…..my new dishcloths were torn on one side. And my clothes have been getting grey spots on my husband’s new Jockey t-shirts. And they look grey along with other items that are grey in color! The tell me to use the cleaner once a month; I used it two times in two weeks. So tomorrow November, 20, 2012 Sears is coming again. They have not been able to stop the spots on my clothes and surely haven’t replaced the damaged items. Can anyone help me? i am so upset that my clothes look dirty, dingy and old.What can i do now.?
Beth
Im another victim who didn’t know anything about the lawsuit. I bought mine fom the U.S. chain PC Richards. Bought in 2006, died in 2007. Thanks to the extended warranty, it was replaced. Had to buy another extended warranty. It’s now expired. Unlike sears, they don’t sell endless extensions. Washer now dead. Not happy. Anyone find out if there’s any recourse for those of us never notified of the recall/class action suit? Any info greatly appreciated
Larry
We bought ours in 2003 and, used it up to 2008 with no problems at all. We then moved because of a medical issue of mine and, it sat in storage until 2 months ago. I just took apart the drainage impeller and pulled a huge chunk of crap off of it. 2 Loads of laundry later, it wasn’t agitating or draining. I took it apart to find a bearing shell in the u joint cone. We had no idea about the lawsuit. I only happened upon it, looking for the best price on the U joint kit.
We really haven’t had any problems with it until now. Hopefully, the u joint replacement will be the last of it for a while. We don’t have a current warranty on it right now unfortunatly. I’m debating on just buying a new warranty if the part cost is close to the warranty price.
Cathy
I didn’t know anything about a lawsuit either 🙁 My washer leaves lint on everything — a lot of lint. If I unintentionally put anything in folded, it comes out still folded! I’m also tired of the helicopter noise coming from my first-floor laundry room. I think my next washer will not be an HE — just don’t feel like I’ve had clean clothes since I bought this!
The dryer leaves random brown streaks on clothes. I think from the seal. Our family has walked around with brown streaks & we’ve thrown out several pieces of clothing too. We thought we were buying quality.
We, too, had many service calls.
Michelle
Hi Kat! I just purchased a Kenmore Calypso from an estate sale. I have a manual and “ob” in the manual apparently means off balance – to redistribute the load – close the lid and press start again.
Kat Peterson
I also knew nothing of a class action law suit…until today.
Kat Peterson
I have the Kenmore Elite Calypso W/D. Purchased 2003 both worked fabulously until I had a major power surge in my home; it fried the dryer, DVD players, Cox cable box, all my surge suppressors, and a plethera of other electronics (SCE denied it but all my neighbors had similar results). My washer has continued to work until today 6-16-2012…code ob…looking for my manual. I think it’s an obstruction in the drain part of the washer…can’t find the @x&%* manual…
Lola
Throw my anger on the pile. WE first bought a lesser priced washer from Sears. Once delivered it nearly shook the house down. I threatened the operator who tried to convince me it was designed to make noise as women liked to know it was working. The repairman found a cracked base. Back to the store where I was told if I’d just spend a little more $, I could have top of the line Calypso. Suckered me by saying it would wash 8 pairs of jeans quietly. I cursed it every day for it’s helicopter noise and its consistant wringing the life out of our clothes. Now the repairman says it has a cracked tub, hence the water all over the floor. He only charged us $75.00 for the info, then said it would cost more to repair than to buy new. He informed us the suite was settled and the machines were recalled, but they weren’t required to tell anyone,. What a crock! Was the judge being paid off? I may not be given restitution for this customer abuse, but I PLAN TO CONTACT EVERY MEDIA SOURCE I CAN THINK OF. P.S. IF YOU ARE LISTENING SEARS, I’D BE UP FOR A PHONE CALL. OH YOUR OWN REPAIRMAN ADVISED US TO GO TO HOME DEPOT. I wonder what kind of appliances are in your homes? Can you say BYE_BYE to a former bought every thing at Sears. Won’t be missing you. Note, I am a teacher with 3300 other teachers in my district at the stroke of a single key.
Brad
We got sucked into the matching washer/dryer back in 2005. No idea how bad they were. Washer has had two motors replaced, both at our cost, and the dryer motherboard just blew up a month ago. Sparks and everything. I had no idea about the suit. Sadly we’re not part of it.
Our lesson, and loss – money and time.
Posting it to Craigslist tonight before it craps out again.
Kathy
I have one of these washing machines, and yes we were aware of the lawsuit, even received a notice in the mail, but we had no idea that the lawsuit was settled, we were never notified about any settlement, and we are now having problems again, the u-joint has been replaced for the second time along with other problems and they are giving us a hassle about getting someone out here to look at it and we even have the Master Protection Agreement and they are still giving us problems. They were just here on Mon., Jan., 30 to repair it said it was fixed, put a load of laundry in on Thurs. evening Feb. 2, and nope it’s not fixed another problem, the water never shut off, filled all the way to the top water all over the basement floor, clothing setting in water for over 18 hrs., called Fri., Feb. 3 was given a hard time yet again, the tech finally arrived at our house at 4:45 pm, making us late for a dinner engagement again said it was fixed, surprise it did the same thing and now they can’t get anyone here until Mon., Feb. 6 between the hours of 12-5 PM, so still our clothing is sitting in water. Talk about being beyond mad!!!!!
Head Wrench
Sorry about your experience with your appliances Kathryn. Unfortunately, what you are experiencing seems to be almost normal now. Check out this post by the owner of Posterous.com: http://sachin.posterous.com/sears-and-comcast-have-optimized-for-uneducat He had an equally frustrating experience with Sears although with a different issue. They picked up on his frustration and actually helped him out. Maybe this can give you some ideas on how to move forward.
Kathryn Simmons
So here it is 2010 I have one of the useless washers that I have been fighting with for years in repair more that useable and now I find out that there was a class action law suit and I new nothing about it!!! Yes I have looked befor because I felt that is exactly what was needed. Yesterday I had an appointment with sears repair to have my washer fixed because it won’t aggitate again and guess what??? Was totally blown off by sears!!!! My appointment was between 8am and noon and at noon. I started calling at noon to find out what happened and got all kinds of excuses!!!! I do not appreciate having to be up at that time in the morning waiting for the repair people, only to wait all day and they never showed. If that is not shoddy business practices I don’t know what is!!!! I wish I could have been part of the class action lawsuit. Is it to late to start another because I’m sure there are lots of other people out here like me that feel some kind of compensation is due!!!