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Most reliable counter-top microwave

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

After much web searching and reading of consumers' disappointing experiences with microwaves touted as most reliable, even by Consumer Reports, I need some solid, experience-based advice on which brands and models truly are most reliable in 2020 (quality and reliability seems to have generally gone down over the last decade or so). I've read many stories of owners using the same microwave for 15 years, and when it finally died, the "modern" replacements failed in one way or another in 1-2 years. Cheap door latches, magnatron meltdowns, flaky selection panels, etc., etc, Making it worse, sounds like most manufacturers' customer support is terrible, even refusing to honor their own warranties, or finding lame loopholes. Can anybody help me? Or are everything except industrial models just garbage nowdays?

Comments (16)

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    All I can tell you is, our GE microwave, now almost 4 1/2 years old, is a workhorse. It’s one of the largest models, and is used everyday, several times a day. It’s a table top model, that our contractor made look built in...leaving enough surrounding space to allow for heat circulation.


  • 5 years ago

    Thanks so much for that quick response! Would you be willing to tell me the model number?

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Panasonic 7 years old

  • 5 years ago

    Will have to wait until much later in the day (it’s 3:37AM here in NY). I’ll ask my husband to dig up the instruction booklet with that info. The microwave in our former home, also a GE, had the model # on the inside of the unit. This one doesn’t.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    After 22 years, our GE Profile over-the-range microwave was still going strong, with zero repairs, when we replaced it with a range hood during our recent kitchen reno. So we bought another GE Profile microwave to go under our cabinetry (12" deep). So far, it's been great!

    https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/4aecb8e9-a248-45c9-b1a8-85fc7765d5fe/svn/stainless-steel-ge-countertop-microwaves-pem31sfss-40_1000.jpg

    Model PEM31SFSS

    (Also comes in black or white versions)

    HU-828489089 thanked pittsburrito
  • 5 years ago

    Panasonic from Costco.

    HU-828489089 thanked wolfgang80
  • 5 years ago

    Whatever they sell at Costco and you can return it if it fails. My mom researched and bought one with good reviews at another store. It stopped working. She dug up her receipt and the manufacturer warranty had expired the week before. They were inflexible about honoring it since it was a few days past. They just do not make things like they used to. I might also pick a model by the convenience buttons that worked for how I use it such as add a minute or 30 seconds.

    HU-828489089 thanked lafdr
  • 5 years ago

    We have had the Panasonic above for about 3 1/2 years and love it. We had a previous model for quite a while. I agree it is generally true they don’t last as long as they used to, but they also don’t cost as much as they did in the past.

  • 5 years ago

    You probably noticed that in Consumer Reports's ratings, LG microwaves were rated very good in reliability. The one that CR tested is discontinued but buyers of the the LG LMC2075ST seem to like it according to hundreds of anecdotal reviews on Home Depot, Lowes, and Best Buy.

  • 5 years ago

    We had a Panasonic for 12 years (and it was my fault it blew) and replaced it with another one which is into its 4th year. They're maybe not as reliable as they were years back, but their cheap.

  • 5 years ago

    I bought my Amana in 1982 and it's still going strong. That's 38 years.

  • 5 years ago

    I've been using this one for 7 years. It fits perfectly into the corner, and is big enough for everything we use it for (though I did bring a plate to the store to check before I bought it).

    corner microwave

  • 5 years ago

    My Magic Chef countertop, which cost about $70, is running over three years with no issues. And is cheap enough to replace, if it ever should.

  • 5 years ago

    As requested, the model # of my GE microwave is:


  • 5 years ago

    Frustrated with electronics that fail and latches that fall apart, I bought a light-duty commercial Panasonic Model 1025-F. It has a simple 6-minute dial control and one power level. Does everything we want a microwave to do. We are very happy with this purchase.