We have a different brand, but we are on well water. No rusting issues in over ten years. I don’t recall our dealer making any mention of issues either.

i've been on well water for 16 years and my ge front loader lasted for 13 yrs ( i only replaced the intake filter once. I replaced it with a samsung a few year neither have rusted. I have hard water spring well no filters and haven't hurt any of my appliances. If your machine is rusting the exterior is getting high humidity it has nothing to do with well water.

Unless you live in the southeast and your washing machine sits outside under a carport, I don't see why a transmission would be rusting or why it would have anything to do with the source of the potable water.

Have had a Maytag on well water for several years, and no problem yet.

I have well water. No rust on washing machine.

on well water for 25 yrs and no issues with appliances rusting or failing prematurely

how would water get on the transmission?? is the appliance kept in a very damp location? maybe that's your issue.

see if there is a protective coating you can use on the next one, or find one that doesn't rust.

it's well water-- does it have sulfur in it? sulfur corrodes things fast.

Do you live near the beach, where there might be a lot of salt in the air?

We have a top loading Maytag Bravos. It has been the worst washing machine we have ever owned. The plastic agitator plate parts have stripped out four or five times in the last 6 years- is that what you mean when you say transmission? We have high iron but a water system to remove the excess iron. I do have some rust spots and we leave the top open when it isn't in use. The balance springs are going (so it is noisy during spin cycle) and we (hubby and I) are in a discussion if we should fix or throw out. I like the size and that it uses less water (good for my septic) but it doesn't clean as well as the old fashioned type washer. I keep waiting for something major to break so I can buy something else.

What Ive now learned is the bearing failed (again) so it sounds like an airplane when it spins. The second repairman said it needs a gearbox. The first called it a transmission. It is in a basement - no beach nearby. I am leery to get another Maytag or Whirlpool since its the same company.

@User Has your Samsung been good for you? Ive talked to repair co.’s - some say good and some say no Samsung or LG. Everyone has a different opinion. They say hard to get repair parts also.

Your problem has nothing to do with your water, as I suggested. Try something made by a different company, you're bound to have better luck. Korean brands like LG and Samsung seem to have good products and good quality control.

@Laura6NJ My Maytag is a nice machine otherwise but I am also very disappointed and have lost faith in the quality. Would you get another agitator machine?

you said twice? did you register the machine for warranty? any help there?

shouldn't be doing this after 3 years.

Yes the machine is covered and I recvd a gift card. Yes it first broke after a year and now same issue again. I did see online that bearings are a top repair issue with Maytag, so it is likely not the water which the first repairman said

The OP didn't cite the machine's model number. There are two mechanical designs that could be involved, although they're similar. Both have the drive shaft bearings as an integral part of the transmission assembly. Failure of the seal allows water to enter the bearing area, which causes rusting ... so that presumably is the servicer's reference. There also is no tub centerpost so the basket/spin shaft is fully exposed to the water during operation.

Our machine rusted after 20 years--the rust was near where I load. We sent from Kenmore to Maytag. Top loading with agitator. NEVER would I buy a front loading. I HATE it. All technology on machines now means I can't soak clothes...can't dye material..drives me batty!! I hate it when technology decides how I can and cannot use something!!! Not all well water is rusty. We have higher lime than rust but that's the purpose of the softener to a point.

@dadoes Wow, thank you for that info. Wonder what causes seal to fail. I only use the machine two days a week and run small loads. The second repairman said he could have fixed it but the first man had used a wrong glue so he had to replace more parts which made repair too $$$. Ive attached a photo of broken machine. Thanks again.

@arcy_gw What a good point - presoak is an important cycle for important needs.

IMo you need to find a machine that has the cycles you need. I have a Bosch front load 15 yrs old nevr had any repair except right at the beginning one under warranty for a part in te door. BTW front loaders save huge amounts of water and get clothes clean and a lot easier on your clothes . I am ahuge clean freak and so my laundry is a big deal I wash every day at least one load ( we have international students) I have never owned a laundry sink and my machine has many cycles to work with how I do laundry . Keep looking until you find the right machine for you. As for the rusting that I cannot help with but seems odd.

If the working parts of your washing machine are in contact with water (be it from a well or a city water system) then something is wrong with the washing machine design. Would suspect that if parts are rusting they are getting wet from another source outside the machine.

@dadoes It‘s my guess Whirlpool who makes Maytag uses a universal design so likely I’d buy similar issue if I bought that brand again? Which is why I’m looking at Samsung or LG, but some repair people have said they are less reliable. Though one said repair pple may say that as they are not brand certified.

What does your well service company say about your water? You should be testing the water yearly as well as having the system serviced.

@ShadyWillowFarm thank you - not sure but there is a water softener and the softener is maintained.

I have had samsung front loader for 11? years and only had the door latch replaced under warranty. I did buy extended warranty because of the horrible reviews but they had the red I wanted. I have never used fabric softener in it and very rarely use cold water. I use sanitize on my towels and sheets so it is hot with onboard heater. I have been satisfied with the samsung washer and dryer and as stated above, I am on a well

Whirlpool (under all the brands they produce) has two basic toploader designs, which essentially differ on the type of motor ... one is belt-drive, the other is direct-drive (but not the type of direct-drive they produced from 1981 to 2010). Both have a transmission (gear box) but there are differences depending on whether the agitator is a center-post type (tall transmission agitator/tub shaft) or a low-profile impeller type (short transmission agitator/tub shaft). Softened water, if anything, should reasonably have an effect to reduce proclivity toward rusting and wear by eliminating mineral deposits remaining when residual water dries.

Other brands also produce similar mechanical designs with their own nuances regards to construction quality ... bearings and seals and metals durability, etc. The consumer pays his money and takes his chances with any product, as has always been the case. Durability of products is one of the points affected by materials quality reduction to meet the market price-points that consumers are willing to pay.

@dadoes Thank you so much. Maytag/Whirlpool, would possibly have the same problem again.