Customer Reviews for KitchenAid Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher in Stainless Steel with Stainless Steel Tub, 43 dBA

Easy to load, quiet running, has a bunch of good options like rinse cycle pot scrubber express or power wash. Really pleased with performance

5 Stars ... with Proper Mounting Bracket Manufacturing and Quality Control. This unit, which is a Whirlpool Brand, was purchased to replace a Sears Kenmore Elite (also a Whirlpool Brand) with a failed door spring lift cord, failed door latch, and failed vent system. The most aggravating aspects of the Kenmore unit was the door would always pop open during every wash and the door latch was flimsy at best. Consequently the door construction of the KitchenAid unit was of keen interest. The latch is far more robust and it latches with a pronounced detent and opens well - so far so good. The vent system is quite different; the KitchenAid has a louvered vent along the left door edge near the top as well as a vent "shoot" concealed under the bottom left edge at the lower left corner of the door. This bottom vent is where you can feel warmed air expelled when drying. The KitchenAid also has a far more user friendly display on the face of the door (its the dark rectangular window just above the door handle in the picture) versus the Kenmore Elite's three idiot LEDs. The KitchenAid uses real words to explain: what is going on, when it is OK or not to open the door to add additional items to be washed, when it is rinsing and when it is drying. Nice touch. This review is not 5 stars for two reasons: 1. The drain hose rubber fitting's inside diameter, which attaches to the sink's dishwasher drain tailpiece, is a bit too large and the provided hose clamp is USELESS as it is essential a "spring" clamp and there is no way for it to exert sufficient pressure to prevent leaking. It was replaced with a gear style hose clamp, but even with this clamp it took a lot of tightening with a socket wrench to compress the rubber fitting and stop the leaking. After several dish washings with toilet paper wrapped around the tailpiece (my favorite water leak detector!) it appears OK with no more leaks. 2. But the worst part is the provided mounting brackets ARE NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED. Any individual would have had one heck of a "blow your top" installation if you have granite (or solid surface) countertops. With Granite counters, one must install the brackets to the sides of the dishwasher such that you then screw the brackets to adjoin wood cabinet sides (completely hidden inside the space where the dishwasher gets installed between cabinets - you don't see the brackets or screws, so don't worry). With the brackets affixed to the sides of the dishwasher frame you will note the bracket screw hole DOES NOT ALIGN with the screw hole opening in the dishwasher frame. You insert the screw with the door open through a hole in the frame, then through the hole in the bracket, and screw into the wood cabinet. BUT NOT WHEN THE BRACKET AND DISHWASHER HOLES ARE 3/16 of an inch MISALIGNED !! PATHETIC MANUFACTURING - WHO THE HECK IS PROVIDING QUALITY ASSURANCE? The solution is relatively simple - if you have proper tools. BE CAREFULL with the next part of the solution as although the brackets are identical, this requires one of them to be attached UPSIDE DOWN. THIS IS IMPORTANT !! Temporarily attach both brackets and using a pencil inserted through the frame screw hole make a pencil mark on the bracket while ensuring you keep the pencil properly aligned. Remove the brackets, and place them on a workbench, block of wood, or other similar surface that could be marred. Position a nail punch and with a hammer strike the punch to leave a substantial punch dimple in the bracket. You'll find this mark to be about 3/16" inch above or below the hole that is already in the bracket - BUT MALALIGNED !! Using a very sharp drill bit (IMPORTANT - as you do NOT want the drill to "walk" given the new hole will actually break into the existing hole) drill a hole as small as possible - just large enough for your mounting screw to pass through (again because the new hole WILL break into the existing hole and create a key hole shape). Clamp the bracket to a drill press table or hold it securely with a pair of vise grips - do NOT hold with fingers as there is a chance the drill bit will "grab" the bracket and start it spinning which could cause injury. Carefully and SLOWLY drill the new hole in each bracket. Sizing the new hole just large enough for the mounting screw helps keep the screw aligned when installing dishwasher to cabinets. TIP #1 - Remove and keep the old dishwasher mounting brackets. You may find they are similar to the KitchenAid brackets. The Kenmore brackets were almost an eighth of an inch too long but metal shears trimmed off the excess. I actually used the Kenmore brackets to drill the above holes just in case it didn't work out or I messed up etc. They worked just fine once trimmed and drilled. TIP #2 - if you are replacing a dishwasher made by Whirlpool, a lot of components in your old dishwasher are suitable for use in this KitchenAid, such as utensil baskets (The Kenmore baskets are far better than the KitchenAid baskets (IMO). Personal Opinion - I always position tableware with handles up and therefore do not make use of the utensil basket "lids" (Kenmore basket tops hinge up and out of the way while KitchenAid have to be snapped out and manually removed - a nuisance. My conviction is come time to remove the utensils, my hands ought to touch the utensil handle and not the part which enters someone's mouth. I know, I know the argument is with the handle down, dirty water drains down to the handle. Really? so everything else in the dishwasher might also not be clean or cleaner? So I'll keep my handles up, thank you very much. Also, with careful utensil positioning or by using adjacent basket compartments for like utensils one can easily prevent nesting as with spoon bowls.

Beautiful Dish Washer, very quiet and cleans really well

Washer cleans even cooked on food in pans really with only one wash and is extremely quiet. Wash time is longer than older non- energy- efficient washers.

As advertised , extremely silent ! 43 dBA 'sounded' like a good number , but it really is , this dishwasher makes less noise than our fridge. Nothing special to report about installation, was reasonably easy. Note that you have to provide your own power cord. Dishes are very clean. The Pro-dry does a good job at removing all humidity , which is good for a second home if you want to leave the dishes in from one weekend to the next. Note that the Pro-dry vent is on the left side of the front door , so it is unaffected by enclosing the washer. Only small drawback , lots of fingerprints on the top of the stainless door.

We love our new dishwasher. And the delivery and set up was a dream. They two wonderful guys were here when they said, and had the old one out, and new one in, amazingly fast. They were professional, very nice, and in and out like magic. This dishwasher holds a lot, gets everything clean, and is silent. Also, we love the "Made in the USA" insignia! I highly recommend it.

I have had this product a couple of weeks so far and it has been great. I really like all the features on it. Especially the front display that tells me where it is in the cycle. Very helpful! It was very easy to install. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because I didn't know when I bought it, that it was a Whirlpool product and while I enjoyed my WP washing machine my last WP dishwasher was a huge disappointment as it started leaking just before it was a year old. We will see how long it lasts Features really loved are the top rack shelf, love how smooth it rolls in and out. and I hope the adjustability holds up. The bottom rack is ok, but I really preferred the set up of my old bottom rack. I should have kept that. It had a better set up for bowls and plates and folded down more. But this seems very durable thus far. Overall it's a VERY quiet machine. It cleans very well. The only time I hear anything is when it's draining.

I purchased 2 dishwashers because of Consumer Reports recommendations and they were installed 2 weeks ago. When they were almost finished installing I could see a dent in the front of one of the dishwashers. The installers assured me they would arrange the order of a replacement but they did not. I talked to Home Depot and they said they would order the replacement but they did not. I called again yesterday and found out today they (Home Depot) would order the new dishwasher. Tonight I ran the dishwasher and it began leaking on my floor. It had leaked a little the second time I ran it but I thought it was the steam coming out during the dry cycle that had pooled onto my floor. I have not run the dry cycle since. The first time I ran the other dishwasher, the steam from the dry cycle ruined the cherry cabinet around the dishwasher. The installers are coming back tomorrow to see if they installed the dishwasher too far into the cabinet. I would not recommend this dishwasher. I don't think I will be able to ever use the dry cycles because of the steam that will continue to damage my cabinets.

This is my first Kitchen Aid major appliance bought to replace a 20 year old GE dishwasher that came with my house. It is SUPER QUIET (can't tell it is running without looking at display)! Our old dishwasher cleaned dishes well, but this new one takes it to a new level. The small status display on the front is a must to determine if the unit is running and when done because it is so quite. Time will tell if the racks hold-up from rusting (a big problem in my last dishwasher). At least they have a 5 year warranty so I am hopeful. Oh, if your installing this yourself (as I did), don't ignore the "optional parts" listing in the installation guide. You WILL need them and they aren't readily available at home improvement stores so plan ahead.

As with any appliance, it takes some getting used to. This dishwasher replaced a 9 year old Whirlpool. The one thing we liked about the Whirlpool which you can't find on other machines, is door mounted silverware holders. It's something we got used to and I'm sure with time, we will with this layout too. The edge mounted flat key controls give the dishwasher a sleek look, and are easy to figure out, even without looking at the instruction sheet. One of the pluses of the machine is the variable spacing of the tines on the lower rack. They can be spaced to hold dinner dishes, or casserole dishes and the like. Overall I'm impressed with the quality, but keep in mind nothing is built like the products back-in-the day. Time will tell how the machine holds up to Arizona water - we do use a water softener, so that should keep corrosion in check. Did I mention it's quiet? If you got used to the thrumming noise to get you to sleep, I'm sorry to say you will have to look for another source of white noise. Oh yeah it's quiet. You won't be disappointed if you decide on purchasing this dishwasher.

This dishwasher does everything it should. It cleans dishes amazingly well, is super quiet and has a great layout for fitting a lot of dishware. There are many well made and clever options for loading larger bowls, pots and utensils, with racks that are sturdy and glide smoothly and easily. There are several cycle options to fit every cleaning need, including cycle delay choices. Additionally, it is a beautiful addition to the kitchen, with a sleek, clean design.

Pros: Quiet, cleans great Con: Arrived with ding in front right side panel. Part of total kitchen remodel, could not hold up install due to flaw in front of dishwasher. Stainless steel front not of durable quality (see below rating)

I am very pleased with the dishwasher.

The young men who came to install my dishwasher were so mannerly and did an excellent job. So far I really love this appliance. It is so quiet I had to open it several times the first time to be sure it was working! And it does a great job of cleaning the dishes.

This dishwasher is almost silent and is easy to load. The dishes come out sparkling every time. Wish I had replaced my old one sooner - life is easier now that I can fit my large plates in the dishwasher and can count on the dishes coming out clean every time without having to wash them first! Love the look of it too:)

I love my new dishwasher. You don't even know that it is running Another extra plus is all of the options available especially the top rack only washing cycle !!

I've had this dishwasher for about a year. I replaced a 15 year old base line GE. I bought it after the reading the recommendation on Consumer Reports. It had a top rating compared to the similar GE models. I've tried various detergents, including both the liquid and the pods. For me, I think that Cascade Platinum did the best job. The Cascade Complete did an okay job, but left residue on the dishes. The sani-rinse feature works very well. The third rack is nice for small containers, but I wish there was some type of tie or reinforcement. After reading another review, I realized that I have some unused features, that will probably increase my overall rating. Namely, the height adjustment of the racks, and the sliders.

This Kitchen Aid replaced a 15 year old Kitchen Aid. I always like th old one but this one is way better. It is very well made and has features not seen on most models. I have run it through several cycles and I am impressed my how clean and dry the dishes come out. The water filtration and the Pro Dry feaures really do work as advertised. The most amazing feature is how quiet it is. I have had to go and check it several times to confirm it is actually running. I love it!

We have an open great room . Had to wait for the store to get more of these dishwashers in . Well worth the wait! So quiet ,works perfect, great use of dish space.

I paid about $1100 for this dishwasher after reading that this is uncompromised quality stainless steel interior and exterior. I bought this in December 2014, now its Dec 2015, the interior has started rusting. I called customer service of kitchen aid and they said the 5 year warranty I purchased on this doesnt cover Rusting!!!! Very very poor quality stainless steel. I would never pay 1000+ bucks for a rusty metal appliance. Kitchen aid should be ashamed for manufacturing such appliances and cheating consumers with their misleading product description

Top rack bracket on our KitchenAid dishwasher fragmented nine months after purchase, spewing plastic into the inner workings of the machine and seizing up / damaging the unit. Think that’s covered under warranty? Think again! KitchenAid/Whirpool’s service technicians don’t think so! Don’t buy KitchenAid!

Bought 6/11. Installed 6/25. Stopped working 10/3. Repair man comes out and can't fix. Today is 10/12...still waiting...they don't have parts. I called and asked for a new unit. Are you kidding me? A $1200 4 month old unit quits working and no one is coming to give me a new one? Oh, forgot the $200 charge to install and the time off from work. Sorry, I'll buy a Bosch next time. Inexcusable workmanship and inexcusable customer service.

This was the top rated dishwasher in the most recent Consumer Reports review and I got it on sale at 1/2 price at Home Depot! What a great value! It is incredibly quiet. The only time you hear it is when water splashes through the drain pipe. The installation instructions are very clear and thorough. I had one major problem, though. Our existing plumbing is in a PEX size that is no longer used. I failed to notice the adapter on the old dishwasher before it was hauled away. It took four trips to the hardware store to find the appropriate combination of adapters to install the new one. Look at your old connections carefully before you let them haul your old dishwasher away! The only Con, it is not easy or intuitive to use. For example, you need to press the start button twice. Who knows why? The flip side of this Con, though, is the large number of cycles and features. You'll want to take time to read the user instructions. Other than this, it is a great product, easy to install, looks great, and works great. The front panel display tells you how the cycle is progressing and lets you know when you can still add more dishes - very helpful when you find a last few coffee cups or wine glasses after you've started the clean cycle.

I knew as soon as I saw it that it was the one. The sleek look, the shelves roll out smoothly, and the stemware racks and utensil baskets are well designed. It is easy to load and to run, and super quiet.

We bought the Kitchen Aid KDTM354DSS2 to replace our 20 year old Kenmore dishwasher because it was outdated. However this 20 year old Kenmore dishwasher was working fine. We bought the Kitchen Aid KDTM354DSS2 because it was the top rated in CR magazine. However, we have NO idea how well this dishwasher works because both the original and the replacement had bent frame joists one on top and one on bottom that prevented the door from operating correctly. Sorry I only took a photo of the first dishwasher that arrived. This is in the upper left corner and you can see how the seal does not sit correctly due to the distorted joist. The replacement dishwasher came off the truck and the delivery men took the dishwasher out of the box, open the dishwasher door and heard a noise. One delivery man pointed at a badly bent bottom joist that was preventing the dishwasher from opening and closing correctly. So, this dishwasher was put back on the truck and the delivery man called for a replacement.

Purchased and installed myself. This thing is quiet and does a great job cleaning the dishes. Has plenty of features, looks great and has had no issues. This is made in the USA by whirlpool which supports manufacuring and supporting jobs here in the states.

I had a 10 year old dishwasher that was leaking and the service person said it wasn't worth fixing. So I researched carefully and went with this dishwasher. No matter what I do, something does not come out clean. I had a glass with some green smoothie residue and it came out completely dirty, ran it through a second time and still had the residue! I tried Tough cycle, Pro Scrub, extra hot water and that still doesn't help. I put a plate in with some ketchup on it and guess what, came out still with some ketchup left. If you call the company they will just blame it on user error but honestly, I have loaded dishwashers for close to 40 years and my old dishwasher cleaned great so why doesn't this one work? Yes, I use the proper soap, yes I am loading it correctly, yes I am using rinse agent. It is so frustrating to spend close to $1000 on a dishwasher to have it not even work properly.

I installed the dishwasher about a month ago and couldn't be happier. The dishes come out clean and pretty much dry as long as you arrange dishes so water can't collect and sit on tops etc. I don't believe there is a dishwasher out there that can dry pooled water. I also love the fact that this dishwasher is so quiet. I had to turn the volume up on the TV in the next room while our last one was running. I barely notice that this Kitchenaid is even running. The only negative I could possibly say is that the stainless steel is a little difficult to keep clean.

I live in Alaska and had to wait 3 weeks until it arrived but it was worth it. I love the features and installation was relatively easy. There is so much exterior insulation that it was a VERY tight fit. I would recommend this dishwasher to anyone that wants a premium product!

This unit replaced our 9yr old KitchenAid which was still going strong but we remodeled the kitchen thought the new design would compliment it. Not only does it look great with our new cabinets but it is an absolute champ when it comes to cleaning. The price was especially reasonable when you consider that others lacking many of it's features were hundreds of dollars more. However, my favorite and most welcome surprise out of this purchase was the incredible quiet maintained throughout it's operation. One of my biggest complaints of appliance manufacturer's is that they have long ignored the "noise" factor when designing their products. It's almost as if they think the louder it is, the more we'll appreciate that it's working. Rather like restaurants that are so noisy that you cannot hold a conversation are described to be "energetic". In short, we love it and are very glad we stayed with KitchenAide.