Whirlpool Class Action Says AquaLift Oven is Defective

Whirlpool Corporation has been hit with a class action lawsuit claiming that the company’s “AquaLift Self-Cleaning Technology” does not self-clean ovens as advertised.

Plaintiff Deanna McEachern says that in April 2015 she bought a KitchenAid AquaLift Oven manufactured by Whirlpool at a retail store in Michigan. Also, one year later, she purchased a Maytag AquaLift Oven manufactured by Whirlpool for her rental property.

The plaintiff claims that she attempted to use the AquaLift feature on the KitchenAid Oven, but it did not clean the oven and she was forced to clean the oven manually.

McEachern alleges that she contacted Whirlpool to let the company know that the AquaLift feature did not work on her oven.  The plaintiff notes that she was told by a customer service representative that “that’s how it works.”

The Whirlpool class action lawsuit argues that an appliance repairman came to the plaintiff’s home to service other appliances, she was told that AquaLift does not work to clean the oven.

“At all times since her purchase of the KitchenAid AquaLift Oven, Plaintiff’s Oven has not performed as advertised and has not ‘self-cleaned’ her Oven, thereby causing her damages. Plaintiff’s Maytag AquaLift Oven, as with every AquaLift Oven, suffers from the same ‘cleaning’ limitations as described more fully throughout this Complaint,” the Whirlpool class action lawsuit states.

The plaintiff says that Whirlpool advertises and markets its AquaLift technology as a main feature that sets it apart from competitors. 

Whirlpool sells AquaLift as “‘oven cleaning redefined,’ ‘innovation nearly 50 years in the making,’ and a ‘first-of-its kind cleaning solution that is activated with heat and water to release tough baked-on soils from the oven interior in less than 1 hour’,” according to the Whirlpool class action lawsuit.

The plaintiff claims that Whirlpool has a separate page on its website to show off the AquaLift technology and even shows a video demonstration of the supposed superiority of AquaLift.

In addition, the Whirlpool class action lawsuit states that the company provides a “Quick Reference Guide” which states that, “[h]eavily soiled ovens may require a second cleaning cycle.”

“While this language implies that AquaLift, if at least used multiple times, will remove heavy soil from all parts of the Oven cavity, Whirlpool fails to mention that AquaLift cannot clean the Oven walls and the Oven door,” the plaintiff claims.

Also, the plaintiff states that Whirlpool advertises that AquaLift can be used “frequently to clean tough baked-on soils.”

The Whirlpool class action lawsuit alleges that “Whirlpool’s entire advertising campaign for AquaLift- a key product feature- is false, deceptive, and misleading to reasonable consumers, including in Michigan, because, contrary to Whirlpool’s representations, AquaLift does not ‘self-clean’ the interior of the Ovens and, instead, requires consumers to manually clean their Ovens with cleaning products – defeating the purpose of a ‘self-cleaning’ oven.”

McEachern states that there are numerous complaints about the AquaLift system online by consumers who claim that the cleaning technology doesn’t work as advertised.

Proposed Class Members include: “All persons who purchased a Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or Jenn-Air oven equipped with AquaLift in the state of Michigan.”

Did you purchase a Whirlpool manufactured oven with AquaLift Technology? Leave a message in the comments section below.

The plaintiff is represented by E. Powell Miller and Sharon S. Almonrode of The Miller Law Firm PC, Samuel H. Rudman, Mark S. Reich, Stuart A. Davidson, Christopher C. Gold, and Bradley Beall of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd.

The Whirlpool AquaLift Oven Class Action Lawsuit is McEachern v. Whirlpool Corporation, Case No.2:19-cv-13084, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

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