FIXED Maytag Dishwasher Leaking at Heating Element MDB8959SKZ

[Mdodd]

Model Number

MDB8959SKZ

Brand

Maytag

Age

1-5 years

Found that water is leaking from the bottom where the heating element enters the bottom of the unit.

Seems like it should be an easy fix, but there doesn’t seem to be anything to hold the gasket in place. See the attached picture—the plastic nut holds everything in place on the outside of the DW, but what you see is everything else that’s on the inside. The hole is larger in diameter than the element, so the whole thing can slide freely around, regardless of how tight the plastic nut is. Is the rubber gasket press-fit onto the element and now that it’s broken it needs to be replaced?if so, that’s the worst design ever!

Any help?

 

[Jake]

This is extremely rare to ever see happen and I don't know the reason it happens.

You will need to order and replace the heating element, it will come with two new rubber seals.

Here's the heating element for your model:

Whirlpool W11537778 Element Assy-Heating,ss Bushing (AP7014587) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Element assy-heating,ss bushing W11537778 / AP7014587 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

Make sure you disconnect power to the dishwasher before you replace it if you haven't already.

Let us know how it goes.

Jake

 

[Mdodd]

Called Maytag, and it’s a know issue, with a technical service pointer. It’ll take two weeks to get a tech to the house, but it’ll be fully covered.

https://www.whirlpooldigitalassets.com/content/dam/global/documents/202111/service-pointer-W11540964-revc.pdf/_jcr_content/renditions/original

Will update when the situation is fully resolved.

 

[Jake]

Excellent, good find @Mdodd , I was not aware of that service bulletin, thanks for providing that too.

So in that service bulletin it says what I said to do is replace the heating element that I posted the link to in post #2, which is actually the new revised updated HEATING ELELMENT KIT with upgraded bushings and nuts.

Yes, keep us posted.

Jake

 

[andyraf]

We have the same issue with our Kitchenaid dishwasher, model KDTM604KPS0, Serial # starting with FX12, only 16 months old. Repair person said there is a recall, thanks for confirmation. Really annoying, as we've been without a dishwasher for over a month waiting for a repair and our kitchen floor is ruined from the leak. Attached photos of the heater element gaskets: one of the two gaskets has completely disintegrated, the other is hanging on by a thread.

 

[Jake]

Good photos Andy! Yes, I see that clearly. Thanks for letting us know on yours too, I wouldn't be surprised if we start getting more people to come into this thread and say the same thing.

Jake

 

[lmionescu]

We bought a Maytag dishwasher in June '21 and have had three separate service calls to replace parts up to now. Now it's out of warranty and started leaking. Seems that it's from both of the holes for the heating element. We'd still have to pay for the service call. Seems that I should be able to replace on my own?

Has anyone found the gaskets and/or bushings to buy separately?

PS terrible experience with this Maytag. Lesson learned: don't buy anything that's exclusive to one store and a brand new model.

 

[Jake]

You will need that same heating element I posted the link to in post #2 above, it will come with new bushings too. I don't know where you can get them separately.

You should not have to pay for it. Yes, probably just the service call, but parts and labor are covered.

1) Replace the heater element and heater nuts. For all service calls related to the heater element replacement, reference Special Project code S17304. Parts and labor are covered 100% in or out of warranty for the replacement parts (heater element and heater nuts).

Jake

 

[Mdodd]

Finally resolved! The company that Whirlpool sent to take care of the repair rescheduled 4 times, and once showed up to “diagnose” the problem (with no new part), but they finally showed up today with the correct part and fixed it in less than 15 minutes.

All done free of charge, but it did take about 6 weeks from start to finish.

 

[Jake]

Excellent @Mdodd glad to hear you got the new updated heating element kit with the new bushings installed for no charge.

Thanks for the update! Sorry to hear it took that long.

Jake

 

[sparksals]

We have the same issue with our Kitchenaid dishwasher, model KDTM604KPS0, Serial # starting with FX12, only 16 months old. Repair person said there is a recall, thanks for confirmation. Really annoying, as we've been without a dishwasher for over a month waiting for a repair and our kitchen floor is ruined from the leak. Attached photos of the heater element gaskets: one of the two gaskets has completely disintegrated, the other is hanging on by a thread.

View attachment 62871 View attachment 62872

We have the same model dishwasher and the same issue since we discovered water under our wood floors in early Dec. Over $30k damage and entire first floor flooring has to be replaced and possibly our kitchen cupboards. Been a nightmare with Whirlpool. Dishwasher was bought at Costco, but in 2nd year of warranty. Had to call Costco exec resolutions bc the supposed culprit part, the Tub was backordered with no ETA in sight. Suddenly after Costco got involved, the part miraculously was shipped. The tech came today, after waiting two weeks for an appt, to install the new tub only to be told the heat element needs to be replaced, also on backorder and no ETA in sight. This exclusive Auth servicer for WP in our area did not know this service issue for the first appt mid December. No one at the WP customer service line knew the issue. We wound up going thru homeowners insurance bc WP bureaucracy would have taken months for the repairs and replacements to be done.

So we sit and wait for the part to come in, then more weeks for install. We are at nearly 2 months without dishwasher with more time to wait.

 

[Jake]

Yes, sorry to hear that, they should of known of this service bulletin, because all they needed was the new heater kit that come with the new bushings. Not the tub.

Jake

 

[Maverik76]

FYI, I just had this same problem with my Whirlpool. If you don't have any floor damage or damage outside the dishwasher itself, you can replace this yourself and contact Whirlpool for reimbursement of the new heating element. It took only a 3 minute chat and an email exchange to get approved for reimbursement. If you have water damage to your floors, etc. then I'd recommend going through an authorized Whirlpool repair service.

I was able to find the new element for $52 locally and it took me all of 5 minutes to swap it out.

 

[Sjust]

I am currently dealing with the same issue. I only found the problem because we were installing granite countertops. I have had to tear out all the flooring and replace a cabinet. I made a claim with Whirlpool and am waiting to hear back but based on what I am hearing I think I may need to get my homeowners' ins involved. Has anyone had any issues with leaks after replacing the heater element? I am so nervous to use my dishwasher now.

 

[Jasmine]

I am also dealing with this with our Maytag that we purchased in October. Entire floor is ruined.

 

[ec_1970]

The exact same thing started happening with my Maytag model MDB4949SKZ I purchased 12/2020. I am glad I found this thread. Thanks Mdodd. I checked my bushings and they are just loose rubber rings that I can slide down the element. I have service scheduled a week from now and I wonder if they are used to doing this repair. I really believe that everyone who has the affected models will experience this at some point so why not send out a bulletin to customers who actually registered? Especially because the heating element is on by default. You have to explicitly shut off the heat drying every new cycle. At least on my model. I registered my dishwasher with Maytag when I bought it so they could have sent me an email to watch out for this.

 

[ec_1970]

I am tempted to put a bead of silicone around the element holes as a temporary fix until the repairman can make it here in 2 1/2 weeks. Someone talk me out of it.

 

[Jake]

I am tempted to put a bead of silicone around the element holes as a temporary fix until the repairman can make it here in 2 1/2 weeks.

I don't see a problem with that.

Jake

 

[DenniMae]

Same problem - we got the letter from Whirlpool to say they needed to replace a part on our Maytag dishwasher. Technician came out and discovered the part had already failed and has been leaking water for heavens knows how long. We have damage to our subfloors, cracked floor tiles, damage to cabinets. Home insurance likely won’t cover us as the leak has probably been going on for longer than 14 days - we had no idea. Repair bill likely to run into 5 figures. Technician admitted that whirlpool have had to pay to replace several kitchens already but tried to blame ours on faulty installation despite leaving behind the old part with completely eroded bushings - and that we know for a fact that it wasn’t leaking for several months after instal, but started sometime later. We have no idea what to do from here.

 

[mculbertson]

Same problem on our less-than-two-year old Whirlpool. I think we caught it before much permanent damage was done.

This is an engineering error and/or cost cutting screwup on the heating element. On the leaking elements, the collar/flange that holds the rubber gasket against the tub is copper or brass. I'm no expert, but I'm guessing that's not a suitable material for exposure to dishwashing chemicals. As seen above, and on mine, the flange is eroded away completely, or paper thin.

The replacement element I just installed apparently uses stainless steel for the flanges. My receipt from the local parts house appears to confirm this, as it reads "ELEMENT ASSY-HEATING,SS BUSHING" on the invoice.

I'm sure they saved a few cents per element by using copper/brass initially. I guess someone at Whirlpool felt the gamble was worth it?