Updated - the WV9-1610W is now WV5-1610W. Firstly, apologies for the length of this post. So, we purchased this LG washing machine and to our delight it was ranked top on the Choice reviews. But that is where my delight stops. First it was installed by Appliances Online whose delivery drivers took the spanner to adjust the legs with them. The washing machine hoses do not reach the outlets which sit to the immediate right of the machine. We then saw a small note in the manual regarding using in elevated houses / floorboards. So, it took….maybe 9 weeks to get a spanner. LG said the hose standard length should be 3.4m long, ours were…..2.7 or so. The LG rep would not accept the query without taking a picture of both hoses as they suspected the hoses may have belonged to another machine. So got help, took the machine out, took a picture of both hoses side by side. No response from LG. The machine shakes the entire house - we have had to bolster pics on the wall, and the TV trembles menacingly. Cracks have now appeared in the tiles at the front of the machine. No matter what cycle I use the machine absolutely rocks the house. Back to LG. Ok, we will book a repair but if it’s your fault you’ll have to pay for the repair. But the machine is level, there is no warning about elevation, the previous Electrolux was as quiet as a lamb. So after months of this going on I said I never, ever want to hear from LG again. So I am stuck with a brand new washing machine that I use rarely - then a girlfriend said she had an LG similar - front loader - did the same thing, it was faulty, the drum wasn’t aligned correctly. So, after all this, have you experienced similar issues? Our major appliances are LG - we’ve had LG for years, but that loyalty counts for nothing. We are in regional Qld, apparently LG do find it easy to say it’s the customer’s fault, I am too scared of this and the price to get a repair guy. The machine is level, it is on rubber feet to absorb vibration, and yet, nothing helps. We also don’t use the hot water because our hose doesn’t reach and it’s $45 for an extension hose (did I mention LG said that the 2.7m hose is the correct length - so where did the 3.4m come from?). The machine does a great wash, has great functions but it is absolutely compromising the structural integrity of the house. Thanks in advance for any advice or feedback.
Did they take out the drum travel/transit bolts?
If they have been left in place the machine will not dampen any vibration.
They are found at the rear of the machine, some have 2, some 3, and some have 4 bolts. Make sure none are left in place.
As for the hoses, we have had to buy extension hoses previously. You can buy aftermarket ones much cheaper than you have been quoted. Sometimes you need to buy a threaded joiner as well but these are only a $1 or so.
Example
If that is the case and if the washer had much use with those bolt in, it could affect the longevity of the tub bearings. We had an LG that operated very well but barely lasted 7 years when the bearings went. Cost of repair was almost the cost of a similar new model on sale, so bought an Electrolux to replace it.
Symptoms to watch for, a periodic buzz while washing or the tub does not turn as freely by hand as it once did. When the bearings fail the tub will be too tight for the motor to turn, if it will turn at all.
Best course of action if it is discovered those bolts were not removed is to lodge a complaint with AOL for not providing a professional standard of installation, assuming installation was included with delivery.
While we are in Melbourne metro we have purchased a few items from AOL and each time the delivery and installation has been impeccable, but each crew can be different.
Thankyou so much for your feedback and advice. We will certainly check out those hoses, the transit bolts were definitely removed. Just so disappointed, have used AOL a few times here and in Vic and always excellent. The spanner was an oversight.
Thankyou so much for your advice and feedback, very confident the bolts were removed. There is no periodic buzz, the drum moves freely by hand, admittedly it takes a little bit of pressure to turn but definitely a smooth turn. The crew were great but they had issues with the short hoses and were keen to keep moving as they had other deliveries and we had to create additional holes in the cabinetry and still the hoses wouldn’t reach (cold water does). The conflicting info from LG was a disappointment. The door in door fridge is just amazing, the LG dishwasher we bought during COVID using Choice recommendations was the best dishwasher I have ever had. The TV and soundbar - fantastic. We had a top loader LG - brilliant - but our new house’s laundry has the built in cabinetry. We are just so fearful that if we do get a repair booked that it’ll cost nearly as much as the machine itself so we are at a catch-22.I know in my heart that this machine has a fault and the elevated house issue - is not mentioned anywhere, it was just by chance I saw it in the manual. Again, thankyou.
Have you tried running it empty? If it vibrates when empty, it means the machine isn’t balanced for some reason. If it runs smoothly, it could be the load being washed. If you put in as much as possible to fill the machine, try running lighter loads. Also try running the load with similarly sized items… e.g. don’t wash a towel with light clothing. Wash towels together, bed linen together and clothing separately.
I expect different machines work differently in managing position of items being washed, in attempt to better balance the load through high spin cycles.
Front loading washing machines need to run with lighter loads than top load machines, as the action of the clothes falling within the machine is the mechanical action used to clean the clothes. An overfilled machine can cause balancing issues, as the more of the load may stay on one part of the drum…causing it to vibrate and make noises.
We have a commercial LG machine. These are different to domestic models. One of the main differences is its weight. It is extremely heavy with a large weight in the base of the machine. From memory, our washing machine weighs around 80kg and takes at least two burly individuals to move it around. Our machine also has a slightly angled drum, to reduce water use. I was concerned this might affect balance during washing, but hasn’t eventuated. It does get out of balance from time to time, mainly when washing a single large item (blanket, quilts etc) where spreading the item around the wall of the drum isn’t perfect 100% of the time.
A method of getting more action from LG is to post a review on productreview.com.au
It’s a very public place to complain, and most companies try to fix customer issues that are raised there.
Hi there, I will try that suggestion, thankyou so much. I do try and balance the load weight - doona covers I dread - never a good result vibration-wise - might have to do those at the laundromat - half an hour away. Hence my frustration with this machine. Thanks so much for the info and advice, will go and do an empty load now.
Hi Jen, that’s exactly what I did to get LG to engage. I don’t know how to tell Choice reviewers that the negative is elevated houses which are common in Queensland - had that been noted as a bad point wouldn’t have purchased - it was the recommendation that guided us to this machine.
We had an LG FL, one of their early direct drive models. We installed it on a FL base purchased at the same time and supplier. Concrete slab on ground on tiles - it regularly went walking. Yes, I had removed the transport bolts. The next house several years later was also a slab on ground home with tiled floor. Even without the base and rubber pads I tended for a FL it tended to wander. The house never shook for the obvious reason. We replaced it with a F&P top loader which has been great for 12 years.
Our latest now nearly 2 years old is a Miele FL with a heat pump drier sitting on top. Our now home is a dated 19th century timber QLD cottage on stumps. Includes the laundry. We asked the sales rep about balance and suspended timber floors. There is a note in the installation manual - but not the sales material re timber supported flooring. It’s not recommended, however Miele advise one to install a heavy and thick single piece board between the floor and FL. The Miele has selectable spin speeds. I use 900 mostly without issue. Faster finds a resonance but only in the laundry window. The floor could be stiffened further, but no other issues and it does not go walkies.
Thankyou Mark, we have no room to put a floorboard underneath it - our only choice is to completely rip out the cabinetry. Just did videos of it shaking the outside house frame, the drum wobbling - albeit 1400 rpm standard cotton cycle. It has 7 small rags in it, a windcheater, a lightweight fishing shirt - maybe just under 2kg. I will post videos when I transfer them - apparently not permitted to load videos 
This has been educational. Our house has concrete stumps, an MDF floor, and tiles on top. The interior walls are not load bearing. We have had an Asko, LG, and Electrolux, all FL. On high speed spin (1200-1400) there is a bit of vibration depending on the load but none of them have gone walk-about. It is not anything I would have previously thought about. But for next time!
Apologies I forgot to advise that when we visited Harvey Norman initially, they advised the WV9-1610W has been superseded by the model we purchased WV5-1410W and assured they are identical. I am trying to update the title and my initial post but I am unable to do so currently. I have lots of videos but unable to upload here.
Considering personal privacy issues, you can upload a video to dropbox or a similar cloud account and link public files as a URL.
Hi Phil this is what I wish I had read before hand - the caution - if it is installed in an unstable floor - I do not consider ours to be unstable - it’s just elevated - then the warranty is voided!
Hi, just did an empty cotton cycle. It is still shaking the house, the TV has started to wobble again, not as bad as if 2kg of clothes are in it. The only option is to use it to wash then hand wring the clothes in the basin. Even low speed vibrates. The drum wobbles a little when empty but I figure that is normal movement. I have never been so disappointed. The manual suggests nailing the cups to the floor over two wooden beams - but we have a tiled floor. I think I need to seek advice from the ACCC.
I do not think the drum should have any wobble or freeplay. My sense is your washer may have a bearing defect. It does not sound right but could be so simple as an adjustment, or a bad part.
ACCC does not help individual cases; they are represented by your state Fair Trading office. Prior to receiving help they often require you go through process beginning with sending a Letter of Complaint to your retailer, cc LG stating your rights, their quality promises and reasonable expectations for a washer, how what you received varies, and what you want by when. Once you have their reply fair Trading may assist. Always good to ask first though, to avoid unnecessary work and angst if they are amenable to assist up front.
Were 4 bolts removed? It appears LG machines have 4 transit bolts:
If they didn’t give you 4 bolts when it was installed… or they didn’t give you the bolts (which they should have ), it might be worth pulling out the machine to double check all 4 bolts have been removed.
If all 4 bolts are removed, I would be contacting Appliance Online to indicate what tests you have done (e.g. empty load and still vibrated), checked all bolts removed, checked machine is level (assume done with a spririt level or similar) and feet wound out so they are hard against the floor + anything else you have done.
A machine shouldn’t vibrate with an empty load. It suggests something is causing it to be out of balance. Maybe something like a detached absorber spring, a mis-shapen drum etc.
Hopefully they can send out a technician to determine what is wrong.
Hi Phil thanks for your sage advice, I’m sort of at the end of the line with support. They were going to book a call but then said if we find out it’s your fault you have to pay the full cost. I asked what the cost was, they couldn’t tell me, even ballpark. Living in regional Queensland I am not sure how far a technician has to travel. Then I was fearful as some feedback stated that regardless, they will always find it is a fault at your end. Hope that makes sense. Will try with LG again - it’s hard to commit to a process without knowing the end outcome. The edge of the drum did wobble not side to side but from back to front - and just a little - May be normal given it had water in it (empty cycle). I dint know if you ever saw Tom Cruise’s War of the Worlds - those alien ships make a certain sound as they’re harvesting the earth - that’s the sound the machine made - empty cycle - as it was simulating washing. I think that’s probably normal too - if there had been washing it wouldn’t have made that sound. I’ll go back to LG again - there are so many variables - I dint think I can afford a service call thanks Phil and all the wonderful replies here.
Thanks phb! Darn, they gave me a bag with the bolts and I got distracted because the spanner was missing. I’ll hunt in the laundry again, I usually don’t throw things out, it’s a good point that you’ve made, it was definitely vibrating with an empty load, not as much as if clothes were in the wash, but I’m only doing small loads. I can only consider manual clothing wringing - maybe there is a sweet spot with a lower rpm. The Electrolux that the previous owners left didn’t make a peep, not a single vibration. I would’ve kept it - but - the door would get stuck and in the end couldn’t open it at all.
