Appliance Warranties in Australia: What You Need to Know
Buying an appliance is a significant investment. Understanding your warranty rights — and the difference between statutory rights, manufacturer warranties, and extended warranties — could save you hundreds of dollars when something goes wrong.
Your Statutory Rights Under Australian Consumer Law
Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), every product you buy in Australia comes with automatic consumer guarantees — regardless of what the manufacturer or retailer says. These are NOT optional and cannot be excluded by fine print.
Your consumer guarantees include:
- Acceptable quality: Products must be safe, durable, and free from defects
- Fit for purpose: Products must do what they're designed to do
- Match description: Products must match how they were described to you
How Long Do Statutory Guarantees Last?
There's no fixed time period under the ACL — instead, the guarantee lasts for a "reasonable time" based on the product type, price, and how it's used. For a major appliance:
- A $200 bar fridge: 2–3 years might be "reasonable"
- A $1,500 washing machine: 5–7 years might be "reasonable"
- A $3,000 premium fridge: 7–10 years might be "reasonable"
This means even after a manufacturer warranty expires, you may still have rights under the ACL if the appliance fails prematurely.
Manufacturer Warranty vs ACL Rights
Manufacturer warranties are voluntary promises from the brand. They typically cover:
- Parts and labour for 1–2 years on most appliances
- The compressor/motor for up to 10 years on some brands (LG, Samsung)
- Subject to conditions: normal use, not commercial use, registered within 30 days
The ACL is separate from and in addition to manufacturer warranties. If your appliance fails outside the manufacturer warranty but within a "reasonable" lifespan, the retailer (not just the manufacturer) is still liable.
Key Appliance Warranty Periods (New, 2024)
| Brand | General | Compressor/Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 1 year | 10 years (inverter compressor) |
| LG | 1 year | 10 years (Direct Drive motor / inverter) |
| Fisher & Paykel | 2 years | 5 years (compressor) |
| Westinghouse | 2 years | 5 years (compressor) |
| Bosch | 2 years | n/a |
| Miele | 2 years | n/a |
| Hisense | 1 year | 5 years (compressor) |
| Daikin | 5 years | 5 years |
| Mitsubishi Electric | 5 years | 5 years |
Should You Buy an Extended Warranty?
Extended warranties (sold by Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, etc.) are typically not worth it for most consumers, for several reasons:
- They overlap with the ACL rights you already have for free
- They often contain exclusions that make claims difficult
- The claim process can be frustrating
- Statistical failure rates mean most appliances don't fail during the extended period
The exception: for a premium appliance (Miele, Bosch) bought from a retailer with a known fast claims process, it might be worthwhile for peace of mind.
Oceania Appliances Warranty
Every appliance we sell comes with a 3–6 month warranty. If anything goes wrong in that period, we repair or replace — no questions asked. Used and refurbished appliances naturally don't come with manufacturer warranties, but our own warranty protects you during the first months of ownership — when any hidden issues would typically surface.
Browse our range at oceaniaappliances.com.au.