Why You Should Avoid This Whirlpool Induction Cooktop, According To Consumer Reports

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Consumer Reports (CR) is an independent nonprofit consumer research organization that regularly assesses appliances and ranks them according to consumer reviews, brand reliability, and the results of its expert lab tests. When it comes to induction cooktops, among the 17 different 30-inch models that Consumer Reports tested and rated, the one that the organization awarded its lowest overall score based on owner surveys and independent testing is the Whirlpool WCI55US0JB.

This induction cooktop features four burners, an electric ignition, and Whirlpool's signature settings including fast boil, quick clean up, keep warm, and assisted boil and pan frying. It retails for $899 and is sold at appliance and big-box stores such as Home Depot, Best Buy, and Lowe's. While the biggest disadvantage of an induction cooktop is that you must purchase induction-compatible cookware, CR thinks this Whirlpool model falls short of all other best-selling induction ranges on the market.

CR only gave the appliance a satisfactory score for its performance at its highest heat setting. This means that the burner doesn't boil water as quickly compared to other models. It's noteworthy that the organization did give the range a high rating for low-heat performance, which tests the cooktop's ability to maintain a consistent low temperature. However, the range also scored poorly with owners.

Consumer Reports rated this Whirlpool induction range based on the results of owner surveys, which asked customers to consider the appliance's reliability and their satisfaction with ownership. The model received a very poor score for predicted reliability, which assesses the likelihood of the appliance experiencing a problem within the first five years of ownership. Likewise, it received a similarly low score for owner satisfaction, a metric that indicates how likely an owner is to recommend an induction cooktop to friends and family.

The Whirlpool WCI55US0JB also has low customer ratings on retail sites. Buyers at Best Buy gave it a 3.9-star rating, and it received 3.6 stars at both Home Depot and Lowe's. Many customers report that the cooktop stopped working in a year or less, while others complain about poor performance, touchy controls, and features that don't function properly. Others say that the range displays frequent error messages that they don't know how to resolve. As one Best Buy customer said in their review, "Have had the stovetop [for] almost 2 years now...a couple of issues have led to some frustration. First the touch panel is extremely sensitive...The other is a bigger issue where one of the burners went out and started to give an error code. It requires a new board, and waiting on one to get sent has taken a couple of weeks, and still no updates." Overall, this appliance makes it clear why Whirlpool is currently not among the most reliable cooktop brands according to Consumer Reports.