Compare Appliance Repair is not affiliated with Kenmore, Sears or Transform SR Brands and is not a Kenmore service provider. Independent companies answer the calls.
Who makes Kenmore appliances? Read the prefix
A Kenmore model number looks like 110.12345678: a three-digit code, a dot, and the model. The code before the dot is the manufacturer. Two long-standing public lists of these codes, from Appliance411 and Appliance Aid, agree on the prefixes that matter for washers, dryers, ranges and freezers.
| Prefix | Built by | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Whirlpool | refrigerators, room air conditioners |
| 110 | Whirlpool | washers, dryers |
| 198 | Whirlpool | freezers |
| 665 | Whirlpool | dishwashers, ranges, wall ovens |
| 664 | Whirlpool | cooktops, wall ovens |
| 790 | Frigidaire (Electrolux) | not specified in the lists |
| 970 | Frigidaire (Electrolux) | ranges, refrigeration |
| 253 | Frigidaire (Gibson) | refrigeration, room air conditioners |
| 417 | Frigidaire (Kelvinator) | varies by product |
| 795 | LG | refrigerators |
| 796 | LG | washers, dryers |
| 402, 592 | Samsung | washers, dryers |
| 363 | GE (one list adds LG) | refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves in one list |
Appliance411 and Appliance Aid manufacturer code lists, read September 2026. Where the lists differ, both are shown.
Why it changes the repair
A Kenmore washer with a 110 prefix is, mechanically, a Whirlpool washer of the same era: the same pump, lid lock, belt and control parts, and often the same service manual. A 796 washer is an LG design with LG's motor and controls. A 970 range is a Frigidaire design. A technician who knows the source platform can bring the right part and apply the fixes known for that design, which is why the first thing to give on the phone is the full model number.
Kenmore in three larger cases
- Front-load washers. Sears sold Whirlpool-made front-load washers under its own brand from 2005, and those machines were part of Whirlpool's front-load mold litigation, settled with court approval in September 2016.
- Refrigerators with LG compressors. Owners of Kenmore Elite refrigerators with LG compressors sued LG in New Jersey in October 2020, in Marriott v. LG Electronics U.S.A., alleging compressor and sealed-system defects; the case was closed in May 2022 after the plaintiffs dismissed it. Those Kenmore models were not in the earlier LG refrigerator settlement, which covered LG-brand units only.
- Smooth-top ranges. Kenmore Elite smooth-top electric ranges built by Frigidaire are included in the May 2024 re-announcement of a 2009 recall, in which surface elements could turn on by themselves or fail to turn off. Check the model and serial number before paying for a burner repair.
Who owns Kenmore now
Kenmore was Sears Holdings' own brand. In January 2019 Sears agreed to sell its Kenmore business with other assets to Transform Holdco, an affiliate of ESL Investments; the sale closed on February 11, 2019. The Kenmore website now credits the trademark to Transform SR Brands LLC. Warranty and extended-plan questions for a recent Kenmore purchase go to the seller named on your paperwork.
What Kenmore repairs typically cost
| Kenmore appliance | Fixr brand range |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | $80–$650 |
| Washer | $100–$300 |
| Dryer | $100–$200 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$550 |
Fixr refrigerator guide (August 29, 2025) and washer, dryer and dishwasher guides (January 31, 2025). Kenmore washer repair and Kenmore dryer repair sit at the lower end of both brand tables; the wide refrigerator range reflects how many different makers built Kenmore fridges.
Calling about a Kenmore
This line connects calls about Kenmore refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, cooktops and freezers with independent local companies. Read the full model number with its prefix, and the serial number, from the label before you call.
Questions people ask next
Who makes Kenmore washers and dryers?
It depends on the model number. Published code lists tie the prefix 110 to Whirlpool laundry, 796 to LG laundry, and 402 and 592 to Samsung laundry. Whirlpool parts and service data apply to the 110 machines.
Where is the model number on a Kenmore?
In the same places as on the appliance it was built from: inside the door opening of a dryer, around the lid or door frame or on the back of a washer, behind the storage drawer or on the oven door frame of a range, and inside the lid or on an inner wall of a freezer. The digits before the dot are the prefix.
Is Kenmore still made?
The brand still exists. Sears Holdings sold its Kenmore business with other assets to Transform Holdco in February 2019, and the Kenmore website credits the trademark to Transform SR Brands LLC. Kenmore appliances continue to be built by other manufacturers.
Sources
- Sears / Kenmore manufacturer codes, Appliance411, read September 29, 2026.
- Sears manufacturing codes, Appliance Aid, read September 29, 2026.
- Sears Holdings Corporation Form 8-K, sale of assets to Transform Holdco LLC, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), January 2019.
- Kenmore, Transform SR Brands LLC, read September 29, 2026.
- In re: Whirlpool Corp. Front-Loading Washer Products Liability Litigation, case 1:08-WP-65000 (MDL 2001), memorandum and order on final approval, U.S. District Court, N.D. Ohio (via GovInfo), September 23, 2016.
- Electrolux Group Reannounces Recall of Frigidaire and Kenmore Electric Ranges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, May 16, 2024.
- Marriott v. LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., No. 2:20-cv-14514 (D.N.J.), docket, CourtListener, filed October 15, 2020, terminated May 20, 2022.
- Bentley v. LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., No. 2:19-cv-13554 (D.N.J.), settlement agreement, Settlement administrator (Angeion), final approval December 18, 2020.
- How much does it cost to repair a refrigerator?, Fixr, updated August 29, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a washing machine?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a dryer?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
- How much does it cost to repair a dishwasher?, Fixr, updated January 31, 2025.
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Spotted an error? Write to admin@compareappliancerepair.com.