Others have commented similarly, but I just have to say that we've tried various Dysons over the years, and they always start off brilliantly. E.g., we vacuumed a nominally clean bedroom with a new Dyson upright and it was like steam-cleaning, or better, since it was dry--we pulled out a whole container's worth of dirt.
But then after 6 mo to a year, they start to fall apart, with (their many internal) joints not sealing, vacuum power dropping, motors failing eventually, etc., etc.
I don't think Dyson engineers understand nor design for long term durability.
We've switched to Miele vacuums and couldn't be happier.
I've had my Dyson upright for probably nearly a decade now (or at least 7-8 years that I can account for at minimum). It started off as a vacuum for a retail store I owned, and was used every single day for about an hour solid, for about 4 years, until I sold my stores... and has since been my home vacuum being used weekly. I've never had it break down, or any parts fall off, and it still works better than any other vacuum I've tried.
Maybe I just got lucky, not sure, but I've been very happy with mine.
My mum got a first gen Dyson and it lasted over a decade. I got a used dyson (not sure the model, its the one that pulls behind where your hose has the attachments for the sweeper head) about 3 years, so its around 6 years old and it still runs great. No issues whatsoever.
My mums second dyson is still going strong.
I keep hearing people claim they don't work well, I picked up my own because my friend said it worked like shit. I had a stray thread on the end of a matt and it stripped 3 rows of fibre before I got it shut off. The suction is incredible, I honestly just think people don't know how to vaccuum properly.
I have no doubt the Dysons made a decade ago were excellent vacuums. In my experience the ones made the past few years are very much not worthy of the good name.
Although I've had good luck with HP Printers mysef (still own several 4250's higher speed and do plenty of output with high quality) sounds like similar comments I've read about recent HP products.
I've found that this kind is very common; a company will build a good reputation on high-quality products and then slowly lower the quality to make more profit.
It's almost to the point where there should be trademark laws that start to enforce a type of product to protect consumers. Like when Pyrex changed the composition and started breaking. I know it's not feasible to so cleanly draw such lines - for instance, I'd prefer if Lenovo wasn't allowed to use ThinkPad on their current line of items.
On the flip side, I've had a Dyson for the last 5 years and it's still kicking ass despite contending with the monster amount of Siberian Husky hair that fails to stay on my husky. Extremely happy with this thing. I'd be all over them if things went south within a year.
I've had mine for about 4 years now and it's fine. Perhaps you weren't emptying the tank often enough, which is when it fills about half way for whatever reason. Otherwise, no idea, sorry.
Having said that, I was expecting wonders from it when I first got it, but the suction isn't as amazing as I thought it would be. I suspect it's just very good suction considering it's bagless. I'm tempted to switch to a Miele as well when my Dyson dies...which it seems to be taking its sweet time doing. But I suspect I will miss not having to pay for cyclical costs (i.e. bags).
I've got a ten year old Dyson Animal. I've had some parts break, the hinge on the bottom of the canister, a hub cap, and most annoyingly, the handle. I've epoxyed the heck out of the handle a couple times, so it's ugly but still functional. And it hasn't failed to suck up a mind-boggling amount of dirt each time we vacuum.
My parents have a DC01, and about a week ago it started making burning smells. Turns out the motor brushes had run out. How many products can you say that you've used until their motor brushes run out? I don't think it's ever happened to me.
I think you've just been unlucky. They have a 5 year warranty anyway for such an event.
Yes, our motor burned out after a couple of years, and then we had to chase all over kingdom come (about an hour's drive) to find a dealer who could fix it.
We had a similar experience with our dysons. They begun to fall apart after 1-2 years. Granted, it was a three-story house with 7 family members and two dogs, so they had to take some abuse, but still, we expected more (than just innovation) at this price point.
We've had our Dyson for 5+ years now with no issues, but we may get a different brand soon. We recently started looking at new carpeting and when the guy came to do measurements he commented on the Dyson: "That vacuum will shorten the life of your carpet faster than your kids."
At first I blew it off, but there are some carpets that will only honor their warranty if you use certain vacuums, so it seems like it might be a real issue.
But then after 6 mo to a year, they start to fall apart, with (their many internal) joints not sealing, vacuum power dropping, motors failing eventually, etc., etc.
I don't think Dyson engineers understand nor design for long term durability.
We've switched to Miele vacuums and couldn't be happier.