Older dishwasher door problems are always self-inflicted by the customer. They don't wear out; they get sprung. Kids, adults or dogs put excessive weight on the door and buckle the hinges. Kids and dogs climb on the door; adults just fall. The result is a door that drops below horizontal or all the way to the floor.
Collapsed Door
It is not possible to bend the hinge back into shape as the metal is stretched out. Only a new hinge set will fix the damage. For many years, KitchenAid was designed with hinges independent of the door and a set was easily installed. However, most designs require installation of a new door frame. This gets time consuming and expensive.
Whirlpool Hinges
For years it has been possible to buy trim kits to custom fit panels to a door and blend it into the kitchen. Customers frequently try or ask about reusing a custom panel on a new dishwasher. Sorry, no way! The old one never fits the new model. And the original cabinet maker has long retired. Too bad; time for a stainless front model.
Heavy wooden door panels often require stronger door springs to balance the new weight of the door. Seldom is the cabinet maker guy aware of this consideration and a falling door results; this can damage the hinges. It is usually difficult to find correct springs or adjust to a weight change. Once in a while, enough extra slots are provided to allow tightening of the springs.
Currently, Whirlpool and Bosch dishwashers use a weak rope and pulley system attached to strong springs to support the door. The rope and rope ends wear out quickly and require frequent repair. If the user procrastinates on repairing broken ropes, a falling door will soon damage the hinges. This design requires far more repair than the heavier previous one.
Kitchen Aid & Whirlpool Pulley System
Bosch Pulley System