Downsides You May Want To Know About Before Buying A Dyson Vacuum

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Dyson is a household appliance company with a glowing reputation for powerful and lasting vacuums. The brand invests millions of dollars in research and has a team of over 1,000 engineers working alongside scientists to create incredibly innovative household products. Despite the success and phenomenal customer testimonials, no company is without faults. Even the best Dyson vacuums that are worth every penny have their caveats.

Below are 12 common complaints people have about various Dyson vacuum models and the brand itself. This includes the secret downsides of the corded, cordless, and robot vacuums. We also explore issues within the brand itself, such as customer service and servicing policies. At the end of the day, a worldwide brand is bound to face criticism of some sort, as every customer can't be pleased. The reality is that even though these devices are precisely made, they aren't perfect and aren't ideal for all household cleaning ventures. Here are some common problems with Dyson and how to overcome and work around them when possible.

Dyson's big ball and slim ball vacuum models are unique for their ball-shaped contraptions that replace traditional wheels to improve maneuverability. Although this ball is innovative and enables sharper turns than standard corded vacuum designs, it does make the device somewhat clunky. The ball doesn't fit under low furniture and isn't compact for storage, which is a bigger issue for those living in small apartments or homes. Several customer reviews echo these sentiments, saying, "While it pivots easily to deal with corners etc., the big ball-thing [sic] makes it impossible to get under beds and the like." At least ten of the 459 critical reviews mentioned this glaring issue with the Dyson Ball Animal Vacuum. Many people also regarded it as "too bulky."

Since part of Dyson's appeal is this innovative shape, there isn't much you can do about the sphere design. Personally, I tuck the entire vacuum in the corner of my walk-in closet to keep it out of the way. Unfortunately, the bulkiness of the vacuum is also an issue while in use, as it's hard to slide under furniture. The Animal model, or slim ball, vacuum comes with numerous potential attachments that can assist with reaching those tight spaces. However, these attachments bring about another issue- finding them proper storage, which brings forth other critical comments about the Dyson ball-style vacuums.

According to Ecovacs, most traditional vacuums have around 180 to 200 AW of suction power. Dyson corded vacuums, like the Dyson Ball Animal, are far more powerful than the average and reach around 290AW when put on "boost mode." This power, propelled by patented Cyclone technology, has a stellar reputation for picking up dirt and debris. However, this power comes at a cost. Some customers report that Dyson corded ball-style vacuums are slightly too effective. Over 30 of the critical reviews claimed rugs got sucked up and disheveled by their Dysons, "However it can't be used on rugs. It sucks them right up off of the floor."

Some customers recommend always keeping the vacuum on the "high pile" setting to ensure they don't accidentally suck up their rugs. Others say that this remains an issue even when configured to a lower setting. The easy answer is to reserve these vacuums for hard floors and low pile carpeting and to use another vacuum for rugs with shaggy fibers. Another option is to pin down rugs with heavy furniture to keep the edges firmly in place so a Dyson can't suck them up.

When Dyson vacuums pull too hard on throw rugs, it's perilous for more than just the rugs. Many people struggle to push Dyson Animal (the slim ball vacuum), even when they're set on the short pile and hard floor setting. Over 100 of the critical reviews on Amazon report similar criticisms, "Great vacuum but too hard to push. Possibly good for bare floors and such but was a workout trying to vacuum my rugs. It's heavy too." The newest models are self-adjusting, which also creates a problem for people trying to vacuum hard and soft floors alike. One reviewer joked, "The thing sucks like a jet engine which is great on hard floors, but since the height is self-adjusting, you cannot raise it up when on carpet, which also makes it very hard to push."

Adjusting the vacuum manually or allowing it to self-adjust doesn't solve this problem. Therefore, if your home is predominantly medium to high pile carpeting or you have many variations of hard and soft floors, this Dyson model may not be the best fit. Fortunately, there are smaller Dyson vacuums, such as the cordless or handheld options, that aren't as heavy or difficult to push over carpet.

Part of Dyson's vacuum appeal is the various attachments they offer with their vacuums. They come with groom tools, soft dusting brushes, reach-under tools, multi-angle brushes, turbine tools, and combination attachments designed for hard-to-reach and tight spaces in your home. The downside of all these attachments? Dyson only includes two wall mounts for accessory storage, leaving customers to their own devices to figure out what to do with the rest. Over 70 critical reviewers left comments on the cordless and corded Dyson models, though this issue is more so expressed with the larger design. One customer stated that the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Vacuum came with "Five attachments but only 2 wall mounts for attachments. Disappointing."

One of the easiest workarounds is to purchase the vacuum model that doesn't include attachments. Dyson sells its vacuums with anywhere from two to twelve attachments, depending on the chosen model. The more accessories and the more advanced the model, the more expensive the starting price. Households on a budget or with minimal storage space can opt for the vacuum with fewer attachments. However, if additional accessories are necessary for your cleaning regimen, install your own wall storage system using inspiration from social media. One idea is to transform your storage using IKEA's VARIERA bag dispenser hack and tuck the various accessories into the bag dispenser. There are also wall storage designs like Fullclean Attachments Mount Holders, which are designed to hold the many Dyson attachments for which the brand doesn't provide storage. Dyson also provides a Wall Dok Multi Accessory Holder for adding tool storage to wall-mounted charging docks.

The many attachments and accessories for Dyson vacuums should be a boon to the vacuum design, making routine cleaning more convenient and thorough. Despite the intention, past Dyson customers have qualms about this feature. At least 70 critical reviewers comment on the attachments, referring to them as awkward and cumbersome in multiple written statements. One reviewer openly compares the Dyson attachments to Shark, a Dyson vacuum alternative that is just as effective, "Switching to use the attachments is much more cumbersome with the Dyson than the Shark. The attachments for the Dyson do not fit snugly to the hose, which results in a significant amount of play." However, they also add, "This does not appear to affect the suction performance."

Although multiple people dislike the attachment system, there isn't anything inherently wrong with the Dyson design. It's simply up to user preference. I own a Dyson Animal slim ball and have no problem snapping my attachments into place. It's a clip-on system, and they click in and out in just one or two steps. The simple click system seems like it would let air escape, but no air escapes from the connector, and the suction is just as effective when using the additional accessories.

Despite the patented ball and wide floor brush bottoming a Dyson Animal, at least 20 disapproving reviewers claim the overall vacuum is too heavy and tricky to maneuver. The body includes a 5-stage filtration system, multiple filters, patented Cyclone technology, and a 1.6-liter dust bin, and the entire vacuum weighs a whopping 17 pounds. Given these features, this is an unsurprising criticism. One verified purchaser stated, "This vac wears me out. Also it is top heavy so you have to be very careful to keep it from falling over."

A Dyson Animal is roughly two pounds more than the average vacuum, and there's not much to be done about the overall size and weight distribution. If you already find most corded vacuums too bulky and heavy to move, a Dyson might not be a good fit. Fortunately, there are other styles of vacuums from this reputable brand that are far more lightweight, such as the Dyson V8 Origin Extra.

Several lineups of Dyson cordless vacuums work to offset many of the issues people have with the Dyson ball-style devices. Even with their small and narrow design, slim cordless vacuums use a lot of power for suction, and many top-performing brands have trouble holding a charge. Dyson attempts to improve its battery life by making several of its models use a "push and hold" power button. By making it a hold-down button instead of a trigger switch, the vacuum shuts off during small breaks while cleaning. Despite the good intention, at least 6 of 136 critical reviewers consider this feature to be an extra frustration rather than a benefit. In fact, one purchaser mentioned that the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine​ Vacuum is downright painful for people with medical conditions, "You have to hold the button the entire time you're using it or it will shut off. This is not good for people who have arthritis. It hurts to hold something down that long."

While some of Dyson's vacuums still have this feature, there are newer cordless models that have swapped to a toggleable power button. If you have arthritis or simply want to push a vacuum without holding down a button, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Dyson Gen5outsize Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, and Dyson Gen5 Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner don't include this infuriating feature. If you go with one of the newer models, adapt to battery-saving habits like powering off the vacuum during small rests and running on lower power settings when able.

Even though Dyson engages battery-saving features on their cordless vacuums, they reportedly have subpar battery life. At least 20 of the 33 critical reviewers of the Dyson V8 Extra Cordless Vacuum Cleaner complain about the short-lived battery, and there are mostly positive reviews that mention this as a minor setback: "The battery life is horrible for the small area of tile and throw rugs that it is used for." Many reviews state the battery only works for 10 to 20 minutes before needing to be recharged.

This isn't just a Dyson problem — many cordless vacuum cleaners are criticized for low battery life. The reality is that slim and battery-powered vacuums aren't designed for full home and deep cleaning. They're meant for small rooms and impromptu cleanups, so you don't have to fetch a large and bulky full-size vacuum cleaner. Only purchase a lightweight Dyson vacuum to clean up smaller messes or perform quick everyday sweeps on low power. A Dyson Animal or Dyson Big Ball Multi Floor Canister Vacuum are more sensible choices when it comes to deep cleaning.

The Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum didn't make our list of best robot vacuums for sparkling floors, nor did it make the list for many other publications. Part of this vacuum's downfall is that its app fell flat. Five of the 40 critical reviews on Amazon are highly critical of the app's functionality, with one stating, "Dyson might be a vacuum company, but it is not a software company, clearly evident by the lack of features, bugs and poorly designed interface."

Even though multiple people are highly critical of the robot vacuum app, their opinions are not unanimous among all customers. Many people like the app and have no issues running it, meaning this problem might extend beyond Dyson's control. Many other factors could contribute to a poor app experience, such as insufficient phone storage, outdated phone software, or poor Wi-Fi connectivity. Before investing in a Dyson robot vacuum, ensure your phone is updated, has storage space, and has seamless Wi-Fi connectivity. Check out the Dyson Wi-Fi Configuration Compatibility blog page to ensure your household network won't be an issue. Dyson requires a 2.4 and 5 GHz band connection, which is a common bandwidth on modern routers.

Depending on where you look, Dyson's first robot vacuum has mixed reviews. Some people love their hands-off vacuum and its accompanying app, while others find too many faults to give praise. At least 13 critical reviews of Dyson robot vacuums mention that navigation is an issue, which is a major subject since robot vacuums need this feature to navigate correctly. According to customers, "It can't navigate in a dark or dim room, and it can't go under beds," and "It doesn't have AI and its obstacle avoidance is abysmal."

This problem mirrors the aforementioned issues of overall app functionality, although not everyone shares such grievances. Despite the complaints about navigation, it seems Dyson is actively working on it, "Dyson is frequently pushing updates which is improving the navigation." A mobile phone's operating system (OS) may also impact how well navigational information travels from the app to a Dyson. The MyDyson Google Play Store app only has a 3.9 rating, while it has a 4.5 average on the Apple App Store. Before ordering the vacuum, search for reviews from people with the same phone model and software version as your own to see what they think of the app. When operating the vacuum itself, be careful not to overload it with complex directions. If you have issues with your vacuum navigating poorly at night or running into obstacles, consider scheduling it during the daytime and keeping rooms tidy.

Dyson may have an outstanding reputation for its innovative and high-performing product designs, but its customer service does not uphold the same standards. Despite many products having high reviews at Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, and other popular online storefronts, TrustPilot provides a completely different story. Over 3,000 reviewers left an average 1.3-star rating, which has garnered them the "bad" TrustPilot label. The business claims the profile, yet 0% of negative reviews are responded to, including ones like "After providing all the necessary documentation and following their instructions to the letter, they refused to honor the policy without any valid explanation. It feels like they're actively trying to avoid taking responsibility."

The best way to avoid Dyson's customer service is to only purchase vacuums through major retailers with forgiving return and replacement policies. Costco sells many popular vacuum cleaner brands and offers up to a five-year warranty on Dyson products specifically. One TrustPilot reviewer called out Costco specifically, "Got a Dyson cordless V10+ two and a half years ago. I noticed it wasn't picking up anything. Today, I called Dyson — The agent told me that was an 'error,' and that my warranty was only for 2 years. I took that piece of garbage to Costco, who fully refunded me." Look for similar testimonials at retailers near you to find a reputable place to purchase from. It's also best to avoid buying from unauthorized retailers, as you won't have recourse if issues pop up.

One of Dyson's biggest selling points is its innovative technology. Given this fact, older models are often "retired" and replaced with newer and more optimized vacuums. When Dyson discontinues a product, they no longer provide servicing or replacement parts. If something goes wrong, owners of older models are responsible for troubleshooting and solving issues through online discussion pages like the Official Dyson Community. Be aware that discontinued products can still be purchased "new" on sites like Amazon, such as the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Vacuum. Purchaser lament that representatives often stick to a script and that they usually won't confirm nor deny these models ever existed in the first place.

Unless you have a knack for repairing household devices, steer clear of outdated Dyson products. Check out their website to see the latest products and seek them out at local retailers. If you go with an older model, be ready to search eBay and other secondhand websites for replacement parts, as you can't be assured of finding them through the official brand resources. Also, follow simple tips to extend the life of your Dyson so fewer repairs and replacement parts are needed over the years.