We did our research and purchased a Maytag refrigerator because it had the least amount of complaints.  (We also own a 35 year old Maytag dishwasher that is still working fine.)

We purchased it in February, 2008.  Appliances used to have a 5 year warranty a long time ago but now they usually only warrant the 1st year.  So in June we decided to get an extended warranty since the original ran out in Feb 2009.

A few days after we signed up in July, the compressor went out.  Its not even 18 months since we bought it.  We call the warranty service and found it would not be effective until September. ...