This refrigerator looks great, has nice features, but its design and functionality fall short of its physical appearance. I have had this refrigerator for almost exactly 3 years. When I bought it, it was $2300 (Best Buy...they had the lowest price), and as with all things electronic, the price has gone down some since then. My criticism begins with the water and ice dispenser. The water dispenses at an acceptable rate, but within the first month of installing the new water filter (which needs to be done every 4-6 mos and costs $50-60/filter, pretty pricey, but not as bad as buying bottled), the water pressure noticeably decreases to the point that by the end of month 2, it's painfully slow (I counted to 25 before I got an 8 oz glass of water). The ice dispenser is a disaster. It's almost impossible to get ice into a glass without ice going all over the floor. I suspect this is a combination of 2 things: the shape of the cube (they're elongated, and invariably they back up in the mouth of the dispenser or the glass or water bottle into which I'm trying to get ice because they turn sideways) and short length the chute out of which the ice is funneled--I suspect it needs to be longer. But these issues are more inconvenience which I can live with (although for $2300, I would expect these features to work as advertised).Now for the actual malfunctioning. On month 13, the computer that controls the temperature started malfunctioning. Specifically, the water dispenser (yes, the dispenser that did so slowly) would NOT SHUT OFF. When I took my glass out from under the dispenser--get this!--it kept dispensing water. I nearly flooded my kitchen floor b/c I didn't know I could hold down the lock 'button' (there are no buttons--it's entirely flat touch screen) to override the dispenser. 3 weeks and a backordered part later, and the over-achieving water dispenser was fixed. (The technician, by the way, told me he's repaired some 10 or 12 units that have had the same problem.)
Fast-forward 2 years. The unit made some suspicious low groaning-like sounds. I knew this wasn't good. But they subsided. For a week. Then the sound came back, only exponentially louder now. Dog growling at this beautiful, sleek appliance that sounded more 747 than hi tech gadget, I called for repair. Same tech as before, identifies the problem as a leaking ice maker. Orders part. The next morning, the readout that should be displaying the freezer and refrigerator temperatures is instead reading 'EF'. Two unopened half gallons of ice cream are melted, and the refrigerator is clearly not cold. The bottom of the freezer however contains (thankfully) properly frozen food. Another call to Geek Squad (despite purchasing what I wrongly assumed was a quality product, I still opted for the 5-year platinum extended warranty, and now I'm so glad I did!), and they tell me this sounds like an entirely different problem.
Are the leaking ice maker and inability for the unit to stay cold related? Who knows. Frankly, it doesn't matter. I've had enough problems that I now know I will NEVER purchase an Electrolux refrigerator again.
Oh, and ease and efficiency of cleaning the unit? IMPOSSIBLE. You need tools (!) to unscrew the drawers to gain access to the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer, where debris easily collects and you can equally easily see.
From everything I've read and based on my experience with other major appliances, go with LG. If I have one more issue with this unit, I'm replacing it with an LG model.
***UPDATE 9/2/2012***
After having the refrigerator serviced for the issue I detailed above, it turned out the fan responsible for ventilating and cooling the unit was blocked by construction debris the builder failed to clean up prior to install. It's been working since the fan was cleaned, but the ice maker continues to leak in the freezer, where the water freezes into a large block in on the top freezer shelf, and the unit makes unusual buzzing sounds, which the tech has been unable to fix. My opinion about Electrolux refrigerators remains unchanged--I will not buy this brand when it comes time to replace it.
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