The lawsuit alleges that despite many complaints from consumers, Whirlpool and Sears have refused to notify consumers of the defects, repair them, or recall the Calypsos. Instead, the companies have continued to sell the defective machines nationwide. The machines allegedly suffer from problems such as U-joint failure, circuit board malfunctions, and filtration problems – all of which add up to dirt-streaked clothes and poor quality washes.

The machines in question all bear the names Calypso, Elite, or combinations of both names, were manufactured by Whirlpool, and sold either under the Whirlpool brand name or by Sears under the brand name Kenmore. The lawsuit alleges that the machines release dirt, grease, and machine lubricants into the washtub, causing streaking on clothing and trapped clothing within parts of the washer. To make matters worse, the machines allegedly have no filter system to trap dirt as the wash-water is recirculated through the machine. The result is that clothes are not cleaned-- the water they soak in remains dirty. Many owners have also complained that their machines often flash error codes and subsequently discontinue the rinse cycle and refuse to drain.

Besides leaving dark-colored streaks on clothing, Calypso machines are allegedly designed so that they allow the growth of mold and mildew inside the machine, causing the inside of the machine and washed clothing to be mildew-stained, and stink as well. The lawsuit seeks to create a class composed of all persons who have bought a Calypso washer in the past four years.