Artisan® Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head
The most common consumer model. It utilizes a nylon worm gear designed as a "sacrificial part" (see below).
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United States · EST 1919
KitchenAid
Last assessed 17 Dec 2025
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KitchenAid is the flagship appliance brand of Whirlpool Corporation, synonymous with the American home baker. While they market a full suite of kitchen electronics (fridges, ranges, blenders), their reputation hangs almost entirely on the Stand Mixer, a product whose silhouette has remained trademarked and virtually unchanged since the 1930s.
Brand History
History
1919
Founded by The Hobart Manufacturing Company; Model H-5 introduced to the US Navy.
1937
Designer Egmont Arens finalizes the "Model K," creating the iconic shape used today.
1986
Whirlpool Corporation acquires KitchenAid from Hobart.
2006
Hand mixer production moves to China (later returned to US in 2012).
2016
Class Action Settlement (Bornstein v. Whirlpool) regarding exaggerated horsepower claims on mixers.
2019
Class Action Settlement (Burch v. Whirlpool) regarding defective plastic adjusters in dishwasher racks.
Warranty & Returns
- Stand Mixers (Artisan): 1 Year Full Warranty (US).
- Stand Mixers (Pro Line): 5 Years (Residential use only).
- Commercial Mixers: 2 Years.
- Blenders: 1-5 Years (Model dependent).
- Large Appliances: 1 Year (Parts & Labor).
Returns: 30 Days from shipment date. Logistics: Returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee and customer-paid shipping unless the item is defective. US stand mixer warranty claims often include free "Hassle-Free" shipping/exchange.
Why They're Listed
The Stand Mixer (Artisan and Pro Line) is one of the few remaining small appliances that is fully repairable. Every component—from the motor brushes to the speed control board—is available as a spare part, and the core assembly is still performed in Ohio, USA.
Noteworthy Products
Pro Line® Series 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
Unlike the tilt-head "Artisan" models, this uses an all-metal gear box and a DC motor that is quieter and more powerful (1.3HP). It carries a 5-year warranty versus the standard 1-year.
Important Context
Lead in Attachments: There is an ongoing controversy regarding lead in the aluminum alloy of the paddle/dough hook attachments. If the white nylon coating chips, the exposed aluminum may contain trace lead. Stainless steel attachments are recommended for zero-risk users.
Dishwasher Rack Adjusters: Owners of 2010–2019 dishwashers should be aware of a known failure point where the upper rack collapses. Stainless steel replacement parts were provided via class-action settlement.
Manufacturing: Stand mixers and dishwashers are assembled in Ohio, USA, using global components (electronics/gears) mostly from China. Refrigerators are built in Iowa, Tennessee, or Mexico. Hand mixers (after a brief period in China) are also assembled in Ohio. Accessory gadgets are primarily imported.
Further Information
The Plastic Gear:
Critics often claim KitchenAid quality declined because they use a plastic gear.
- The Facts: Since the 1960s, KitchenAid has used a Kevlar-reinforced nylon worm gear in their tilt-head mixers. This is a deliberate engineering choice, acting as a "mechanical fuse." If the beater jams (e.g., a spoon falls in), the $15 nylon gear shears off to save the $300 motor.
- *Note:* The "Pro Line" and commercial models use all-metal gears and electronic protection systems instead.
Litigation & Defects:
- Lead in Attachments: There is an ongoing controversy (fueled by "Lead Safe Mama" and Prop 65 warnings) regarding lead in the aluminum alloy of the paddle/dough hook attachments. KitchenAid states they comply with FDA standards.
- * *Advisory:* If the white nylon coating on your beater chips, the exposed aluminum underneath may contain trace lead. Replacement stainless steel attachments are available and recommended for zero-risk users.
- Dishwasher Rack Adjusters: A massive failure point in 2010–2019 dishwashers where the upper rack would collapse. A class-action settlement provided stainless steel replacement parts to affected owners.
Horsepower Claims:
In 2016, KitchenAid settled a lawsuit alleging they overstated the horsepower of their mixers. They now clarify that the "1.3 HP" rating refers to the *motor's potential output* in a lab, not the power delivered to the bowl during mixing.