Side by Side Comparison of: Panasonic

My family has often used this type of canister vacuum growing up. I was worried about quality compared to what I was used to. This vacuum has been no problem for the past three years. It still runs well. I like the attachments. I don't have too much trouble finding bags (they go on sale on amazon from time to time). I usually buy them for $2.00 a bag or so. The pile height adjuster is broken (either permanently or temporarily; I haven't checked into it) but otherwise, I expect to keep using it. It's great in the car too. At three-and-a-half years, the cord is not retracting as well. It takes some effort for it to pull in. Once while using it, the wand would disconnect from the rug motor every time I pulled on it. I was not able to repeat that problem. I'm still happy with it.

I replaced my 17+ yr old Kenmore 360 Progressive with this vac. I give it 5 stars because it is (almost) EXACTLY the same product as the one I paid twice the price for many years ago. With the exception of the handle at the top of the wand where the switch is (the Kenmore is a higher quality) and this Panasonic model does not have the power indicator light but you can see the indent in the plastic body where it would be if it was a higher price. HEPA filter and everything else is the same. My old model was going to the dump for recycling but then I had the brilliant idea to try the new hose and carpet (beater bar) attachment on my old model. Eureka! LOL I now have two vacs that work. So the old model will go down to the first floor (it was the carpet attachment on the old one that was dead and why I was replacing it in the first place) and the new one will be upstairs. So win-win. All parts interchangeable. For this price it is a 5 STAR. How long it will last is unknown. It has a powerful motor and great suction, it is loud but not unusually so. Glad I got it after reading many reviews in all price ranges.

I have used Kenmore canisters for years and loved them. When my last Kenmore kicked the bucket I went to Sears to shop for a new one. I found the comparable model to be cheaply made, didn't like the attachments and too expensive. One of the Kenmore canister models that was most like my old one only had half the bag space. This Panasonic was exactly like my old Kenmore plus had one extra attachment my old one didn't have. It seems to be well constructed, was reasonably priced and uses the same bags I used for my Kenmore. I would recommend to anyone who loved the old model Kenmore and doesn't like the New models.

When doing my research prior to purchasing this vac I found that basically very little has changed in the world of vacuums. Self rolling cords have been around for decades as have multiple attachments, double motors, metal wands, lights on the front, ect. The one newer feature is the hepa filteration system, which has been around for a while. So why pay the huge price for the "elite" models like electrolux, dyson, or dirt devil? I found that this vac is almost one third the price of some of the other models. It does the job and I have not had any problems.
Pros:
Light weight and easy to move around the room
Easy to assemble and to break apart
The wands are metal with push pins eliminating the problems encountered with plastic wands
Any of a multitude of bags will fit including micro filter bags.
Small enough to move easily between furniture and will go beneath the sofa as well. My last vacuum wouldn't do that and so required extra work
The 24 foot cord allows vacuuming a large space without changing the plug to a new site.
Ride aboard attatchments sit beneath a cover so they stay in place and don't fall off while the vac is in use.
Will pick up large particles such as broken crackers or spilled cherios
Double motor-one in the body and one in the head
Three filters, hepa filter, bag, and motor filter.
Headlight
On/Off switch is on the handle
Handle is small enough to fit in the hand of a petite women (Look at the electrolux oxygen-the handle is huge!).
Uses a bag for dust collection. I don't like the bagless vacs and prefer a system which allows me as little contact as possible with dust and allergens.
Hepa filter has improved the air quality of my home.
Price is better hands down than any comperable vac on the market.
Good housekeeping seal of approval.
Large bags will hold a lot of dust and debris.
Bags are easy to change.
Switches easily from carpet to bare floors.
Cons:
The headlight turns on and off by itself which may be a problem if you want it on and the vac disagrees.
As far as I know there are no after market attatchments such as a power paw or extension wand to allow dusting of a high ceiling. The vac will take standard attatchments so other brands extensions can be used, however.
The cover over the extensions is a little difficult to open. I found that it is best to grip with both hands at the sides rather than one hand at the front.

Overall this vac is a great deal for the money and does what it is supposed to. It is easy to use and my carpet looks great after it is vacuumed. The air smells clean and my family is experiencing less problems with allergies. This vac was all sold out in my area and it is easy to see why. Not a problem as amazon was able to deliver one to my door free of charge in four days at a lower price than the local stores!

Of all our household chores I believe we all have at least one "favorite" whether it be laundry, ironing, cooking, vacuuming ect.. My favorite is vacuuming so that being said I have used so many different vacuums over the years from hoover, eureka, dyson, electrolux, kenmore, commercial, central vac's, ect. and my latest was Oreck before purchasing this Panasonic mc-cg902. I have to say this Panasonic amazed me. From using mostly upright vac's, getting used to a canister vacuum is not that much of an adjustment at all, I find it is actually easier. I believe canisters vacuums are so much better and the suction can't be beat by any upright I have ever used even the Oreck. No more having to use a different vacuum for stairs and smaller tight areas.

I have tested this vacuum on all my floors and even my couch. I have hardwood, laminate, oriental area rugs, runners, small door way throw rugs, wall to wall carpet, shag carpet and tile in my home as well as kids with their friends in and out & 2 dogs one of which is a pretty good shedder. Needless to say I vacuum everyday! The suction is so good that I only have to pass once and it picked what it should and including that pesky dog hair without sucking the rug into the vacuum, made the carpet so plush looking like brand new again with those great vacuum lines, beautiful! Unlike the oreck.. which I also had to continually run the oreck vac in the same spot over and over til finally I just bent over to pick up the random sting or scoop with my hand the dog hair the oreck vac wouldn't pick up. To me the oreck and the dyson is highly overated and overpriced. The dyson for me didnt pick up at all seemed it blew the dust and dog hair around.

This Panasonic Canister vac also is so convenient because of the onboard tools which I used every single one with no problems and great suction. Easy to switch to a tool for baseboards, steps or tight corners. As far as bare floor cleaning, the one thing that was dissapointing for me was the headlight turned off but the pickup was totally strong! Which was what matters to me more. Walking on the bare floor after vacuuming you definately felt the clean, smooth difference. This vacuum is also pretty quite, so much so you can have a conversation without screaming at each other while vacuuming or even without having to turn the TV volume up.

Purchasing from Amazon was also a great experience, shipping was so quick and great customer service, will use Amazon for future purchases without hesitation. Five out of Five Stars to Amazon too! I read all the reviews and they helped me with my decision so I Hope this review helps someone with their decision to purchase this amazing Panasonic MC-CG902 Vacuum too :)

I bought this vacuum 3 years ago. My household has 8 furry pets, one human with long hair, and one bald human with a lot of body hair. Basically, our house is a nightmare for a vacuum cleaner. This machine has held up very well! It handles our wood floors, lino floors, and carpet, no problem. It does a great job of collecting the hair and dust. The bags are super easy to change and hold a lot. The attachments are on-board which is a must for me, because I need to be able to switch to the hose and various attachments constantly if I am going to take the hair off baseboards and out of tight corners. This machine lacks nothing. It has never been serviced and (knock on wood), has never clogged or broken (despite one dig who does her best to shred her toys as often as possible).

I would give it 5 stars except it is heavy and kind of a chore to drag around. I hate canister vacs for that reason, but it is necessary in our house to have a powerful, versatile machine.

This is a great vac.

We are canister people. Uprights seem to be the most popular option, but we like the versatility of a canister. It's difficult to find a good quality canister outside of speciality stores, more so these days because it seems nothing is built like it used to, and this vacuum is no different. We've had 2 Kenmore canisters in the last 25+ years and they have served us well. The Kenmore models are actually built by Panasonic, so it seemed like a no brainer to stick with what works and go with this model. Although this vacuum is basically the same model that has been made successfully for years, it's obvious that quality has gone down a bit - the plastic is a bit softer, the power switch is cheaper feeling, the wand tube is a lighter guage metal and the parts feel like the molds used to make them have got sloppy from wear over the years... It's the model I'm familiar with, its just not as well made. Still, its not nearly as bad as cheap machines I've used and in comparison to what is commonly available still appears to be a good value. I just don't think I'll get 15 years out of this version. The weak point with this model is the electrical connections on the handle and power head - unfortunately a new hose assembly is virtually the cost of a whole new unit. I have also seen several comments that this current model may have trouble with an internal relay that controls the main motor inside the case, but fortunately I am skilled to repair that myself should it fail. I won't return this vacuum, but if I had known how the quality had dropped I may have considered going up to the next level of the German machines (though I understand that they aren't what they used to either, and they are significantly more expensive). I also considered a new model from the steam cleaner Vapamore (MR-500), but they have no history in the conventional vacuum market and its uncertain how long it would be supported if it is not successful and potentially decide to drop it, not to mention no stores carry it so I'd have to purchase on faith. So, I'll hold out hope the Panasonic holds up close to its ancestors, because this vacuum really is the best value canister vacuum among the competition - it has extraordinary suction, includes an electrically powered carpet head, HEPA filtering, convenient features like upright parking of the wand on the bottom of the unit so it stores in a closet nicely and overall handles just about any mess with ease. If only they still made them like they used to.

Update:
I've had this vacuum for 5 years and the switch problem seems to be completely gone (maybe it just needed to work itself out -- don't think it's happened in 4 years). Other than that, this vacuum has been really reliable and does a great job cleaning. I've never changed a belt, but have kept up with changing filters. It never kicks up dust and does well both on carpet and hardwood. I'm sure the hepa filter is doing a solid job because I have an air purifier that detects particles and automatically turns on. It never turns on when I'm vacuuming, even if I go right by it. The biggest issue I have with this vacuum is that it's a little too bulky so it's sometimes a pain to keep pulling the canister forward, especially around corners.

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Previous review from 2011

Soon after assembling the first unit, I noticed an intermittent problem where when the vacuum was on the "floor" setting on the three way switch (carpet/floor/off), and switched to the "off" position, the vacuum didn't turn off. Setting it back to the floor position, and then to off again did not correct the problem. I would have to switch to "carpet", which activates the roller, and then slide to off in order to turn off the vacuum. This would happen only sometimes, other times it would work fine. This is unacceptable for a $200 vacuum.

I ordered a second unit as a replacement, and the first time I plugged it in after assembling it, it turned on, even though the switch was in the off position. This makes me think that either Panasonic has some serious quality control issues, or that there is a design defect in the vacuum. The only contributing factor I could think of is that there is high humidity inside my apartment because of the summer and that is causing the switches to malfunction.

Overall, I'm happy with this product. It gets the job done better and more efficiently than the canister and upright vacuums I was using.Pros:- Off/floor/carpet slide switch is on the top of the handle - super convenient to run from rugs to bare floor and back.- Good suction - picks up small rocks.- The power head is low profile - gets under the toe kicks and sofa.- The long cord reaches several rooms, rewinds.- The extra floor attachment is ~9" and so gets into the nooks and crannies the powerhead won't.- The wand / powerhead clip on the unit when upright so it stores compactly in the closet.- Powerhead is light, a breeze to whip around the room, but see handle con.Cons:- The carpet height indicator is hard to see in anything but bright light.- The handle rotates freely 90d ccw, which is good for getting under the sofa if you're right-handed, but not so good if you're left handed. Also makes the power head harder to control when on rugs/carpet.- Tool & bag lids are hard plastic, meaning you'll have to be reasonably gentle with them.- The extra attachments, excepting the one for the floor just slide on, rather than clip.- the headlight goes off in the floor mode.- The powerhead doesn't get up the dust film on hard flooring when the brush is off. I got a 1-1/4" x 14" wide floor brush, which works great and is much lighter than the powerhead.Info:- This unit uses 3 filters: o Bag: 8" x 13.5" Panasonic MC-V150M | type C-5 | Kenmore 50558, 5055, 50557. # to a pack & bag material vary. o Hepa: 4 5/16" x 2 13/16" x 13/16", Panasonic MC-V194H | Kenmore EF-2 | #86880. 1 to a pack. o Motor protector: 5" x 5" x 3/8", Panasonic? | Kenmore CF-1. 2 to a pack.- Wand fits 1-1/4" attachments like 1 & 1/4 inches DELUXE FLOOR BRUSH for most vacuum cleaners.- Motor head is reasonably powerful, but less so than my old Eureka upright.- The powerhead roller has brushes on both sides, rather than a beater bar & brush.Update:I've used this unit 1x a week for 3 years or so now. Still working great.

This vac might actually be worthy of a 5-star review, but I haven't used it long enough to have that strong of an opinion, so I'm giving it 4 stars for now.

I never thought I'd buy a vacuum cleaner online -- I'm so picky about little things like ergonomics, how well it cleans, etc, and I know that shipping back an unwanted vac would be so expensive that I'd end up keeping a vac I didn't like.

However, I had looked everywhere in town for a vac that did well in Consumer Reports testing but didn't cost a lot, and I'd had no luck. So, I went ahead and took a chance on this vac; it did really well in the latest Consumer Reports testing and had overall good reviews on Amazon. (BTW, don't confuse Consumer Reports with Consumer Digest; the latter is basically paid advertising designed to look like tests/reviews!).

I've been using my new vacuum cleaner for a few days and really like it. I had a Kenmore Whispertone before that finally died and was surprised that this is almost identical - right down to the connecting pins! It seems just as solid in quality & construction as my Kenmore (which lasted at least 10 years).

The vacuum is a tad smaller and lighter (both the canister & the powerhead)than my Kenmore, which I like because it's easier to maneuver. However, if your house is all carpet (mine's 50-50 carpet & wood), you might prefer the deeper cleaning that a heavier upright has.

I ordered some pricey bags because I didn't think I'd be able to find Panasonic C-5 size bags in town (since I couldn't find a Panasonic vac cleaner). Turns out my old Kenmore Whispertone bags fit. You don't have to order the pricey Panasonic C-5 bags, just take the bag that comes with it to your local KMart or Sears and pick one the same shape.

Pros:
- Handle makes it easy to use on steps.
- Solid construction (steel tubes that really latch together)
- Good quality brushes (real hair bristles on the dust brush).
- Cord rewind button and it really works!
- Sturdy but not unreasonably heavy.
- Good Consumer Reports test results, especially on emissions (important in our house full of allergic folks!).
- Pretty standard canister bag shape.
- It also came with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, which I didn't know.

Cons:
- Color is a dark maroon red, not a cheery red like I'd thought. Probably doesn't matter to most people but I have to store mine out in the open so I like happy colors.
- No "power paw" attachment (basically a small powered brush head) for getting pet hair out of upholstered furniture. Fortunately my old Kenmore one fits. But it would be better if Panasonic at least offered this as an accessory.

This is a great machine. It deserves a 4 or 4.5 except for what I consider some unacceptable operating conditions (for normal people).I love Panasonic…Great quality…last same vacuum lasted me 35 years and the bags are the same, as well as the basics.This machine has some new nice electronic/electrical features, like the re-sets and circuit protections and a couple of new filters.I have two complaints: getting the attachments on/off is impossible for any one except 150 lb athletes with strong fingers. The normal or arthritic house wife is not going to change attachments at all. Ok, maybe it is not done often, but it is murder.Second….just the opposite…the ON/OFF-Floor/Carpet Switch is so easy to move and so much under your fingers all the time, that it is always turning off or changing modes.Consider it a 4.5 for it's quality and performance; I gave it a three to get your attention.So, I love it (85 yr old ex gorilla), had it just for a day and will handle it, but NOT easily.

In general, it is fine. However, the angle of the trigger housing is not true vertical when used with the floor cleaning attachment. It is tilted slightly, approximately 10 degrees to the left. This will most likely present a problem for left handed users because your palm will be facing up. For me, I prefer true vertical but it is okay with a slight overhand grip. It is a design problem which Panasonic can remedy by moving the retaining pin to the right about 30 degrees which will allow it to swivel to the left and right. If you are a lefty, try and mimic the motion by angling your left hand slightly to the left and push outward. If it is uncomfortable, you may need to vacuum your floor with your right hand. This applies only when cleaning floors since the accessories can be used at any angleMaybe I got a bad extension set.

I bought this as a replacement for a worn-out Oreck canister vac. After some time living with it, I can say that the Oreck was quite the superior product.My biggest complaint is with the power head. It's too high to fit under the kitchen cabinet kick plates or other furniture the Oreck sailed under, requiring a lot more detail work with the other attachments. The head is heavier, louder, and it doesn't steer when you twist the handle - you have to muscle it to change directions. One of the small wheels on the power head has stopped turning.The handle on the hose doesn't seem to be ergonomically efficient - it tires my wrist much more quickly than just grabbing the hard curve at the hose end of the Oreck. I do like the power switch located in the handle. The metal extension is very hard to detach from the hose because the button is stiff and hard to depress sufficiently.The attachments are better quality, but they are difficult to access because of the canister door. The door curves forward of the hose attachment point on both sides, and as a result the hose is often in the way when trying to open the door. Also the grab point for opening the door is very shallow and hard to use except from just the right angle.My biggest safety concern is that, if you use the vac for a while with the power cord partially unreeled (so some of it is still stored in the canister), then unreel more cord, the newly unreeled part of the cord is extremely hot.All in all, it's much better than an upright (The Shark Rotater I tried was terrible) and it does the job (sort of) but, price point be dammed, I want my Oreck back.

Bought this model from Amazon to replace a worn-out but very similar Sears model. The Panasonic vacuum works well, suction is pretty strong, not too noisy, rotating brush does a good job on carpets. HOWEVER... ...after about 1 year, had same problem with ON/OFF switch that many other reviewers also had. The vacuum will not shut off unless you unplug it. I disassembled the wand and checked the 3-position switch with an electrical tester - the switch itself does seem to operate correctly. As another reviewer mentioned, removing the hose from the canister section does not stop the motor as it should. These facts point to a problem in the internal wiring of the motor unit, possibly a normally open relay that is stuck closed. I then opened the canister section (it's not obvious how to do this - you have to snap off the gray plastic cord rewind switch cover to access the screws, and it's really easy to break the hold-down tabs). Unfortunately, the amount of work needed to get at the circuit board under the motor is daunting, even for an eager do-it-yourselfer like me. I just didn't want to open that can of worms. And I wonder whether you can buy the replacement part, even if you get that far. Anybody actually accomplish this?Panasonic should be ashamed. Such a simple problem in an otherwise good unit spoils its value.

I bought this vacuum less than a year ago and in that time the off/on switch has failed. So, to turn it off and on, I have to unplug and plug it in to the outlet.My husband took it apart and tried to fix the switch but that did not work.We contacted Panasonic, hoping they would just mail us a switch which we could install. They would not. Since there is not a repair center in our city, we will have to cover the cost of shipping the vacuum to their repair center.This is a disappointment. Such a switch should not have failed in less than one year's worth of light usage. To make it worse, Panasonic will not help with the shipping cost of such a heavy item.

I bought this vacuum to replace an almost identical sears model that, after 20 years of reliable service, burned out the main bearing in the motor.When I first received and used the panasonic vacuum I was delighted. It is powerful, light weight, convenient and easy to operate. The problem developed within a week of usage. The power switch on the handle no longer turns the machine off. The problem is not in the switch, but, I'm guessing, it's the relay or some other internal part. I removed the vacuum hose that includes the switch and the machine continues running.I am not going to contact Panasonic. I will fix it myself once I am certain of the problem. It is really annoying to buy a new item and have to repair it only after one week of use! I guess it's hard to find reliable products these days.

This vacuum cleaner is awkward and cumbersome to use. I would NOT buy it again,indeed am thinking of getting rid of it, trying to trade it in. I used a heavy upright Kirby vacuum for years. When I downsized to a small apartment without carpet/rugs, I no longer needed such a heavy duty machine. This machine is more awkward to use than my Kirby. The only plus is that it is quieter. I do not recommend it.

I was happy with all of the features and performance straight out of the box.After 3 months and only a handful of vacuuming sessions the motor burned out. I'm passed the Amazon return window, so now I need to deal with Panasonic customer service, which I've read could use a reputation boost.

I purchased this vacuum cleaner in the late summer 2011 and it worked great for the first year and 1/2. After about 2 1/2 years now it is just about dead. First the front wheels fell off, first the right, then the left. Every time I popped them back off they just came off again.Next, the hose broke clean off during a routine vacuuming! My husband re-attached that using electrical tape, and it worked fine for another month. Soon after that, when I pulled back on the handle during normal vacuuming, the power would waver on and off. Today it just completely died. I'm sorry, but vacuum cleaners, ESPECIALLY those that receive the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval", should not fall apart after 2 1/2 years of ownership!! I plan on complaining to the manufacturer.

Loved it for the first few months that I've had it, one of the best that I've had in recent years. The issue that I have now, is that the dowel pin/power brush is warped. The bigger issue, is trying to get a hold of Panasonic's customer service/warranty support. They require you to send a proof of purchase, which I have no problem with as this was expected. The big problem is, they appear to have a completely different firm handle their emails and fax (as a rep has told me). I've sent the necessary information, and they've told me that they received it. However, they still never called after saying that they would have a supervisor call me (over 1 week later).So I attempted to call 3 times. The first time, i was hung up on after I responded with "Hello, I have a pre-existing case...". The other 2 times, the reps picked up the call, but didn't bother to say anything. You could hear them in the background, but they wouldn't say anything. This is unacceptable, and no one should have to go through this.Update - So I forgot to update on this. I had to actually have my mom call. She had absolutely no problem with getting them to work with her. It was as if the second my number showed up on their caller-id, I wasn't going to get any help from them at all. Just know that if you are calling towards the end of a business day, they WILL push you off the phone and tell you to call back (or just hang up on you like they did to me). In the end, I had to drive 5 hours to drop off my vacuum to my mom, just so she could have someone drop it off at the nearest authorized Panasonic service center (about 6 hours away from where I live). And then they sent it back with a damaged hose, so I couldn't even use the vacuum!!! I called the service center to complain about that, they had a brand new one 2 day shipped for free. USUALLY they blame it on the shipping company, but I didn't get any hesitation from the service center to make this situation right (I was thrilled about that... no additional hassle to fight between them and shipping company!!!). I have been vacuuming since, reliable ever since. Who knows why the darn beater bar warped, but it'd be easier to just buy a new one rather than fight for warranty like I did.

EXTRA, EXTRA Read all about it.Panasonic 902 Vacuum cleanerThis Vacuum cleaner sucks and sucksThis is a nice Vacuum cleaner; it has all the normal attachments including the motorized carpet/floor cleaner.It does NOT come with the small Turbo nozzle or the Telescoping wand. The telescoping wand would have been nice for someone like me that is over six foot tall. It has lots of power and picks up dirt very good when it works!!Pros:Nice full size vacuum cleaner, I love the color (Dark Red/Maroon)Lots of power,24 feet power cord, you can easy clean two rooms from the same electrical outlet,Cons:The slightest tug or twist on the hose where it attaches to the main body shuts the vacuum down, it constantly loses power. I do not know yet if this is due to sloppy manufacturing or if this is a design flaw. When I have time, I am going to check and see what the real problem is and then attempt some “Southern Engineering” to fix it. Because of this problem, I am taking away three stars.Ordering, shipping, and delivery from Amazon were as always, Flawless. Five stars on that.

I got this vacuum after initially purchasing another brand and sending it back. This is exactly what I want a vacuum to be. It's lightweight to pull around. I had a similarly designed Hoover for 15 years and this is as powerful as it was, but much lighter and easier to maneuver. Cleverly designed so the handle can rotate to go under beds, etc. without too much stooping on my part, which is good since I have issues with my back. Best of all, it has really powerful suction, even on my deep pile carpets. It was also very easy to put together - I was able to put it together without help from my husband, who gets called in on the tough jobs. It would have gotten 5 enthusiastic stars from me, except for one minor design flaw. I like to use the brush attachment for dusting, but this b rush is so wide and narrow (what was wrong with round brushes?) that when you turn on the vacuum, the suction causes the soft plastic of the brush to close up completely! So basically, the brush tool is useless. I had to use the one from my old vacuum cleaner, which fit snugly enough, even if it doesn't clip into place. Overall, I would still buy this vacuum again, but I will be looking for a better designed brush attachment.***************Revised 02-14-12******************After only a year of very light use, this vacuum cleaner blew a relay. I have a cleaning service every other week who use their own vacuum, so I maybe used this cleaner 10 times or so over the course of the year. The relay costs over $125 to replace, and the repair shop couldn't even find one. Every place is sold out of them, which would suggest these sweepers blow them a lot. Must be some sort of design flaw. I will be getting a Hoover next time around.

Disappointment! This has to be returned for multiple design & ergonomic flaws. The "power nozzle" weighs not quite 5 lbs and is clumsy, so envision vacuuming with a 5-lb bag of sugar on the end of the tube. The floor brush has almost no bristles, but the big problem is it has no gooseneck, just a straight neck, connecting brush to tube. So the actual floor brush never sits entirely against the floor. The attachments are on top of the machine under a thick plastic cover--but the handhold to open it is too small and awkward. Get ready to break some fingernails on that one. Worse, you have to open not only the accessory cover but also lift up all the accessories to access the dust bag. And, when you open it up, the accessories all fall out. I bought this after my old Hoover WindTunnel quit because I still like a canister vacuum for my fringed rugs and hardwoods (the power nozzle eats fringe and cannot be opened to remove it). I also didn't want to get into the over-engineered $8 apiece bags, since I use around 25 a year ($200 in bags!!). Life has enough frustrations not to have your vacuum frustrate you every time you use it.

I have used this vacuum less than 2 years and the handle and on/off switch no longer works. The only way to turn the vacuum on or off is by plugging it in or unplugging it which is very inconvenient. The hose can be disconnected from the canister and it keeps running which is a potential safety issue. After reading previous reviews mentioning the same defect it appears to be a broken relay in the canister. One of the reviews mentioning this was on Nov 30 by Douglas. Someone else repaired the relay and was successful. There are no Panasonic service centers in Ohio and it's probably not worth the cost to get it repaired anyway. I also purchased the MC-CG917 "OptiFlow" at the same time. The switch on it is still working. I wonder if the parts are the same or higher quality in the MC-CG917. I really like both of these vacuums to replace my previous Kenmore progressive canister vacs. Many of the parts are interchangeable so I am saving the still functioning Kenmore's to use for parts. I miss the nicer upholstery and dusting brushes from the Kenmore's so I just use those and order Kenmore replacements. Overall, I am just unhappy because the older Kenmore vacs made by panasonic were much higher quality then they are making today. I hope they have corrected this defect by now because there are many reports of this problem but, it might be something to check into.

Every time I read reviews before buying a product, I read the lowest ratings and think "that can't really break immediately" or "I'm smart enough to not complain about assembly." HOWEVER, this vacuum is 3 months old and will not turn off!! That's the same complaint I didn't believe when reading reviews. Also, the nearest service center is 116 miles away, like everyone else said. There is nothing to do but drive or ship. I guess I'll just deal with my $200 vacuum being broken already and maybe file a claim closer to the one year warranty mark, in case something else breaks, too. (also, my wheel fell off the front as mentioned in other reviews, too). ugh

I never write reviews of products but I feel compelled to this time because this machine has been such a disappointment. the power nozzle broke within 8 months (after light use and gentle care) and I brought it to a service center to be repaired and it's been close to 2 motnhs and I have an ongoing complaint with the better business bureau, but still have no vacuum cleaner. I would strongly recommend against buying this product - not because it doesn't work well when it works but because when it breaks - and it will inevitably break - you will have extreme difficulty in getting it repaired.

Having used an upright vacuum for the past few years, we were very excited to finally have a cannister vacuum again. However, before the machine was ever plugged in the pile height adjustment quit working. We phoned Panasonic expecting a gracious apology and to be told to send the machine to them (at their expense) and for for them to rush another to us as soon as the defective one was received. Sadly, that was not the case. We were told that we would need to send the machine to a service center, at our expense. That would mean not only incurring the cost of shipping, but also waiting for the machine to be repaired, and then having a vacuum that been repaired. It was simply not acceptable. Thankfully, Amazon has a very easy return policy and we shipped the machine back for a full refund. We will be researching for another brand to purchase. We certainly understand that mistakes sometimes happen and had Panasonic stood behind their product, we would have gladly given a very positive review. As a result of our experience, we give the vacumm and company one star (only because there is no way to give a zero rating).