Seems like these days you are lucky if an appliance will last 5 years. Then when it breaks, often it isn't worth repairing. It will probably cost you at least 25% of the cost of something new that is better than what you have and you are just hoping something else won't break in the near future. Our dishwasher needs a new rack but they are so ridiculously expensive it isn't worth it. I'll make the old one work until the whole thing dies. We recently repaired our washer (needed a new electronic valve thingy). It's still working but it is a front load model and the seal leaks. And yep, a new seal is so expensive it just isn't worth it. I'll just put a towel down and wait until something more important breaks before replacing the whole thing.

You could always get a more expensive model in the hopes that it actually lasts longer but it may not and you still need that extra money up front.