Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 Upright Vacuum

Great new - then self-destructs

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Apr 10, 2009

Pros: Amazing suction!

Cons: Very cheaply built -all will break later

This is our second unit. We really like the sucking action to thoroughly clean carpets. That is where the product's shining point(s) fail.

The chief problem is the use of low-quality plastics. The list of failed portions is amazing. It is the most disintegrating appliance ever in out home! Some samples:
* case cracked so it doesn't lock upright
* self propel switch broke so it always has propulsion
* cable that links the handle to the transmission for propulsion snapped
* power switch cap broke - must use large hair pin to control power
* transmission makes funny burning smell now
* power switch broke

On top of broken stuff, the friction connection for the attachments is rotten. Things fall off if there is any pressure. The hose tries to contract if there is any obstruction to the intake (like using the crevice tool) and the vac falls over.

These vacs are not cheap - soooo - what are we paying so %*@#$*%& much for??

What a disaster

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Nov 30, 2008

Pros: Tools are good

Cons: Breaks constantly - LEMON!

I bought this based on the Consumer Reports rating which was excellent - They were so wrong! The wide belt broke on the 2nd use. The ON switch has stuck on at least 4 times which required us to take it apart and reset the lever (bad design). Now the self propel is broken (broken bit of plastic we can't get to) and the switch for the self propel is clunky and hard to move in to position.
The vacuum itself is heavy and you are supposed to carry it by the hidden handle that is difficult to reach and uncomfortable. This vacuum was close to $300 and I feel ripped off. My mother had one simple Hoover my entire childhood that always worked. What has happened to this company???

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Sep 27, 2008

I FEEL VINDICATED

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Jul 30, 2008

Pros: Good suction at first.

Cons: Everything else.

I wish I'd seen these reviews a couple years ago. I had so many of the same problems w/my 1st Wind Tunnel but blamed it on myself because I had 3 pets & probably didn't vacuum often enough. I figured I overloaded it or something.

I've had surgery on both my hands, which makes using a screwdriver and replacing belts extremely difficult & painful. (I originally bought it for the self-propelled feature to HELP my hands.) So when it became too much to handle, I stored it in the shed & bought a 2nd Wind Tunnel. Even though my elderly pets have all passed on, eliminating the shedding hair, I'm still having the same problems, which is why I finally checked this website.

How can Hoover just ignore these problems? Isn't there anything we can do?

Absolute Garbage

By Yahoo! Shopping User  May 23, 2008

Pros: Picks up dirt when its working

Cons: Everything else

DO NOT BUY THIS VACUUM CLEANER. I've had nothing but problems with it since I took it out of the box and parts fell off of it. It gets plugged easily with dirt and carpet fiber to the point that it doesn't vacuum anything. I've had it for 20 months with light use, less than once a week. I've had to replace both belts, one of them twice. I've had to open it up to fix the ON switch, it was stuck on "ON" and would not turn off. The self propelled switch stopped working long time ago. Now the self propelled switch cable is broken and the "ON" switch does not work. I'll be throwing this thing in the garbage this weekend since that is where this thing belongs. The designers and manufacurer should be ashamed of themselves for selling this piece of junk. Consider yourself warned.

check around before buying

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 19, 2008

Pros: good suction

Cons: beater bar works only part of the time, power switch does not work most of the time

I purchased this vacuum on the recommendation of a friend, and from the time I put on the handle, I wondered if it was worth the money. The self propel switch never seemed to work right although the self propel function always worked. But soon after getting the vacuum, I didn't think the beater bar was working all the time. Now it will barely work, and the on off switch isn't working right either. I am just very disappointed. It did have good suction, but if the brush roller won't work, it is of no use to me.

Tried the rest, but still buy Hoover over 30 yrs

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 11, 2008

Pros: Self propelled, great for overall cleaning as well as pet hair

Cons: Makes noise in reverse

I've always like this vacume and believe me I shop around. The self-propelled feature makes it so easy to operate. It cleans well. NOTHING has broken. I buy a newer model about every 10 yrs. After 9 years my last Hoover would stop after a few minutes. It would always restart after I waited, but I just bought a new one. I tried the top choices recommended by consumers choice such as Kenmore, in December 2007, but they were too heavy and very hard to maneuver, so I bought another Windtunnel for $200. I'm glad I did not one problem so far. Thee new pet hair attachment was a nice surprise.

Hoover self propelled 3 belts replaced in 3 Weeks

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Dec 8, 2007

Pros: self propelled, easy to use

Cons: tools not so user friendly/belt very hard to attach

It picks up great but I have replced the belt each week since I have owned it to much of an issue with me to keep it! Picks up dog hair like you wouln't believe but I will be taking it back to sears!

the hoover windtunnel self propelled ultra U643990

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Nov 2, 2007 | 3 out of 3 found this Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 review helpful

Pros: self propelled when it works

Cons: bought 2 in last 3 1/2 yrs and the last one broke in 11m

The first one lasted 2 yrs and we paid 220 for it. The windtunnel started eating the belts and then the suction part gave out. We found another at Lowes and it had gone down in price 180 so we thought we would try again. We have a new house and it was only 9 months old and the switch would not turn off unless unplugged then the self propelled part would go out but only once in awhile. now the roll brush won't roll the self propelled is broken also the little thing that shows if the bag is full it is broken too. It is 11 months old. I called Hoover and they said they could do nothing. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

Great Vacuum

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Aug 14, 2007

Pros: Easy to use and works great!

Cons: There are no cons in my opinion!

I vac my Spanish tile floors and all the carpets with this handy vacuum. It does everything. The only thing that makes the brush stop turning is when it is clogged with long hair or long threads and the belt will break if one is too lazy to pick up gum wrappers or other large pieces of debris. It is NOT a shop vac. I think the reason that people don't like it is because they mistreat it. It does everything one could ask of a home vacuum cleaner. My floors and carpet have never been so clean. I recommended it to my friends and relatives.

Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Upright

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Mar 14, 2007

Pros: suction, when it works (which is almost never)

Cons: Beater bar stops working and self propel part, too

I made a major mistake of buying this unit late last year. Within the first 2 days, I had to take it back for a replacement. The beater bar stops working and so does the self propel part. Try pushing a load of bricks. That's what it's like. It's also a pain to change the settings. You have to push the handle totally forward, move the settings and then start all over again. Anyone try reinventing the wheel?

Belted

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Aug 21, 2006

Pros: great suction

Cons: brush and drive problems

Worked great for about 1 year. Warranty ran out then brush stopped turnining and now self propulsion not working. This is a heavy machine and is worthless without self propel. The quality of internal parts is poor, and design needs improving.

Do Not Buy This Vacuum

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Aug 7, 2006 | 2 out of 2 found this Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 review helpful

Pros: None

Cons: Breaks constantly

Bought this vacuum after reading how well it was rated by consumer reports. They were WRONG about this vacuum. It is a nightmare. It's broken all the time. I've had it less than one year and it has broken six times, and that doesn't even count the belt problems which are also numerous. I liked the features at first. Right away it began to make a loud noise which the repair shop said was a common problem with this model. I've had the noised fixed, but it just comes back. The dirt finder has broken 3 times. I gave up on it. The handle has broken a number of times. When the vacuum is working- it does a good job. Unfortunately it is constantly breaking. Now the handle release is broken. If it isn't one thing it is another. This vacuum is a BAD choice! Consumer Reports was wrong!

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Jul 31, 2006

By Yahoo! Shopping User  May 14, 2006

Should have done more research

By Yahoo! Shopping User  May 4, 2006

Pros: Works great when new

Cons: Not a long life

bought my Hooover through a local retailer after doing what i thought was enough research. However after using it for about five years i have recently encountered problems with more noise than usual as well as a problem getting the beater brush to engage. the handle has to be pushed down lower than when the vacuum was new and sometimes takes a few seconds to kick in. I was told by the retailer that the average life of this particular vacuum is anywhere from three to five years.

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Apr 28, 2006

This vacuum is the most UNRELIABLE vacuum ever mad

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Apr 19, 2006

Pros: self-propelled

Cons: belts break constantly, cost is high for a product this unreliable

I have owned three or four of these hoover vacuums over the past two years. Buy one, it will break, take it back to the dealer, and get a replacement one. This vacuum shoudn't even be on the market.

Best I Have Ever Had

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 12, 2006 | 1 out of 2 found this Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 review helpful

Pros: Great Suction

Cons: Upholstery attachment needs tweeking

This is the best vacuum I have had to date. It has such great suction that I am glad my carpet is attached to the floor. I am very happy with its performance. I use the onboard tools regularly. Had to have one little spring replaced in the upholstery head. But it has worked well.

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Nov 19, 2005

Hoover U6616-900

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Aug 3, 2005 | 6 out of 6 found this Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 review helpful

Pros: Looks nice

Cons: Doesn't work as advertised

intake and attachment clogs continually on light duty. Carpet height adjustment is clunky and not what one would expect out of a 300 vacuum. Service is non-existent; there is a local Hoover Company that couldn't be bothered and wants over $100 just to look at it.

This is a piece of junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Jul 9, 2005 | 6 out of 6 found this Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 review helpful

Pros: Good suction

Cons: Made like a toy!

We are on our THIRD vac!! Each time, something has fallen apart. We bought the first one less than a month ago. Two times the carpet to hard floor switch just fell off in my hand!!!!! I bought this on Consumer Reports glowing recommendation.

Our current vac is the Vita Vac and has been thru a lot in the 8yrs we have had it. It is still in one piece. A vac should last a while and gets bumped around over the yrs. I can not imagine that this would last more than a yr even if it were coddled.

I found it to be very noisy. The belt even slipped off of the first one after the second use. I thought I had a lemon. It turns out that this whole series is one of lemons. DO not buy this. It is a waste of time.

PS we have the Hoover floor mate and the Hoover steam cleaner and have not had these problems. What a hassle this has been. P Heath

Spend your money elsewhere

By Yahoo! Shopping User  May 27, 2005 | 10 out of 11 found this Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra U6439-900 review helpful

Pros: the brush beater for stairs

Cons: Everything now...

I had researched A LOT before purchasing this vacuum. All the reviews rated it high. I guess I would of at first too. The problem with this vacuum is the long term. For some reason my beater brush keeps stopping and won't turn. I have replaced the belt about 7 times in the past year and a half and then it works for a bit. I have brought it to a repair shop (who informed me they see a lot of this vacuum and it is not well made). Spend the extra money and buy an Oreck. That's what we plan to do. It is also very heavy for doing stairs!

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Apr 19, 2005