I can agree: my parents bought a top loader and dryer in 1975 ('Made in Newton Iowa") which was used a few times a week for 30 years and now once a week for the last 21, as far as I know without repair. Now held by a family member they still look like the day they were delivered due to the porcelain enamel used instead of the painted metal that disintegrated on my second front loader. I've managed to repair my 3 front loaders through an average of about 8yrs each, so far.
I've joked with my wife that if I see that washer by the side of the road I'll carry it home on my back.
The primary failure I've observed in washing machines that get a lot of use is the drain pumps which are probably similarly (un)reliable across designs (we only have front loaders so not sure).
Clutches can wear out too, everything will still work but the washer won't really agitate well.
Probably true, I don't think any of our machines have clutch.
I've had to replace the pump on a cheap amana NFW7200TW. Being a cheaper model it does not have a coin trap and the thin plastic vanes shattered (the coin rested fully intact). The pump had two part numbers, one a Samsung and another a Whirlpool (?). The point that may be interesting here is that when I asked at the part store for the whirlpool p/n they brought me the box at one price, and when I asked for the Samsung one they brought me the exact same box at a price almost $30 less. I didnt know they did SKUs like that, nor do I know how they account for it.
and leaks, since there's no door seals to wear out