If you’re here, you’re probably doing some research on a Dyson vacuum before deciding to drop some hard-earned cash. So today, I’m going to give my opinions on the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum after owning and using it for 2 years.

The reason I’m writing this review is because of my current experience with the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum. Dyson vacuums are not cheap and I want to share my situation so that you can make your own decision on making this substantial purchase for your home.

Note: This review is only for the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum and not for any other model.

Current Dyson Situation

It’s currently March 7, 2022 and I’ve been using this vaccum for a little over 2 years (my 2 yr. warranty ran out on December 21, 2021) with no major issues. I purchased my Dyson directly from Dyson online and my vacuum is now turning on by itself when removed from the charging unit and sometimes will not turn off or on when I press on the trigger. Sometimes I have to hit the canister to get it to shut off, which isn’t ideal.

I immediately called Dyson’s customer service and explained my issue. During my call with the customer service agent, she informed me that my 2 year warranty had expired and that I had three options: drop off my vacuum at a certified Dyson service center, get 20% off a new machine, or buy the part online (agent diagnosed the issue). Buying another vacuum at $700+ was not an option. Also, driving 80 miles to the closest service center was a bit too far AND I would still be responsible for any repair costs. I opted to purchase the part since I have a dog and would rather have a malfunctioning vacuum than no vacuum at all. Thus, after a bit of back and forth, the agent offered me 30% off the part (she initially offered 20%), which I think covered the shipping fee.

Great, I ordered the part, but it won’t be in stock for a month (Update: it came in 2 weeks.)! I’m wondering if this is an issue that many other Dyson V11 Torque Drive owners are having? Hmmm…. Anyway, I’m currently using a malfunctioning vacuum that will turn on and off at will. I sometimes have to hold the trigger if I want it to stay on and sometimes it will just stay on. Regardless, I’d rather have a malfunctioning vacuum that cleans the carpets and floors while I wait for the new part.

Below, I’ll be giving the pros and cons for this Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum and a detailed explanation for everything listed.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Pros

• Customer Service – It was easy to get into contact with a live person. My dealings with Dyson’s customer service agent(s) was pleasant. Customer service did their best to help me resolve the issue with my vaccum.
• Cordless – I have carpeted stairs and a cordless vacuum was a must have vacuum feature. It’s much easier to vacuum without a cord hindering my movements.
• Light-weight – Easy to move and carry. Weighs 6.7 lbs., which makes it easy to carry up/down the stairs.
• Multiple suction strength – Auto, Boost, and Eco modes for varying cleaning strengths. I use Auto mode for everyday carpet cleaning and Boost for intense spot cleaning. I never use Eco mode.
• LCD screen – Convenient LCD screen that shows the suction strength and the amount of cleaning time. Makes it easy for me to know when to charge up the vacuum and how much clean time I have left.
• Easy of cleaning the unit– I haven’t had a vacuum that I can easily take apart and clean. Dyson makes it easy to empty and clean the entire unit. I can remove the dust bin to thoroughly clean it. I can also go to the Dyson website to watch videos that will show me how to maintain all parts of my vacuum. Update 1/13/2023 – There is a part that broke on the dust bin, so it completely slides off when emptying it. I would have to purchase another dust bin or dust bin runner.
• Filter – No need to buy filters as the filter is washable. That being said, the filters do need to be replaced at some point and won’t last forever.
• Cleans carpet – As mentioned, I have a dog and sometimes I need the extra Boost feature to help get the dirt/fur out of the carpet. Both the Auto and Boost feature really gets all the gunk out of my carpet. It also does great on my daughter’s shag area carpet and regular carpet throughout the house too.
• Attachments – There are various attachments that can be purchased for this model. If you can’t find the attachment on Dyson, you can probably find it elsewhere online. Just note that knock-off parts and attachments may not be the same quality and could potentially harm the machine.
• Wall Mount – I like the low profile wall mount the vacuum comes with. It helps keep the vacuum out of the way and off of the floor. I have mine mounted in a small coat closet.
• Warranty – Cordless vacuums come with a limited 2 year warranty. If anything goes wrong with the unit within 2 years, Dyson will usually ship out a new unit or part. Unfortunately, my warranty expired right after the 2 year mark (isn’t that how it always goes?).
• Auto Registration – Dyson makes it easy to register your vacuum. On select models bought directly on Dyson.com, you can receive up to $70 worth of free tools when you register your model. I purchased my vacuum during the holidays and received bonus attachments that are no longer availabe to purchase from the Dyson online store.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cons

• Price – Dyson vacuums are notorious for being expensive. This model costs about $700 and lasted only 2 years before the main body and cyclone unit gave out. I’m hoping it’s not the battery or that will cost me another $130. Overall, the vacuum and replacement parts are on the higher price points.
• Repair centers – There aren’t a lot of repair centers. If you live near one, that’s great! If you don’t and your warranty is expired, you’ll have to drop off your machine and pay out of pocket for repairs or purchase parts online. For me, the Dyson repair center is 80 miles away, which is a bit far to drop off my machine AND pay for repairs. I opted to purchase my part online and it cost me about $100 for the main body and cyclone unit.
• Trigger – The trigger must be continuously held down to vacuum. This could be an issue for those with hand or joint issues. I kind of liked it when my vacuum trigger was broken because I didn’t have to constantly hold the trigger to vacuum.
• Model discontinued – Since the Dyson V11 models are no longer being sold on Dyson’s website, I’m worried about buying parts in the future. Other older models are still being sold, so I’m not sure why this particular model has been discountinued.
• Filter – If you buy this machine, buy a second filter. While it’s great that you can wash the filter, it takes 2-3 days to air dry the filter in normal weather. It may take longer to dry during winter or rainy seasons. I have placed it in my dryer on a dry shelf on low heat, but it still takes an entire day to completely dry. I want to purchase another filter, but it’s currently out of stock and I’m on a wait list. Update: 1/13/2023 – I was able to purchase another filter and will probably be purchasing a third one to replace the original filter that is starting to wear out and has pilling on the frabric.
• Hard floors – The torque drive head that comes with the unit does not clean hard floors well. It’s best to purchase the soft roller cleaner head (seen in the pros image), but it is no longer sold on Dyson. You will have to purchase this on Amazon or elsewhere.
• Clean time – If you have a large house and need clean times of more than 25-30 minutes without recharging, a cordless might not be the best option. I can usually get the entire house vacuumed in less time, but it’s something to note if you need more vacuum time. Note: using the vacuum on Boost will usually only give you 5 minutes of intense clean time if used all at one time. It is possible to switch between modes and the vacuum will tell you how much clean time you have before needing to recharge.
• Wall Mount – Needs to be near an outlet to plug-in the charging cord AND has to be mounted in studs. I couldn’t find studs near my outlet and used wall anchors to hold the unit. Unfortunately, wall anchors aren’t enough to keep the unit in place with constant use and the wall mount pulled away from the wall. Dyson does sell floor stands separately, but those are an additional $150. Another issue is that the wall mount will only hold two other attachments. The Dyson vacuum can hold two, so if you have more than 4 attachments, those will need another storage area. Update 1/13/2023 – I moved my wall mount into a small coat closet and mounted it into the studs. I also use an over the door shoe pocket organizer to help hold the vacuum attachments.
• Needs to be propped – Unlike an upright, this won’t stand on it’s own. You can’t just stop vacuuming and walk away. You will have to lay the vacuum flat or find something or somewhere to prop it up. If it isn’t securely propped up, it can slide down and damage the vacuum.
• Battery – Cordless battery life is about 4 years. Be prepared to spend at least another $150 on a new battery every 4 years. Hopefully, your Dyson V11 Torque Drive doesn’t have any other issues before that time and that the battery is the only additional item you’ll need to replace. Note: There are after-market batteries available for less on Amazon, but there have been stories of these catching on fire, so I would skip those. Saving a few dollars isn’t worth the risk of losing your home to a fire.

Finally Dyson Thoughts

So, would I recommend buying this vacuum? The short answer is no. For the first 2 years, I thoroughly enjoyed this vaccum, which is why my current issue is somewhat disappointing. I feel like I could have purchased a less expensive cordless vacuum or a Dyson corded vacuum and it would probably still be working. To me, spending $800 on a vacuum in 2 years is too much. I’ve had less costly corded vacuums that have lasted over 5 years with no issues at all.

Seeing as the Dyson V11 models are no longer available from Dyson online, my feeling is that these models may have been discontinued due to design flaws and part issues. These models are now only available for purchase from QVC or Amazon while older Dyson cordless models are still being sold on Dyson online. So, if you’re still looking to buy a Dyson cordless vacuum, those models may be a better option. If this vacuum has any other issues, I’ll be sure to update this post.

Do you have a Dyson vacuum? Leave your model and your experience with it in the comments below.