About 15 months ago I bought a Riccar vacuum cleaner. Within a few months the motor burned out and the dust brush holder fell off. The vacuum cleaner store replaced the motor. A month ago that motor burned out too. I took the machine back and they ordered another new motor. When I went to pick up the machine, the store person told me that whitish dust/dirt clogged the motor, which was the fault of my carpet or the underlying pad ( 5 years old, indoor/outdoor carpet with no pile, in a 2 room apartment.) I changed bags monthly, washed the foam filter often, and kept that machine immaculate. The store person said the company will not honor the warranty any more because of these 2 motors. I have never had this problem with any vacuum cleaner before, and those all got much more use, and on heavier carpets than my present one. I no longer trust this company.