Hayward TigerShark

Significant Product Failures and Extremely Poor Warranty Support (Ticket #11557) I cannot recommend the Hayward pool robot or their warranty service. My claim (Ticket #11557) has been ongoing since December 3, 2025, and remains unresolved as of May 12, 2026. Product Issues: I have experienced failures with two separate units: Original Cleaner:… Read more

The rollers stopped moving, leaving the unit stationary and causing my pool to fill with fine dust. This unit previously had an issue with an electricity shock. New Cleaner (Eaden): This replacement cleaner fails to cover the entire pool, leaving many corner areas untouched and requiring manual cleaning. Customer Service Failure: The warranty process has been unacceptable. It took nearly three months (until February 25, 2026) for Hayward to request documentation. After I sent photos and videos on March 1, 2026, the claim stalled. On May 8, 2026, a representative finally replied, apologizing for the delay but stating they were "unfortunately not able to access the files of the drive" that I had sent two months prior. Over five months later, both units are malfunctioning, and there is no resolution or next step.

Do not purchase. Consider something else. Anything else. My Tigershark XL QC has never been "great", but for around 12 months it worked "ok". It tends to climb the walls of my pool in the same place, it refuses to climb and clean my steps, and it cleans the same areas of my pool over and over and over, but on a full cycle, with some nudging with… Read more

a pole, it would eventually get it all done.

After around 15 months I noticed the unit's performance change. It was climbing the walls less and less, and eventually it couldn't even climb the slope to the shallow end. Replacing filters etc didn't help.

I reached out to the place of purchase (Pool & Spa Warehouse) since Australian customers cannot contact Hayward directly. I sent the unit away, and after ~ 2 months of chasing Pool & Spa Warehouse for updates from Hayward, I was finally told my unit needed a new motor, and a week later the unit was returned.

The unit HAD THE EXACT SAME MOTOR IT HAD WHEN I SENT IT AWAY. There is no evidence that Hayward even opened my unit to inspect it. The problem, obviously, persists, and now I'm still stuck with my lemon waiting for an outcome (at Christmas). I expect I'll be without a pool cleaner for a further 3 months (making a bit of a mockery of the "3 year warranty" with such slow back-to-base service). If this eventuates I'll be asking for assistance from the NSW Department of Fair Trading.

Don't make the same mistake I did. Do not purchase a Hayward.

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Edit: After the Hayward Warranty department blatantly lied about switching the motor on my unit under warranty, Pool & Spa Warehouse have stepped in and offered to let me send my dud Tigershark back to them and pay the difference to upgrade to a different (brand new) unit, rather than waiting another couple of months for a repair. Amazing customer service from Pool & Spa Warehouse, stepping up when they really didn't have to.

Do not buy tiger shark it is junk firstly the power pack failed after 3 months was told to put warranty claim they eventually agreed to replace power pack after a few weeks. Secondly when it was around 2 years old handle snapped when I lifted it out of pool cracking the wall of unit as well had to get an electrician to replace the wall as wire has… Read more

to go through small hole. Then again 9 months later handle snapped again and unit no longer works I put a warranty claim in and they offered to replace handle but that is not much good as machine no longer works and have heard nothing more since. Hayward are aware of the design fault with the handle yet refuse to fix the problem. Their customer service is a disgrace and they are renowned for being difficult to deal with. This unit was always looked after very well too so makes no sense why handle broke twice. Avoid Hayward products at all costs unless you want issues.

Tiger Shark XL – Have used twice. Better clean 2nd time. But you still can’t beat cleaning yourself with pool vacuum, which I did for 3rd clean. A bit fussy to clean filters after vacuuming. I’m still happy with machine as it will save a lot of time. I usually spend around an hour cleaning pool by hand. Pool is 10 x 4 Show details

DO NOT BUY – DO NOT BUY. We made the mistake of purchasing (included as part of our pool package). We have had our pool for 18 months, the Tigershark has been broken for 6 months and is currently in for repair under its second warranty claim. Hayward will customer service is the worst I've experienced, months of no action to get it fixed. Additionally,… Read more

they refuse to take responsibility for a subpar product, claiming expensive parts breaking down are "wear and tear". Our rollers were replaced in Jun-23 and need replacement - they're claiming normally wear and tear after 6 months in the pool. If rollers can't operate for 6 months then they are not fit for purpose.

Refuse to deal directly with the customer, putting the issue on the pool shop that they told us to drop the robot into (after lodging the claim with Hayward). I was told "ask the pool shop to replace them for free, they're pretty cool they'll probably do it"

TigerShark Mistake – Shared the pool size, shape, surface and surrounding plants with the pool shop and purchased the TigerShark QC at their recommendation; Pool and Spa Warehouse (Penrith), yes, I was stupid. Initially covered the majority of the pool surface to about 90% so was happy with the coverage. The performance on the floor and the walls was good BUT it did… Read more

not last too long before the cleaner cleaned the same half of the poor and would only do the shallow half partly a couple of times in either cycle. Spoke to the shop and they said it was the "pool shape" at fault although I reminded them we looked a Google Maps to show the shape before purchase... Failed a few months out of warranty. Ask for some support and nothing. Paid to have the circuit board (if I recall correctly) replaced for a few hundred dollars, maybe $400. It took 3 - 4 months to have it repaired. Failed again at the start of the 2023 swim season. Returned to the shop for a repair which cost me $80 to have it quoted and the quote was over $1,000 to replace the pump and drive (again, I think it was these). When I questioned the repair cost it was suggested there were far better robotic cleaners than the TigerShark for the cost of the repair; that really hurt. I wonder if they were laughing at me? They can keep the cleaner as it would probably cost another $80 to have it returned. Not only will I never buy another Hayward product, I am no longer using Pool and Spa Warehouse, I also purchased a Saltmate Chlorinator that has been a disaster. So disappointing. I have a 60,000+ litre pool that I hate. Note: the purchase date is an estimate.

Could be more effective – Actually works ok. After some 5 minutes it sinks down to the ground but immediately spends a lot of time climbing the walls. Wish it would just clean the bottom more often. After having read the other reviews, I'm lucky that it still works... Next pool cleaner: no Tiger Shark again! Show details

I have tried 4 different Hayward units and they just don't work – I have spent two years and have had the rep out to personally look at what was going on. Have swapped it out 3 times to try other Hayward cleaners and while the Tiger Shark was the best they had I have decided to replace it has it only seems to want to clean the deep end of the pool and never comes up to the shallow end. Under powered and can barley climb the walls with a fresh filter, after 5 minutes stops climbing the walls. Show details

be aware TigerShark QC is Terrible product – I had the aquavac 500 and was extremely happy with it until something went wrong 18 month later (to bad because it was an excellent robot). They told me they had a lot of issues with it so they gave me the TigerShark Qc and like bloody fool I accepted the offer and "Oh, boy! " what a peace a JUNK. I will never spend one dollar with HAYWARD again but I guess the Joke is on me.  Show details

Broke down after 2yrs - Expensive to fix – We purchased this just over 2yrs ago and all of a sudden, stopped working. Took it to the repair shop - $800 for the motor + another $300 for parts and labour. The cord tangles regularly and the lid is difficult to open. It is also heavy to pull out of the water. I would not buy thin again. After sales service in Perth were less than helpful. Didn't climb the walls very well either. Show details

Waste of money – I purchased this 2.5 years ago, loved it came with a 3 year warranty. After 6 months it died, it was repaired. It worked once, it died. I took it back and was told dont leave it in the pool too long, so it was repaired and I used it once and it died again. This time I was told dont leave it out of the pool or in the sun too long. I used it once… Read more

and it died AGAIN. Its still within its warranty but Im probably better off throwing it away. If you can afford to buy one every 6 months then its epic, but after its failed it will never be the same. The blue filters are a good investment too.

Performance is OK, very poor durability – Sorry Hayward, the product doesn't match up to your marketing. The machine has broken just after 3 years of well-maintained use (requires a new motor). Repair cost exceeds $1200, and the response from Hayward is a polite 'tough luck'. Sold as a high-end robot, the durability is anything but. My recommendation is to steer clear and buy according to reliability. Show details