And now you know . .

Something may not be fitting correctly inside the dryer. Bent gasket when running? Flexing with air flow? Any way to get to see down that slot with filter in place? Probably not.

We've had Maytag dryers (different model) and maybe cleaned the outside screen once in 12 years.

I've been thnking along those lines - perhaps the filter is deforming slightly as it slides in, causing a slight opening for lint to by-pass .. With the chute removed, the lint screen seems to fit into it evenly and snugly but it's impossible to examine that fit when the chute is installed. John T.

try changing the parts you can change , find something big and fluffy for testing

If there's noticeable lint on your dried clothes, the problem may be with the vent, not the machine. Focus on that and try to find the obstruction. If lint is not collecting on the clothes, it's either collecting inside the machine or blowing out through the vent piping. If you have access to the vent exit, next time you have a wash load to dry, try tying with twine or using a tight rubber band to attach a decent sized piece of cheese cloth over the vent outlet and see if it's collecting the lint. If it does, and the neighborhood doesn't mind, remove the cheesecloth and foggettahaboutit! Otherwise, the lint must be collecting inside the dryer and by this time time, it should be a fairly bulky amount that should be easy to locate. Might provide a clue about what the problem is.

The lint is somehow bypassing the lint filter and collecting on the grill outside the house. .. which I clear regularly to keep the dryer working efficiently and safely. I pointed my cell phone camera into the vent pipe, from outside, and the photo shows a normal amount of lint build-up - maybe 1/4 inch at the worst spot - at the bottom nearest the grill. Any significant obstruction in the vent pipes would surely cause reduced drying efficiency < longer drying times >

and humidity build-up in the laundry room - that is what happened the first time when the outside grill became totally clogged - now I clear it regularly. John T.

Follow the airflow.

room air > heater box > drum inlet > dryer drum >

drum outlet > lint screen > blower > exhaust port

The problem is between the drum outlet and the blower inlet.

That would be the duct / chute that holds the lint filter. I've had it off a couple times and can't see anything wrong with it nor with the lint filter itself. The only thing that I can come-up-with is that the lint filter is deforming slightly when inserted and creating a small space for the lint to bypass. I'll be taking it apart again once I figure a way to examine the inside of the chute where the filter slides in - to prove or dis-prove my theory. Perhaps borrow one of those little inspection cameras that are on a flex-wire .. John T.

I assume the dryer is no longer under warranty and eligible for free factory authorized service. The user's manual for your model specifies a warranty for 1 year from date of purchase for free parts and labor repairs. Your initial narrative makes it sound as though this has been a problem since you purchased the dryer and noticed it within the first few months of use. If so, it might qualify as an original manufacturing defect and potentially qualify for free repair or replacement under a "lemon" law if your state has such a law.

Also assume you've carefully checked the periphery of the filter to make sure that there's no place where the filter is not continually contained within the filter's frame.

~ 5 years old - problem has existed since new. I have spoken with the appliance dealer who talked it over with his repair techs - no Maytag bulletins or previous history of this problem. I brought the filter with me and compared it to a new one - no difference that I could see. I wouldn't attempt any warranty claim at this stage - my bad for ignoring it / working around it for so long. I have an inspection camera on-order to look inside the chute where the filter slides in ... John T.