Yes, your spray arm can indeed be not working properly. It is possible for the nozzle holes to be blocked, or the arm to be blocked from rotating properly. Check the Appliance forum for more help.

I am having exactly the same problem. I wonder what's going on. I started adding 1/4 c. borax (20 Mule Team stuff) to see if that helps. A cup of vinegar helps too, but I don't really want to be bothered with these additives in addition to the Finish.

Susan too

Is there a spray arm under the top rack? Be sure nothing is stopping it from spinning. Sometimes I put something in the bottom rack that is tall and keeps the upper arm from spinning. The glasses come out just as you describe. The bowls don't get clean either. Check that first.

I checked the spray arm, and there isn't anything blocking it. I'll check with the Appliance Forum in a little bit.

Do you have hard water and no water-softener? Then the lime can be plugging the nozzle holes. That's why vinegar helps to clean up the calcium carbonate deposits.

Phospahtes were banned from dishwasher detergents (in some states) a while back.

You may need to add a product like Lemi Shine to get sparkly glasses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dirty dishes?

I do have hard water, so maybe something is plugged. I found a link to solutions for this problem, and I'm going to try the easy ones. I'm not very handy, so wish me luck!

I've been washing my dishes by hand. Sure is nice to take clean dishes and glasses out of the cupboard.

I contacted Kitchen Aid asking why the dishes have a film on them and the glasses are cloudy. Here's the reply I got:

"We apologize for the situation you are having with your Kitchen Aid dishwasher not cleaning resulting in cloudy glassware and fine grit on your plates. Listed below is information relating to poor dishwashing results. Please review the following checklist to see if any apply to your situation:

1) Water Temperature - Make sure your water temperature is between 120 and 140 degrees. Your water heater should be set no lower than 120 F to obtain the best results from your dishwasher and detergent. Most detergents today will not properly dissolve if the water temperature is too low. The optimum temperature is 140 F. Run the hot water at the kitchen sink before starting the dishwasher to purge cooled water from the supply line or use the temperature boost option (on some models) to increase the water temperature.

2) Water Condition - Verify the water hardness, since the degree of hardness in the water can cause poor cleaning results. If hard water exists, using granular detergent may offer better results; but if you have soft water, liquid detergent is recommended. A general rule-of-thumb is to use one teaspoon of detergent for each grain of hardness. However, in areas where the water hardness is 15 or above, it is almost impossible to obtain good cleaning results. If you have a water softener, run the dishwasher only when the softener is full. If you run the dishwasher after most of the soft water supply has been depleted, the dishes will not get clean, and they may look even dirtier than when they were put in. You also would not want to set the softener on zero grains of hardness, since the detergent needs the minerals in the water to properly activate and break down.

3) Obstruction of Water Flow - If the holes of the spray arms are blocked with any type of debris (broken glass, seeds, plastic, etc.) the water will not be able to spray properly. Remove any visible debris from the spray arms. If a spray arm is stuck in one position due to an obstruction, it will disrupt proper water flow inside the dishwasher during use. Rearrange how the dishes are loaded so that large items, such as baking pans, are not blocking water flow to upper rack or other dishes. Make sure the spray arms can spin freely and the wash tower is not obstructed. Avoid nesting items.

4. Wash Cycle - Heavily soiled dishes may need additional wash time. Make sure you choose the appropriate wash cycle for the dishes being washed. Different wash cycles have longer or shorter wash times.
5. Water Pressure - Make sure you have good water pressure. Sometimes well water may not have strong enough pressure to get the water into the dishwasher. Water pressure should be 20 - 120 pounds per square inch (PSI) for optimal results.
6. Detergent/Rinse Agent - Do not put detergent into the dispenser until you are ready to wash dishes. Powder detergent needs to be kept fresh and dry. It can become stale as it ages or when stored in damp areas. Do not store it under the sink, because this can be a moist area. Before using powder detergent shake the container. If the detergent has clumped together, it may be too old and will not wash well, since old detergent loses power and often will not dissolve. If your dishes are often heavily soiled, you may need to use detergent with a higher phosphate level, if it is available in your area.

7) Also using a rinse aid allows water to flow off dishes quicker than usual, lessens water spotting, and makes drying faster. However, if you are using a detergent that already has a rinse aid in it, we do not recommend using an additional rinse aid. Too much rinse aid could create a film and attract food particles.

8) Phosphates were taken out of detergents for important environmental concerns in July 2010. Consumers are finding a white film on dishes after this change took effect. If you have hard water, we suggest using Finish Glass Magic in the Pre Wash compartment, and regular Cascade detergent in the detergent compartment. The Finish tablets are effective also. In addition, it is important to use powder detergent with a powder pre wash additive, or liquid with liquid. If you have hard water, powdered detergent, or tablets will provide better results.

Once you have reviewed the above information and the situation still exists, you may want to consider contacting a Local, Certified Technician for resolution."

I had the same problem here, and read up on it. One place I read, recommended a tsp of TSP in the prewash compartment. I tried it and it did work, and dishes came nice and clean, however, that is a bit of a nusiance and I didnt really like using TSP in my dishwasher either. Finally, I bought the little pouch with the tablets in it from Cascade. Says Cascade complete on the bag and also says powers away stuck on food up to 24 hours. It isnt the bag that says, something about Gain added to it. The dishes are now nice and sparkling clean again, so it does work, but, it is a bit more expensive than the regular bottles of liquid dishwasher detergent.

did you plug it in????? hahahahahaha

Maddielee, I also add Lemishine to each load. Does a great job on those nasty hard water stains and on the hazy glasses.

The one and only reason for your problem is number 8. I also use Lemishine (just a little,) and Finish tabs, though I wish I didn't have to use the rinse aid.

Something maybe blocking the arm. A tall untensil perhaps that is short enough to close but catches as the arm spins???

Also, try the Cascade Action Pacs as cat ky mentioned. They really made a difference in my dishes. I use the Pacs with Dawn; it sounds like cat likes the complete action pac version. Both are probably good and worth trying.