Complain about a product or service

Whirlpool Microwave Ovens

Kenisha of Oxnard, CA June 10, 2009

The microwave installed by the builder of the new home I purchased in October of 2003 is a Whirlpool GT4185SKQ-2 Serial # FGP050292. The manufactures rack the came with my microwave sparked and burned three of the four internal walls of our microwave.

I contacted Whirlpool and explained the defect in the product. I was told that the product was no longer under warranty after five Years. I convinced whirlpool to have one of their authorized service personal come out and asses the damage for themselves.

The Technician came out and stated "it was a manufactor defect, the unit rack arced and made holes in the main cabinet and the door." He concluded the microwave could not be repaired and I was out of warranty. He provided me with a quote to replace the door and paint the inside for 426.19. I made the claim in 2007.

Debbie of Vancouver, WA May 17, 2009

We bought a Kenmore (made by Whirlpool) over-the-range microwave oven in March 2002. Sears model #666.51652, serial #TRL5210099. This was a fairly nice model, cost was over 400. Within a VERY short time we began to have problems (popcorn would burn and not pop completely, relatively minor issues such as this).

Within a year a large crack appeared at the lower left side where the bottom hinge is located. Then the interior seal piece on the door began to disintegrate: the little nubs holding the door in place started to break off - from all appearances the plastic was breaking down due to the heat from the range. This piece eventually was just flopping and not sealed at all, which couldn't be safe.

Then over time -- a very short amount of time -- (as another person described above) the door wouldn't stay shut, meaning the light was on and the microwave wouldn't operate. And just like the person above, if we bumped the handle the light went off and the microwave worked. As time went on cracks began to appear in numerous areas on the door, both inside and out, mainly at stress points such as hinges, door handle, the interior door frame/seal previously mentioned, even around the keypad (!), and other places.

In November 2003 (by which time the warranty had expired)we had to have a repairman out for intermittent problems with the microwave not working at all. We paid 70 for this -- and the comment on the Service Receipt says "Normal operation at this time." Nothing was done for our 70.

Several calls to Sears resulted in one option: Purchase an entire replacement door at a cost of 180 plus shipping. After using a tiny countertop microwave while the Kenmore over-the-range unit sat unusable, we bought (44) a new interior door piece and installed it, thinking maybe it was causing the door to stay open. Didn't make any difference.

So at this point, 6 years later, we continue to use that tiny little countertop microwave (cost for it was 30) and it has performed FAR better than the Kenmore (over 13 times the price of the cheapie model) while the Kenmore over-the-range microwave is still there simply as a vent hood. We'll NEVER buy a Kenmore/Whirlpool microwave again. Next one we purchase will be all stainless steel!

Sandy of Carroll, IA April 26, 2009

Bought a Whirlpool over the range microwave new on the advice of a relative that works at a company that sells appliance warranties and she said that whirlpool was the best on consumer reports for over the range microwaves. Within the first month we had to have them come out and fix it. The door was not shutting properly and therefore making the light inside the micro stay on and the fan to run, bumping the door with our hand would make it stop. Then about a year later same thing except this time we just keep bumping it with our hand until one day it blew a fuse - made the whole micro die. Took it in and had it fixed - new fuse. Six months later did it again! New fuse - again! Then it did it again just last week - took it in and they put another new fuse in it.

Repair person said the door on this micro is [bad]! It is held on by a pin and clip and in time this loosens up and the door starts to sag which makes it not line up on the sensors properly when you shut the door causing the micro light to stay on and the fan run. In time it causes a short that makes the fuse blow! according to repair person - said he's never seen such a [bad] door on a micro in his life and he is at a "mature" age if you will and repairing appliances for a long time. Said he would contact Whirlpool and complain about the quality of the micro!

Obviously this is not happening to just our model micro when researching this issue on the internet!

Bob of Oceanside, CA April 6, 2009

Bob of Oceanside CA (04/06/09)
We bought a new Whirlpool microwave from Lowes less than a year ago and its falling apart already The plastic door is cracking and falling apart little pieces at a time.  Lowes referred me to a service company which would do nothing. The service man referred me to a Whirlpool complaint line that is machine respondent. No person came on the line Whirlpool refuses to do anything about the poor quality of the materials they use to make the micorwave.

William of South Bend, IN April 3, 2009

William of South Bend IN (04/03/09)
Range light on microwave/vent hood failed

We replaced the original 1993 microwave in the house when built with a Whirlpool microwave. 2 years later the unit failed when the range light bulb burned out and when plugged in after changing unit blew up. Note this was loud pop with the entire control panel appearing to short out. Replaced unit again with another Whirlpool unit (dumb mistake). Now 2 years later the same events are traspiring. Units range light was flickering. This happens when door was opened and closed. Now bulb burned out due to constant flickering and I refuse to replace as it can be expected to short out again.

Kim of North Richland Hills, TX April 2, 2009

Kim of North Richland Hills TX (04/02/09)
We regretably purchased all new Whirlpool appliances for our home when it was built. The quality of all have have been not very high. The Microwave has rust growing in the see-thru part of the glass door. They have some webbing between the exterior glass and the inside is basically a sheet of sticky plastic. Approximately the time the warranty was expiring we starting see the rusty look, but didn't know what it was or how it could be in the glass. We finally realized what is was doing just after the warranty expired.

You can not buy a new door and this issue has existed before it was even a year old. I've called customer service who offered no help...since it's out of warranty. I've emailed Whirlpool and never received a response. My new house has had a piece-of-crap microwave in it for 6 years now. It shines as an example to everyone to stay away from Whirlpool appliances. Today, I called customer service again and they asked me, did the door rust, before or after the big fire in the microwave?. There was never a fire in my microwave, the metal shelf got out of whack when popcorn was popping & it placed a mark on the back wall. When they show up for that repair, they just took white touch up paint and cover it up. When I told customer service today, there was no fire and they just touched it up with paint, she indicated, if we had only know you only needed paint, we could have just mailed some to you. So bascially now, they are saying they could have actually offered me less service than they did on the previous incident.

Janeth of Boynton Beach, FL April 2, 2009

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