Viking Ranges Reviews

Ignition circuits are highly erratic. Once the oven door was blown open by a late ignition. I always have a long nose lighter for when the top burners don't light, which is about half the time.

My Viking Range which I paid $6,000 for 1 1/2 years ago is a piece of Junk. The ignitors or ignition system has already failed and VIKING will do NOTHING about their junk except refer us to a service company who wants $650 to repair it! I have now been reading scores of complaints that almost all sound the same... the ignition systems on Viking Ranges is simply faulty. They know it and so do their service companies. This is obviously a situation ripe for a major class action suit against this company and their faulty overpriced product.

My complaint is that my igniters on my Viking range stopped working after a year. They must be lit with a lighter for each use. The broiler works sporadically, and the temperature is inconsistent. Also, my 3-year old Viking dishwasher hasn't cleaned properly since the beginning. We have spent $300 on repairs for it (labor to install a motor), and now the computer board is bad -- $345 just for the part, no estimate given for the labor. We have decided to give up after reading this web site, and purchase a new, non-Viking dishwasher. I had a builder-grade GE dishwasher for 15 years, and never had one problem. Viking should be prohibited from selling defective products!!

We echo what we've read below about Viking: Our Viking Professional (!?!) range (36 inches) has been a lemon for the 10 years we've owned it. The igniters alone have been replaced at least 4 times; we've had numerous other expensive house-calls and repairs. Viking corp. is totally unresponsive and uncaring. Stay far away. It may look sturdy, but it's not a competent appliance.

Re Viking Designer Wall Oven Model DED0275SS. I am a gourmet cook and so when my Jenn-Air oven of 20 years could not be repaired, I searched for a replacement that could keep up with all the baking and cooking that I do. In 2004, I purchased your double convection wall oven believing that your product was at a professional level as your company claims. From appearance, it seemed extremely sturdy and well constructed.

My Viking oven has been broken since the second week of December. At the time it stopped working, I smelled gas and fire. I contacted Viking to have service. They needed the serial number, which I had to get from a previous servicer (I had service on this oven last year for the same problem). That took two weeks, because the number was incorrect. I finally got the correct number on Dec. 22 and Wanda told me that she would contact a servicer, who would then contact me. A week later I never heard back. I called Wanda back and she changed her story that I was supposed to call them. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, she told me they were all on the phone!! I was so angry and frustrated, I hung up, called back and asked to speak with a supervisor. I told her that I am a customer and her rep was rude to me.

Like many others with Viking products, I'm amazed by the gap between their prices and the quality and reliability of their products. I bought a home that had a 60-inch ($10,000) double range installed already. As a former owner of Wolf brand range (pre-Sub Zero), I enjoyed 10 years of solid, trouble free use. This Viking model is different. Aside from lower quality fit and finish, this range uses cheaper design elements and materials. For starters, the igniters on the ovens were replaced twice by the previous owners, and now I have to replace two more. This is actually an easy DIY replacement and I feel sorry for people who have paid $500 to a service company to do it. I paid $25 each for two aftermarket Armstrong igniters and they work well. By comparison, my Wolf oven's igniters didn't need replacing in the 10 years of steady use. One reason is that they would not run nonstop, but would stop heating once the gas was lit. That makes a big difference the life of the unit and something that Viking has not built into their design.

Also, the cost of eating out due to not having a refrigerator is ridiculous! I have no faith that this repair will last long. It was barely under a two year warranty and I dread the cost of keeping this refrigerator working. The last repair cost $574.00 dollars. I have asked for an extended warranty, replace the refrigerator or return the refrigertor. No answer on that yet. I will never buy a Viking product again! Do not waste your money. The hassle and headaches are not worth it. Buy Kitchen Aid or Whirlpool.

Viking has replace my 48 SxS refrigerator once already - the frist one leaked water all over the brand new flooring - it is a built in model designer series - the second does not leak but it has the same type if not more problems than the first one had - condensation in the interior, cracks in the interior box and interior shell of door - food freezes in frig- even though the temp was adjusted by service tech several times - plastic parts just crack and break off - stainless steel handles finish rubbing off ( at least there supposed to be stainless steel)

I bought a 36 Viking gas range with the grill in the middle about 8 years ago. After watching Emeril I had to have one. we got the hood to go with it for a total cost over 6k. After a year or so the bottom of the over started making noises, and became warped. turns out the welds broke on the gas spreader. We got a new one shipped to us and put that one in. They changed the design a bit and it was beefier, however the same screws were used in that one and several years later it warped too, which caused the oven hinge to fail eventually.

In March of 2007 we purchased the entire Viking Kitchen. The WORST purchase I have ever made. The repairman is here as we speak fixing our frig for the 5th time. Previously for the Ice maker freezing up and now the water dispenser freezing. The cook top igniter clicks on 3 of the burners. The dishwasher smells because the water sits in certain spots. I thought for sure buying the top of the line product that I would get my monies worth. Not the case. I tell everyone to never buy Viking!

I have a 48 6 burner Viking Oven and it's only 5 years old. When it was 2 years old I had to replace both oven igniter's. Now it's Aug 08 and the oven hasn't been working since last winter. It sometimes works and sometimes doesn't work. I had to wait till now to fix it because I had to save enough money to fix it.

As a very nice house warming gift our grandmother purchased a Viking range top oven for my husband and I as newlyweds. After one year the temperature indicators began to fade and wear off. Now, four years later they are almost non-existent and I have to experiment to determine where the temperatures are to what burner. It's been very disappointing.

We had our kitchen remodeled in 2000 and had a Viking 48 6 burner/griddle range installed. Right away it was apparent the small oven did not work right. Everything burned in it. We had the serviceman out and he found the door was misformed and letting a lot of heat out. They ordered a new door and it has worked fine until recently when the large oven would not reach temperature and there would be the smell of gas. I read a number of these complaints about viking ovens and having the ignitors replaced, so I ordered two from an appliance repair dealer on ebay. The cost $24 each. I did not know how hard it would be to replace, but when they came, I pulled out the racks, pulled up the bottom panel in the oven and removed the front lower panel. Both were right there with plug in connectors and two screws each holding them in. I replaced them and the oven heats up to temp with no smell in less than 10 minutes.

I've had my Viking 36 6 burner range for almost 5 years. From day one I had trouble with one of the burners that would not stop clicking after it was lit. Eventually it stopped clicking and wouldn't lit up at all. Now my oven will not ignite. The repair tech says I need to replace both igniters in the oven for almost $400 in parts and labor. He also mentioned that it would cost a similar amount to fix the bad burner's igniter and spark thing because it would stop clicking even after we lit it with a match. Very disappointed with Viking.

Bought a Viking Outdoor Gas grill in 2000 for $3,000 because I believed that it would be worth investing in a quality product instead of replacing grills every 5 years or so. Well, my advice is to buy a new Ducane every year and through it away - you'll be way ahead and the Ducane works better.

We have a Viking range 4 burner with a griddle and the two rear ignitors are constantly clicking even when the burners are on. I had the ignitors replaced in 2005 at the tune of $500.00 because the ignitors stopped working and now they will not shut off. The only way to use the rear burners is to cook with the constant ignitor clicking. Anyone have a similar problem and was able to fix it?

We purchased a Viking professional oven and range about 7 years ago. We have to replace the oven igniters 4 times. I will never buy a Viking oven again.

Bought an all-Viking kitchen in '03. The dishwasher didn't work upon installation. Waranty repair required a new control selector. We noticed about a week later that the convection oven fan did not work. I took it apart myself, found insulation wrapped around the fan. Now, after using it 2-3 times, the self-cleaning feature has failed. Out of warranty! Looks like the door lock mechanism has failed. On the fridge, the light started staying on. Viking said need to replace the door switch mechanism. I readjusted the door stop mechanism, now works ok. Viking make poor products, would not think about buying another one.

Our kitchen is solid VIKING. Head to toe! Fridge, 6 burner cook top, oven, Microwave. warming drawer, wine cooler, trash compactor and dishwasher. Am I leaving something out? NEVER AGAIN. They are the biggest POS I have ever owned. I have a $500.00 fridge at my shop that is 10x the unit my Viking fridge is!

I bought my 36, 6 burner gas Viking range in 2005. It is burgundy with brass trim and I feel lucky that nothing has gone wrong with it yet. I did have the same problem with the clicking of the burner that would not shut off. The repairman came right out and fixed it and also left me parts in case some of the other burners did the same thing. I have not had to use them yet.

4 years ago we purchased a viking cooktop, built in oven, dishwasher and refrig. The refrig has been worked on 6 times with problems ranging from the ice maker freezing up to a screw falling of the door hinge to relacing the compressor. The cooktop's lettering/numbering for the tempture controls has been replaced 2 time and it need replacing again. The built in ovens clock has not worked for 3 years. The dishwashers control panel needs to be repleced because the plastic covering the selections has cracked.

Viking 36 Wall Oven. We have never been able to use the convection feature on our VGSO166 Oven. As soon as the oven temperature get around 350 the back panel begins to warp and the fan starts grinding and banging.

Built a new home three years ago, we installed a Viking freestanding range - my husband had to have it - Bought the expensive hood to go over it and basically designed the kitche around it - now the oven has quit agin for the third time, after service calls on the cooktop ignitors and a bad convection fan. Cooktop burners still light or not depnding on their mood apparently. Viking response is no one can help - out of warranty - too bad. Seeing all the other oven ignitor issues, wondering is their any sort of class action against Viking?

Viking appliances are all junk. I bought a new house with all viking professional appliances. After 10 service calls within the warrenty period on the refrigerator I asked Viking to refund me the price. They basically said go pound sand. I found a lawyer on the internet under lemon law attorneys and sued Viking. They waited until just before trial to give me my money back and I bought a sub Zero. What a difference I now have ignition trouble with the 36 inch range and of course viking will not help. I'm trying to fix myself before shelling out over $100 for the service call. Their dishwasher is terrible. Strange layout and doesn't wash that well. I would never but Viking again

We purchased a Viking stove for $5,000 in 2002. We have had to replace the ignitors twice and need to again -- the last replacement was only 9 months ago and we use the stove about once a week. We have also replaced the door hinges and had the spontaneous ignition problem with one of the burners. What a lemon. If there is a class action suit on this, sign me up!

$7,000 PLUS repairs!

I don't really enjoy cooking...which is a blessing because if I had to rely on my Viking cooking products to eat I would have starved to death long ago. ALL of the appliances have been breaking down since shortly after I bought them 3 1/2 yrs ago--$20,000 worth of stuff. Stove has been repaired 3 times for same problem (faulty knobs). Oven has been repaired 2 times and going on a 3rd this week (faulty timer and clock functions). Fridge...about to be fixed for the 3rd time (water leaking into freezer). Microwave--repaired only once (control panel failure). Wine Fridge...once (short in light socket). Is this normal? From the looks of your other listed complainers, I may actually be getting off easy.

Another horrible customer service experience with Viking! Read this before spending your money, assuming that the high price will buy good customer service after the sale. We bought a Viking Professional Series (VCBB) Bottom-Mount Refrigerator/Freezer in the summer of 2005. Within two years, the freezer coated wire basket began to rust at the joints where the wire was welded to the basket frame. We contacted Viking customer service, which asked us to send photos of the problem. After doing so, we received the following disappointing e-mail:

Bought several of their products 6 years ago and have had nothing but trouble. Nothing worked properly. Have had 15 service calls and my oven still doesn't work. Locks up periodically and cannot be used. The dishwasher had to be replaced after 10 service calls. Techs are not very good and never have the right parts on their truck.

We purchased the Viking Microwave Hood on December 4th 2007. A week later we were able to have it installed. It never worked. It wasn't until December 31st that Viking had someone come out to repair. Two techs worked on it for over 6 hours and called it in that we had to have it replaced. They couldn't fix it. Now it is February 7th 2008 and we still DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT. So we spent over $1300 for two months of nothing and much trouble.

I purchased a Viking VGSC367-6B 36 wide range with six burners in Dec. 2005. In the first year I had the ignitors replaced and the door hinges. Year two had the electrical panel replaced along with oven thermostat. Now here I am in January having the door hinges replaced again at the tune of $700.00. The customer service is appalling; they are rude and obnoxious. I have been told that if it can be repaired to shut up and live with it. Even better because the door never closed completely, the cabinets on either side of the range are damaged. The heat leaking from the oven has caused the glazing on the cabinets to melt off pulling the paint with it. NEVER BUY A VIKING!

We bought our Viking 30 inch oven, 7 years ago and have had to replace the oven ignitor every 9 months average. We paid too much for this to happen and I will never buy another Viking oven. I have been extremely unhappy with this product.

My Viking ovens are the most inferior appliances I've EVER used.They're VERY,Very costly and function more poorly than ovens costing 1/4th their price.You get absolutely NO redress at all from Viking.They said there was no way you could trade up-even with extra payments. I was told that I was stuck with these LEMONS. Do not buy Viking appliances.

I have a 3 year old kitchen with all Viking appliances. This evening the oven stopped working (after its very first use). This followed one day to the week after my Viking microwave went and one month after my Viking refrigderator inverter board went (for the second time in one year). Warranty just expired in each case. I am less than thrilled with the quality of these very expensive appliances and the lack of response from Viking.

Another Viking range with multiple repair bills, and now an incessant smell of gas when using the oven. The broiler doesn't even work. Viking customers MUST have recourse. Class action seems the right course, I haven't gotten service from Viking.

To whom it may concern, After reading the reviews, I believe contacting Viking on my unit would be a complete waste of time, still, I feel I should lodge a complaint based on the fact that I bought this Viking GIC-305 nat gas 4 burner free standing range approx 6 years ago and so far have replaced 3 ignitors and both burners all in the oven section. My family and especially my wife have always complained of a gas smell (carbon monoxide or CO) and the oven takes forever to heat up to temp. It certainly does emit CO, as do all gas appliances...but even though the air adjustments are fine...it still stinks and I get consistantly high readings on my monoxor when the oven is in operation. This with the vent hood on high of course.

This is a warningPLEASE do not make the same mistake that I did. I bought sealed burners Viking range and I have only problems. I am so disappointed that I spend so much money.

I bought a Viking 42 refrigerator/freezer from Gabowitz TV & Appliance Co. on 07/15/06 to put in our newly remodeled kitchen. It never worked correctly upon installation and several repairs were attempted by Carl Schaedel and Co. who handles Viking repairs in this area. When none of their repairs fixed the problems with the fridge they had Viking replace the fridge on 11/13/2006 (order date). Since we've received the new fridge the same problems have been occurring and as of right now the fridge cannot keep food. I have called Carl Schaedel three times over a period of several weeks since the replacement fridge has been having the same problems as the first fridge I bought from Viking.

We upgraded our kitchen almost four years ago. In the up grade we really upgraded our range to the Viking all electric range. In the first year, under warrenty, three of our switches for our burners went. The glass in the door wasn't secure and to top it all off at about 2 1/2 year old I had to replace the first of six surge relays.

Our family loves to cook. We thought that a Viking Duel fule stove (36) with a grill would be just the thing. After paying over $6000 for the stove and the hood we thought that this woud be our lase stove. When the stove was about 4 years old the heating element burned out and had to be replaced at the cost of almost $200. Then a few months later the door to the oven would not close and the right hinge has to be replace to the cost of $225.00 The electronic lighter for the gas burners had to be replaced I do not remember what the cost was for that.

I purchased what I thought to be the ROLLS ROYCE of kitchen appliances a VIKING RANGE. I have had to have the oven and stove knobs repaired SIX different times. This time the knob broke but didn't come off it just kept turning and started to fill my kitchen with Propane. This appliance is a dangerous lemon. I need help figuring out how to get VIKING to do the right thing and replace my range.

I am a contractor working on a high end home for lease. I found Viking 6 burner range, maybe 2 years old, with 4 igniters that suddenly started firing on their own. I have turned off the breaker to the range, but can't find a shut off on the gas. What a liability if a prospective tenant turns on a burner and forgets to turn it off.

We bought a viking 4 burner range/oven feb of 05. At first the ignitor was going off intermittently when one of the burners was used. It always lights up just fine, but the back left ignitor keeps clicking away. Eventually when it stayed on enough for a repair man to see for himself, he replaced the ignitor module. Worked for a few weeks, but started again. This time I convinced them that replacing the ignitors should be done as well as the module. (as if the module would be bad after two weeks of use) So a new module (again) and four new ignitors replaced, we had two whole weeks of click free stove use and it started up again with the very same problems. We're not sure what to do now.

I too am having problems with my $17,767.24 Viking appliances. Even wrote to President of the company with no success. Just passed the buck and that person said if you can afford Viking appliances you can afford to have them repaired. Not the point. I had 4 dishwashers, 2 refrigerators, (the first one was dropped somewhere between there and here and just stopped working 3 months later), and several service calls to replace the spark modules for my dual fuel range (which it still clicks on occassion).

In Oct '04 I purchased a 30 stainless steel-dual fuel-sealed burner Viking Range (model VDSC3074BSS). Initially, it performed as advertised (first 3 months), but soon started to demonstrate the same igniter challenges faced by the other unsatisfied customers voicing their complaints on your site. It started with one igniter firing intermittently during the first couple of months and now all 4 igniters are experiencing failure to zap challenges.

I have a Viking gas stove with an electric oven. I have owned this for 7 years. We are a very busy family with athletic children, which limits our time for baking. My complaint is that it has always taken 25 min. and sometimes more to preheat this oven. Each year I would use my oven less and less due to the fact it took sooo long to preheat! That was disappointing.

My ignitors went out on my Viking Gas Range after less than two years of use. When the recommended repair person arrived he asked me if I had been baking alot? When I told him that I didn't know how to answer that question, he asked me "Do you use the oven to heat your house?"

I purchased my home 3 years ago, the Viking range was only 6 months old at the time we purched our house. The first problem occured this past November when the back right burner wouldn't light. The repair person claimed the problem had to do with a bad ground. He ordered a part and three weeks later the burner lit. two days later the problem happened. This time if the front burner was turned on first, the back burner wouldn't turn on. However, if the back burner was turned on first and then the front, it would light. I called the service person again. He came out and, starting with the back burner, turned all of the burners on. Of course they worked. He claimed what I was trying to explain to him was impossible as the burners all work independently. He wanted to charge a $60 fee for coming out, but the manager told him to let it go.

I was so glad to see I'm not crazy!! I am having the smae problem with my Viking Range oven staying lit. When I turn it on and set the temp it will take at least 5 to 10 minutes to ingnite and I usually smell gas before it does ignite if it does, sometimes it won't light at all. And when it does decide to lite it will turn itself off when it reaches 150 degrees. I don't know, but most people can't cook any thing at 150 degrees. I end up turning it on & off several times to get it to stay on. As a person that grew up in the restraunt business we used nothing but Viking products and very rarely had any problems with them. That is why when I remodled my kitchen I chose what I thought was really top of the line. And now I have an angry Husband on my hands for spending that kind of money on what he thinks is junk!!

Purchased my Viking Side-by Side refrigerator in the Spring of 2006. The ice in the icemaker constantly clogged. I have had the service company out numerous times and the problem is better but not totally solved. The icemaker would leak and I would have to have towels in the opening to prevent the water from damaging the front wood panel. In addition, the refrigerator's drip pan is constantly wet. We found this out when the unit was leaking into the finished basement. We were told that the heater unit used to evaporate the water was not installed. After numerous visits (don't ask me why!) the pan still has water in it. I have to empty it out approximately every other day. This is a great nuisance! What am I to do when I travel? Ask a neighbor to watch the dog and empty my refrigerator drip pan?

In Decmber 2000, we purchased a Viking gas range, refrigerator, dishwasher and hood vent for the stove. Right away we had problems with the dishwasher using the heat-dry option - it would smell like the entire house was on fire. Consequently we do not use the heat-dry option. We had trouble with the stove/oven right from the beginning as well. A Viking repairman came to the house and was unable to detect a gas leak. He repaired the second igniter in the oven because it wasn't even working brand new! The refrigerator also has a problem - sometimes the inside light does not go off and the inside heats up very quickly. The alarm goes off to let us know of the increased temperature in the refrigerator.

We have a four burner, 36 Viking range purchased new from Manny's Appliances in western Massachusetts two years ago. The first year we only used the house on weekends so the stove received very little use. July of 2005 we moved in full time. Starting this past June the oven would shut off by itself during baking. Repair people claimed mice has moved insulation in the stove causing the problem. They replaced a controller (?) which did not correct the problem. Then they claimed the thermostat was bad and needed to be replaced. The stove still did not work properly. The temperature would vary by 100 degrees during a baking cycle.

In July, 2001 I purchased a new Viking 4 burner stove. The oven flames were 4 + inches high with incomplete combustion. After repeated complaints to retailer and a letter to the manufacturer, I finally put a stop payment on my Visa.

We bought our expensive viking range two years ago, the first time my wife tried to self clean it yesterday, the oven door would not open after the cooling period. We have not contacted anybody yet, I thought it is a simple fix. I was looking through the internet to find a solution until I encountered that it is a common defect and it may be costly. I am going to check if my range has an access door to unlock the oven door. If I fail, I have to call viking tommorrow and see. We had self cleaning ovens before we had not encountered this problem.

Broiler flame goes out when oven door is closed quickly. Flame spreader in oven fell apart oven will not stay on untill 4 or 5 tries. These problems started when range was still in warranty, Viking said this was the way the range works.

I purchased a stainless steel double wall Viking Oven and also a Viking five burner cooktop stove two years ago with warranty. These were very expensive and the top of the line items. The first time I used the oven, the steam from opening the oven caused some of the numbers and lettering to peel off the control panel. Each time I used the oven I lost more of the decals. It got to the point where I could not tell what settings I was using to operate the oven, so I called customer service about the defect. I had high expectations that Viking would #1 want to know about the defect, and #2 stand behind it.

I purchased a 6-burner range (VGIC365-6B-SS) on April 2 2001 in New Jersey. The first year I had to have the ignitors replaced as well as the convection oven fan - they had all failed and were all covered by the normal one year warrenty. I've again replaced the ignitors TWICE more in 2003 (11/25/03), (6/13/03) and twice in 2004 (5/11 and 12/10) spending over $800 with Jersey Appliance (the formal Viking support group in New Jersey).

I went to clean my Viking oven and the door locked!

Viking range self clean feature locks the oven door, but door will not unlock after c. Lock can only be accessed with $400.00 repair each time oven is cleaned.Later models have access door,making repair less than $60.00.

I purchased two Viking Ranges for my kitchen remodeling project.