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halfdecaf_gw

Kitchenaid Architect Range/Oven...ongoing problem.

19 years ago

Just wanted to let anyone here know about our recent experience with our Kitchenaid Architect I series electric range - 14 months old:

Two days ago we turned on the oven to warm dinner, but then it didn't turn off. At all!! The only solution was to cut the power with the circuit breaker. We called customer service and I was informed that the problem was "outside of warranty" (of course) but, since it was a safety-related problem they'd "go ahead and fix the problem free of charge."

When the repairman came out today, he told us he sees this same problem in KA Architect ranges quite often. We're guessing that the reason KA was so quick to comp us the ($367.00) repair price is because it may ultimately be cheaper than doing a full-blown recall.

At any rate...thought I'd share my experience, for what it may be worth....

Comments (16)

  • 19 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hi halfdecaf, I have the kitchenaid slide-in, glass top, convection and warming drawer electric range model # kesa907pss00. My range has a mind of it's own, sometimes works sometimes doesn't. Top burners heat from simmer to medium high on their own, sometimes they work fine. Sometimes the oven does not heat up to temp other times I think the broiler comes on or something, oven temps on highest bake & broil. Lots of other problems like front knobs turning on burners at the lightest touch. Strange thing is that every few times I use it, it seems to be working, the rest of the time it is a hazzard. I have emailed KitcheAid but have not heard back. In the meantime we sent our complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Yesterday a response from CPSC came in the mail that they are going to do an investigation and a field investigator will contact me withine thirty days. I do not want a repair, I want this range out of my home so I am not messing around. I will post with the outcome.

  • 19 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    My goodness! I'm so sorry, terible! Good for you for going after them. In reading other threads on Kitchenaid products it seems they've definitely got an inferior product...that's not exactly cheap! Buyer beware. Good luck to you!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    My new kitchenaid built in oven has never worked properly. Fortunately it is still in warranty. Having no experience with the new combination ovens and traveling during our remodel we at first thought that we were doing something wrong. However, when we finally were home trying to prepare Thanksgiving dinner it became clear that it was not us--it was the oven. THe pattern was that it seems to do fine for five minutes or so and then it shuts off. It gives a message of F5 E0 . When I tried to look the code up it was a latch error--however, if I understand, the latch is not involved in cooking--only self-cleaning. We called kitchenaid and to make a long story short, the repair company decided it needed a new control panel--Kitchen aid sent two new panels (delivered to me). THe first was completely busted (no packing material in the box--ditto the second one. Finally the store that I purchased the stove from was able to get a panel and install it. But guess what--the oven is still doing the same thing! Now the first repair company is supposed to come (on Christmas eve--the only day that week that they will be in our area) to try to figure it out. Now the stove has added a new trick--after it stops with the F5 E0 error, if we try to restart it to cook something it locks the latch and tries to self-clean. After frantically pushing the off button, it will stop that too--but will not cook. Is this a piece of junk or what?

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I had an Architect range that they actually bought back. It was gas - the coating on the grates would melt off even when the burner wasn't turned all the way up. I had the gas oven version and my other experiences would not be meaningful.

    Remember, I'm just another user talking, but it sounds like power problems blowing the main oven board. Repair person should check that the fan that is supposed to cool the oven board is actually running. KA's boards may well be more testy that others. You might ask about surge protection for your home or just the range circuit.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I think KitchenAid should stick to small appliances. I adore my big Pro mixer, my immersion blender. My food processor is so much better than the Cuisinart I had that there is no comparison. But it seems as if KitchenAid refrigerators and stoves aren't of the same quality. I'm glad I read this thread. We are getting ready to build in about a year and I'm already picking appliances. Thanks for the heads up.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I am now completely fed up with kitchenaid. My brand new oven is apparently a piece of junk! The repair person came on Christmas eve but said it needed another part--a latch assembly and he did not have it. It was installed just a few minutes ago and--guess what!!! The oven is still doing the same thing. The tech checked the wiring and discovered that the latch motor is somehow coming on when it is not supposed to, but according to all of the diagrams the wiring seems to be fine. So now I have installed a new control panel, a new latch assembly, the wiring has been checked (Just to make sure the tech called the central support service and went over the connections wire by wire--no problems could be found--I listened to his end of the conversation. His central tech support said--well it must be the control panel-- even though it is a brand new control panel, and the same exact error is occurring that was happening with the original one. So now I have to wait two more weeks to get another panel installed. What is the probability that the second panel would produce the same error as the first--that is that both panels had the exact same fault? I asked the tech and he shook his head and said "it has been known to happen" So then, is there a design flaw in kitchenaid control panels, am I just very unlucky, or is it that no one has a clue as to what could be wrong with this expensive piece of junk. Any suggestions for who I might write, call, or otherwise complain to? I am about to call the store I purchased it from--actually it is the local store and they just ordered it for me after I told them the model that I wanted--they did not stock it and they have been very helpful. Kitchenaid just keeps sending repairmen. We were unable to prepare thanksgiving, Christmas meals. Today is our 29th anniversary. As the repairperson was working on the oven, my husband asked --well I guess that means no anniversary turkey either! I said to him--yes the anniversary turkey is right over there--I can't cook one, but the oven is one!!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I posted on a similar problem back in July/August. We purchased the whole kitchenaid architect II series suite for our kitchen. We had several problems - when the oven arrived, it was damaged so badly that the door would not open because the whole frame was bent. We had to PURCHASE a second unit in order to install it so that the house would pass inspection, get a C/O, so we could close and move in. After 5 months, PC Richards finally came and took the broken oven and credited us back the purchase price of the second one. Kitchenaid and PC Richards both denied liability for those five months, and both said it was our fault for accepting the broken oven upon delivery - completely absurd, given that it was completely packaged and the damage was concealed.

    As for the refrigerator, the icemaker/water dispenser would not work at all. We called PC Richard (date of delivery) and they told us to call Kitchenaid, who told us to call PC Richard, who told us to call Kitchenaid. Long story short, but parties refused to fix the damned icemaker. Kitchenaid said they would send a service tech but that we would have to pay for it (yes, on the DATE OF DELIVERY of a brand new $3k appliance). SO they set up an appointment for 3 weeks away. I called the technician to see if he could come sooner, and he said he couldnt come at all, even in three weeks, and he also said that our model refrigerator had this problem all the time, explained that the wiring harnesses are cut during packaging, and that it takes 6 months to get a new door/wire harness, and that the only thing he could do was submit a claim form for us, but he couldnt come at all. We called Kitchenaid back and told them what he told us, and they had us call another service tech, who came and confirmed what the first guy said, and said that there is no way to fix this chronic problem. Then we called PC Richard, who told us we had to deal with Kitchenaid, and explained what the service technician said. They said since the 1 yr manufactuers warranty was still in effect that our $500 extended warranty would not cover anything and they refused to send us a new fridge...... So after 6 hours of calling all of these people, I ended up sobbing uncontrollably. Lucky for me, my husband, outraged by the absurd turn of events and pissed off that these jerks made me cry, ripped the fridge apart and rewired the whole thing himself. Now it works wonderfully.

    So, dont buy from PC Richards, especially dont bu the extended warranty, and dont buy Kitchenaid. The only reason our oven works is because we paid for a second one, and the only reason our fridge works is because my husband apparently knows more about refrigerator repair than Kitchenaid, PC Richards, and several service technicians.

    Oh, and coincidentally, Kitchenaid change the design of the fridge so that the wiring harness is no longer in the same place, and it now has a new protective coating to prevent it from being sliced by the packaging machines.... We know this because we went to the store to show PC Richards what happened and when my husband pulled the fridge apart we saw the change. Still, dont buy from these jerks

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I meant to add that I am sorry for all of your troubles but am glad that it is over. If I were you I would still be steaming--your situation was inexcusable.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Somehow my first message did not go. I was pretty depressed after calling kitchenaid and being told that my warranty was just for repair and not replacement. However, I also called the local store that ordered it for me. It is a local business that has been around forever. The owner was very concerned and went to bat for me with her sales rep at kitchenaid. She just called to say that I am getting a new oven that should arrive next week. Now I remember why I wanted to deal with a "mom and pop" store in the first place--they care!!! THanks and hooray to West Point TV and Appliance and their sales rep

  • 17 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I have a model # KESA907PSS00 RANGE THAT ALMOST BURNT MY HOUSE DOWN, DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE OF THESE AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, I AM PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION WITH KITCHEN AID ON THIS AND COULD USE SUPPORT, THE KNOBS ON THIS RANGE GET SLIGHTLY BUMPED AND TURNS THE BURNER ON, THIS TIME THERE WAS A SALT PEEPER PLASTIC SHAKER ON IT THAT STARTED IN FLAMES, MY KITCHEN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, I HAVE SO MUCH SMOKE DAMAGE. IF THE FIRE ALARM WOULDN'T HAVE GONE OFF IT WOULD HAVE BURNT DOWN. WITH MY SON INSIDE

  • 17 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Regarding above message, Attached is my email address. Please email me. I have a model # KESA907PSS00 RANGE THAT ALMOST BURNT MY HOUSE DOWN, DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE OF THESE AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, I AM PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION WITH KITCHEN AID ON THIS AND COULD USE SUPPORT, THE KNOBS ON THIS RANGE GET SLIGHTLY BUMPED AND TURNS THE BURNER ON, Please email me if you have simmilar problems, jule37@aol.com

  • 15 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I also have the model # KESA907PSS00 and it almost burnt my house down as well. My problem was when I used the self clean option and the stove got so hot that it completely shut down..not soon enough in my opinion as my cupboards on each side were so hot I could not touch them. I had to cool them down by wiping them with cold water. It took my oven hours to finally cool down enough so I could actually touch my oven and feel like it was not going to burn down my house. The next morning the stove is completely broken(no signs of life) and the door is still locked. ahhhhh has this happened to anyone else.
    PS: I also have had the problem of the knobs being bumped on with the littles pressure. I often come into my kitchen and will see a element turned on by accident.

  • 15 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Had the same problem that dgarvie@mymts.net had. The first time we put the oven into self-clean, it worked for about an hour and a bit and then shut off and the door remain locked. had to have a technician come in to service it by replacing the shut off fuse in the back. He stated that these fuses have a tendency to blow when the temperature reaches 400 degrees which is really interesting since the oven gets hotter than that in the self-clean mode. Notwithstanding this was the first time we used the self-clean & it happened to be just out of warranty, Kitchen Aid & Whirlpool won't do anything even though they recognize it is a design flaw. Nice to have a company stand behind their products. Will not recommend Kitchen Aid products to anyone & in fact as a mortgage broker who deals with new home buyers, I will recommend that they do not purchase Kitchen Aid appliances, all for $170 service call.

  • 15 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Same problem here. Range almost burned our house down. We put the range in self-clean mode (described on another site as "self-Destruct" mode. The range exterior got extremely hot and after an hour or so, the electronic display went blank but the oven kept heating. We started to smell wood burning and getting smoke in the house. I ran downstairs and turned off the breaker. The base cabinets on each side of the range were hot to the touch. It took several hours for the range to cool down. Now, the display is out, the oven door will not open, and we are facing the same problem as the rest of you here. Range just out of warranty facing costly repairs.

    I am debating on hauling this thing to the dump instead of calling a repair person. We actually don't trust this range now. Guess it will take a law suit after some family loses their lives in a house fire for KitchenAid to take responsibility. We will never buy another KitchenAid appliance!

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hi, I came upon this board while searching on the internet for parts for my Kitchenaid range. We just bought a house that has this range in it and the Panel that controls the oven does not work. Some of the buttons still work, but since the main one, which is the START button does not work, nothing else can be done.
    A technician that I called to repair it says it is the control board and that to replace all that needs to be replaced it is almost $700 in parts alone! Before I invest any money into this range I want to know if that is actually the problem (I'm getting a second opinion, and a third if necessary), and if it is actually worth it to put any money into this. It is an expensive range, and I thought it was a good one, but after reading so many negative things I'm not sure, maybe I should just buy a new one (not Kitchenaid). Has anyone had this problem? And if so, what was it and how was it fixed?
    By the way, I was cracking up about the "self destruct" mode joke. I think it is hilarious. I guess I can still have a sense of humor about this since I didn't actually buy the applicance. If I had sunk more than 2k into this piece and then find all these issues and the company not standing by their product I would be fuming! If I ever get it repaired I will never use the "self cleaning" function after reading this, which I would have done otherwise.
    I also have the problem of burners misteriously turning on, and before reading this I was blaming my grandmother, who is staying with us and sometimes forgets things, for leaving them on, but now I realize somebody probably just bumped into them and accidentally turned them on. That is terrible! What a safety hazard!
    Anyway, thanks and I appreciate any comments or advice about this.

  • 10 years ago

    I too have this model of the Kitchen Aid Architect series Range that was in the kitchen of our purchased house, In 9/2014 the range would not turn off. The repairman told me what a great model it was and talked me into replacing the panel for 328$ and the membrane for 159$ with the entire repair at 656$...well now less than 2 years later the range has a "stuck Key" message and I am advised to replace the panel again (180$) and one of my switches is broken also..another 180$ to replace all 4 since the single part was discontinued...needless to say I think there is a serious design flaw with overheating causing the panel to short out. I am sorry I put more money into it 2 years ago. After reading this great thread I think I will replace it with an alternative manufacturer even if it doesn't all "match" perfectly.