Hello Bob,

I just saw this post. I am having a new Kitchenmaid KDTM354DSS installed tomorrow. Is this the model that gave you problems with the steam vent? Did you replace your dishwasher with a better unit, and if so what did you select and how does it compare to the Kitchenmaid?

Thanks.

I had that model Kitchenaid dishwasher installed about 2 years ago. It works great and is quiet. I usually run my loads on pro wash/dry plus sani-rinse. I've never seen steam coming out of that little vent on the side of the door. I read somewhere that it is for air intake, not venting steam.

Thanks for your response, 50s_ranch Andres. That is a big relief. I hope mine works as well as yours.

I have the same side vent trouble. Creates condensation on the cabinet next to it. It’s ruining the cabinet. Very poor design.

Wow, so sorry this has happened to anyone and how can kitchen aid not fix this issue and damaged caused?

Me too! How can we have kitchenaide be responsible for damages and replacement?

I have the same problem and a destroyed cabinet. Kitchenaid told me that the installer should have installed a vent shield. No such vent shield exists. Other than the ruined cabinet I like the dishwasher..it is quiet and the dishes are clean.

I have had a kitchenaid dishwasher for 5 years, I have had at least 6 service calls in it, we have replaced the control board 4 times and it is broken again right before Thanks Giving and I have 25 people coming to dinner. My cabinet and drawer on the left side of the dishwasher is ruined from the steam venting out the side. Kitchenaid refuses to fix the damage and they refuse to replace this piece of Crap.... Don’t Buy Kitchenaid! They Don’t stand behind their products.

SMRT54 - I complained and posted photos on KitchenAid’s Facebook page. Someone from Corporate DM’d me. After a lot of back and forth, they finally agreed to pay for the damaged cabinets. I had to threaten to post photos and bad reviews across the internet. Luckily, I found someone to fix the cabinets and the final repair price was reasonable. Also, a repairman told me this model‘s bottom vent is prone to getting clogged which means the heat and steam rises within the door because it has nowhere else to go. Eventually the motherboard at the top gets fried. And the steam has no place to go but out that stupid side vent. Good luck!

If you had read all the points about DWs here you would find most people still like Bosch the best .IMO always a better choice than most anything else..

I have the same problem. My cabinet adjacent to the KItchenaid dishwasher is ruined. I'll never buy another Kitchenaid product.

Kitchenaid doesn’t stand behind their products, We had a builtin kitchenaid refrigerator that was not repairable, they would do nothing and because the cabinets were built around it We had to buy another …then the steam from kitchenaid dishwasher that ruined our cabinet drawer and they refused to do anything… kitchenaid is Crap! I think it used to be good but No More!
Don’t Buy it

I know this is an old thread. I also had this issue. The dishwasher ruined the drywall flashing and paint next to it. we have since remodeled the kitchen and im afraid to reinstall the same dishwasher. i was told to put a moisture barrier there to protect the new cabinet panel. that seems backwards to me. The tape will show. Kitchenaid made a faulty design and is trying to skirt the issue.

Did anyone find a solution other than getting a different dishwasher?

Moved into a home with the KitchenAid dishwasher with upper side vent. Had noticed damage to the cabinet face beside the dishwasher. Thought nothing of it. on further investigation, I noticed the side vent on the dishwasher. Just had all cabinets repainted and the damaged door beside the vent repaired. I think I need to replace the dishwasher to solve this issue.

Has anyone tried covering the vent itself?