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Kenmore review: fire hazard stove! 25

L
Author of the review
12:00 am EST
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Back in 4/05 i had dinner baking in oven, and the broiler turned on, could not turn it off. The only way to turn it off was to unplug the stove, when you plugged it back in--Red hot broiler turned on! Sears replaced the "control Circuit Board" that controls all the electronics. Well...now 1/8/07, it was a repeat, it happened again. Dinner in the oven, i just happened to walk thru the kitchen, pulled the burning chicken out of oven, saw the "broiler" on, when the oven was on "bake", and could not turn the broiler off, had to unplug the stove to turn it off.

Sent another letter to Sears, to the Ohio Attorney General, local 6 on your side TV, and now to you. This is a fire hazard, and obviously a defect. Who else is having this problem? How many fires, burns? I need a new stove, it is only 3 yrs 6 months old. Do not fix this piece of junk again--A FIRE HAZARD!

25 comments
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Almeras
May 03, 2007 5:00 pm EDT

How old is the machine and how long was the warranty?

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Debby Brown
Nov 28, 2007 1:27 pm EST

This happened to me yesterday. Have you had any satisfaction since this post?

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Northampton
Aug 17, 2008 6:07 pm EDT

This just happened to us... so lucky I did not go outside after putting dinner in the oven...

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Peg
Sep 30, 2008 8:53 pm EDT

This happened to us tonight. I had pizza in the oven, and I turned the oven off. Smelled a strong smell like electrical fire smell...the broiler was on even though all of the indicator lights were off. The only way to turn the broiler off was to unplug the whole range. Has anyone had an response from Sears?

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Gottarun
Springville, US
Apr 06, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

This just happened to us last night (April 09)! We had dessert baking, and suddenly it was broiling! We took it outside, and turned off the oven, but the only way to STOP the broiler unit was to throw the circuit breaker (quicker than unplugging it). We tried it again a few minutes later, and the same thing happened. Our Kenmore stove is 14 years old, so we're getting a replacement. But the fire hazard is scary! Luckily we were home and my son smelled the smoke!

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740611
New Denver, CA
Dec 24, 2009 11:18 am EST

My Kenmore Elite was part of the recall. Tech repaired about a month ago. Stove caught on fire two days ago and fire dept responded. Returned the stove to Sears; received a replacement until a new Elite is delivered in January. Sears phoned and advised the fire was not part of the recall defect but, caused by the motherboard catching fire; they feel it was because of a power surge. I asked Kenmore be advised we had no power failure and our house has a surge protector at the box - so they may have another problem. Sears will replace the recall stove with a new one but, if we want a stove by a different manufacturer with all the same features they will refund the original purchase price and charge us the difference which is +$500. plus tax.

I think they are getting off lucky I'm the one scrubbing off the soot (TSP and then rinse).

Bonnie

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claudia R.
Phoenixville, US
Jan 31, 2010 6:41 pm EST

My kenmore oven did the same thing tonight. I had to turn it off at the circuit breaker when the broiler would not go off! It should not have been on to begin with as the oven was set on bake. My 86 year old mother was here but having no sense of smell she didn't realize what was happening. I am so glad I got home before something worse happened.
Just a lost meal and a smelly house- it could have been so much worse. I will send a complaint to sears and see if I get any response. I won't be buying another one from them.

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Jay L.
Sonoma, US
May 11, 2010 12:53 pm EDT

My Kenmore oven also turned itself on last night. We were home and smelled the smoke coming from the kitchen. It would not turn off and the oven was hotter than the broil seeting. Had we been out for a movie or dinner, the house could have burned to the ground. Sears is no help. They want $129.00 plus parts and labor to look at the problem. I am reading many reports on the internet of similar problems with Kenmore Electric Ranges. They recalled 200, 000 of the more expensive models, but have done nothing for the less expensive models which, apparently, have the same defect. These things are dangerous to have in your home.

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Alan Coates
US
Jun 28, 2010 11:22 am EDT

my Kenmore range, model number 665.[protected], did exactly the same yesterday (June 27th 2010)! oven set to 375 degrees, but just stayed on full heat gettitng hotter and hotter. House full of smoke, but fortunately alarms enabled us to prevent fire! turned oven off, but elemnets stayed on! Could only turn off by turning off breaker in basement! I see Kenmore had recall on only limited number of models, but clearly the issue is far broader! I've seen many reports of this problem reported with the 665. series ovens as well.

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CNY
Jordan, US
Jul 02, 2010 10:44 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

7/2/10 Cooking dinner on 790.9612 Stove and front burner went to full power and stayed on after turning it off. Had to throw the breaker. Called Sears, sorry out of warranty, will fix it for $170 dollars.

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Tom.W
Salisbury, US
Oct 06, 2010 3:18 pm EDT

I went to reheat some pizza.Turned the bake feature on 350.Ten minutes later the pizza was on fire from the Broiler.Thank God I was close by.At first I thought I may of miscued.No the broiler definitely swithched over from the bake cycle.The technician was even dumbfounded.He suggested a new circut board, but based on what I read that is not the answer.Not happy in O.C Maryland.

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GeorgiainWI
Hudson, US
Dec 28, 2010 6:02 pm EST

I have a Kenmore Mod 790 [protected] purchased 12/3/05. Christmas afternoon I had my ham and scalloped potatoes in the oven at 325 for about an hour and a half, when fortunately I was standing near the stove and heard popping, crackling noises coming from behind the control panel. In a few seconds, I could see sparks and then flames coming from that area. I keep a fire extinguisher near by and was able to knock down the flames the third time they flared, as my family and grandchildren watched. Had we not all been in such close proximity to the stove at that time the house could have burned.

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hcg/MJ
Belle /Fourche, US
Jan 07, 2011 12:29 am EST

I am having trouble with my Kenmore 790.[protected]. I thought it was a burnt out element which I overpaid to get a replacement without an invoice(!) from Dallas Tx, made by Electrolux, going out Mon b-4 Christmas and wouldn't be delivered until Dec 28! Didn't come till 12-29-10. My electrician came Wed, saying the element is good but the motherboard is the problem. No fire, no over heating of the bake element nor the broiler, nor the 4 burners. However, reading all of these problems concerns me to continue to use it. Plus, a motherboard could cost as much as a another stove/range. :( MJ

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Jethanandani
San Francisco, US
Jan 14, 2011 9:15 pm EST

We recently had a fire incident with our Sears Kenmore Model # 790.[protected], manufactured on January 2004. Like you said, our left front burner failed to respond to the digital control and often did not turn off. Then one day we were cooking and suddenly we heard a loud mechanical pop sound that suddenly ignited a HUGE fire! Really scary stuff. Horribly product should be recalled immediately! I have filed a consumer hazard complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

This fire spread so fast that within 30 seconds, the cupboards were burning, the tiling was on fire, and walls were covered in suit. This company should be sued, they build dangerous and ridiculously defective products.

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davidvc04
US
May 31, 2011 12:23 am EDT

We have had the same problem with the front left burner not turning off. It won't turn off but burns HOT. Sears wants to charge us for a repair. What a load. This is the second faulty appliance we've bought from them. Very upsetting.

SearsCare
SearsCare
Chicago, US
May 31, 2011 6:41 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

To davidvc04,

I'm sorry you are having this issue with your stove or cooktop. My name is James and I am part of the Social Media Support Escalations team at Sears and we would like to help. At your convenience, please contact our office at smsupport@searshc.com. Please send us an email providing a contact phone number and the phone number the appliance was purchased under (if different than the contact phone number) and we will call you directly. Also, in your email please provide the screen name (davidvc04 ) for reference to your issue and we do look forward to talking to you soon.

Thank you,
James H.
Social Media Moderator
Sears Social Media Support

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unhappysearsconsumer
Villa Park, US
Nov 30, 2011 8:36 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My Kenmore oven suddenly turned on all by itself. It heated up to over 600 degrees (thermometer used) & began smoking. Good thing I was home & heard my smoke detectors going off. I called Sears & they are refusing to help-said it's out of warranty (it's 5 yrs old). I strongly feel a class action suit needs to be filed. Sears is fully aware of this defective part & is not doing anything about it. I do not have $700 to replace this oven. Sears should make this right.

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shell1965bell
trinity, US
Mar 12, 2012 4:21 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Kenmore Electric Range 790.95302 purchased by builder in 2001. Oven gets hot/broiler turns on by itself while oven is on bake, burns food, cannot turn off unless cutting power to breaker. Very serious fire hazzard. Called Sears today to see if there was a recall since there are so many complaints about the same problem but they do NOT care. Offered to send a technician out at my expense. Could have caused my home to burn down. Very serious and scary problem. I feel Sears should at least have a recall on these ranges.

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Dave Ward 81
Weare, US
May 11, 2014 10:19 am EDT

My Kenmore oven for the third time has overheated. I don't mean a little bit. It seem to go on to full "on" mode and shutting the unit off does nothing. It continues to run and glow red. The only way to stop it is to turn the breaker off. This time turning the breaker off for five minutes then back on did not work either. It went into full on again. This seems very unsafe. It has ruined food and caused the home to fill with smoke and one oven fire.The unit displays F1 until you turn it off. Once turned off, the display turns off but the oven continues to heat. This Thing is going to burn my home down ! Is there a recall or fix for this? Dave PN: 790.95301

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Monica Lindsay
Lethbridge, CA
May 23, 2014 2:51 pm EDT

Same fire hazard with my range. Oven on and control panel smells like burning wires, has sparks and popping noises coming from it so is unplugged from wall. This range already has a history and Sears doesn't care who might get hurt or who may have their home burned down! Check out this link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/sears-customers-raise-alarms-over-erratic-stoves-1.1021701

I am considering contacting:
CBC's Go Public team includes Kathy Tomlinson and Enza Uda.
There are two ways to reach us with your story.
You can email us directly at gopublic@cbc.ca, with your name, contact information and details of the story you would like us to look into - or - you can use the story submission form below.
Your identity will be kept confidential, unless we do a story and you agree to participate.

People actually had their ranges replaced because they contacted CBC. I do NOT feel safe having this fire hazard in my home and do not want it "repaired" at my expense only to have the same part installed and the possibility of this happening again only next time I might not be home to make sure my house doesn't burn down.
This is rampant! Lots more complaints on this US Sears site. Then sears promises to fix or help and doesn't! No surprise!
Link:
https://www.sears.com/community/questions/kenmore-electric-range-model-790-control-panel-burned-out-in-less-than-5-years/
If someone has been successful in getting your range replaced please let me know!

I also got a new fridge at the same time, which has a leak underneath due to a drain problem sears has not been able to resolve in over a year and did not notify customers. Has ruined my wood floors in my kitchen! Now I have heard the dishwasher I also bought at the same time may also be a fire hazard. Seriously Sears?! Who is out there to protect consumers from this disgusting problem!?

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Bird Dog
Mount Hope, US
Oct 05, 2014 2:00 pm EDT

I have a kenmore and right after we got it this started. The oven will stay on till it is unplug from the wall. Is sears going to do anything about it. If you cook using the auto timer this could get bad if you are not in the house.

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Mad_Mom _N_ARK
Little Rock, US
Nov 22, 2014 6:21 pm EST

So here is what happened I cut the oven to warm up then walked away I heard a popping then a smell of wires burning if we had not been in the kitchen this would be a different story. I call sears oh they want me to pay to have them come look at, What? Oh and they can come DECEMBER 2nd to look at it, Wait What? They told me that I Can't get it replaced even if it is faulty wires. I AM SO MAD right now I can't cook and we can't eat I have kids I cannot afford to eat out until December 2nd that is why I cook, and why should I pay for anything? Stove was bought 06/2011 it is defective. If I had known I would have NEVER bought this thing into my home.

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JustinGr
Saint Peters, US
May 21, 2015 12:38 pm EDT

Happened to me twice, once was on Thanksgiving (2014) with the turkey and the ham in the oven. Burned both of them and filled the house with smoke and the only way to turn the broiler off (which turned on by itself) was to flip the breaker. Finally after numerous times of flipping on and off the breaker, the broiler turned off and worked till a few days ago when it turned on will I was using the stove top. Now I'm scared to death of using this thing again as it could have easily burned my house down. Its unplug and just sitting in my kitchen while I figure out what to do next.

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Amos Craig
US
Jun 05, 2016 10:52 am EDT

My Kenmore digital interface had been acting strange for a while, the buttons weren't working properly, couldn't input exact temperature for instance cause no matter which number you pressed it came up as"1" so unless you want so
egging cooked at 111 degrees you're out of luck. I got around this by using the "preset" button. But last night, the buttons on the oven started randomly beeping and pushing themselves, mostly onto the "broil" setting, giving my chicken a good burn and rendering the oven now completely useless and dangerous. I just had to unplug it to make it turn off. Below I attached model and serial number.

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Luca Mezincescu
US
May 25, 2017 9:11 pm EDT

our kenmore electric range 790.9414 two night ago went by itself in the self cleaning mode! Waking up to up at 6 oclock in the morning the house was full of smoke from the pots roasted by the self clening mode.Sears says we turned it on by mistake

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