KENMORE RANGES AND OVENS PROBLEMS
Information about the problems and breakdowns of Kenmore ranges and ovens that were reported from 2004 to 2020.
Common problems: burning, electric shock, explosion, fire, glass shattering, melting, overheating, self-cleaning, sharp edges, short circuit, smoke, turning on/off.
Faulty modules: control board, display, door, glass, heating element, motor, rack, temperature sensor, timer.
Recalls
7 safety recalls announced
Electrolux Recalls Kenmore Elite Ranges Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
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Date: 5/20/2015
This recall involves Sears Kenmore stainless steel slide-in ranges with gas cooktops and electric ovens. Model number 790.42603xxx with serial numbers ranging from AF42500601 through AF43000916 and model number 790.42613xxx with serial numbers ranging from AF42500541 through AF43103647 are included.
Frigidaire and Kenmore Smoothtop Electric Ranges Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
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Date: 8/27/2009
Depending on the model, the surface heating elements can: 1) turn on spontaneously without being switched on; 2) fail to turn off after being switched off; or, 3) heat to different temperatures than selected. This poses a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Frigidaire and Kenmore Wall Ovens Recalled by Electrolux Due to Fire Hazard (Recall Alert)
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Date: 7/26/2016
This recall involves Frigidaire and Kenmore-branded electric single and double wall ovens made by Electrolux. They were sold in black, white or stainless steel. The single ovens measure about 24 inches wide, 32 inches tall and 25 inches deep.
Frigidaire Canada Recalls Kenmore Wall Ovens Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
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Date: 5/20/2008
During extended broiling, gas can build in the oven cavity and escape when the oven door is opened. This poses a burn and possible fire hazard to consumers.
Kenmore Electric Ranges Recalled by Electrolux Due to Electrical Shock Hazard
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Date: 2/24/2015
This recall involves Sears Kenmore 24-inch wide freestanding electric ranges with model number 790.90152 with serial numbers from NF408 through NF424 and model number 790.90153 with serial numbers from NF408 through NF427.
Kenmore Elite Ranges Recalled by Electrolux Due to Laceration Hazard
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Date: 5/20/2015
This recall involves Sears Kenmore Elite stainless steel slide-in gas, electric and dual-fuel ranges. Type Model Serial Numbers Gas 790.32623xxx AF41500007 - AF44902220 790.32633xxx AF41600811 - AF45004453 790.32643xxx AF41601928 - AF45003625 Electric 790.42553xxx AF41602002 - AF45006133 790.42563xxx AF42002743 - AF45005533 790.42623xxx AF42801297 - AF45000612 Dual Fuel 790.42603xxx AF40602184 - AF45004329 790.42613xxx AF42500541 - AF45003409
GE Recall of Ranges and Wall Ovens
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Date: 8/26/2004
Name of product: General Electric, Hotpoint, Kenmore, and Americana brand freestanding electric ranges and double wall ovens. The ranges and wall ovens have faulty wiring, which can melt and cause the oven to short circuit. The appliance can then stop working and pose a shock hazard to consumers.
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Problems
76 issues reported
Kenmore Stove
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Date: 3/22/2011
An electric range turns on by itself & does not turn off. A female consumer has had the unit serviced twice but the problem persists & also the problem alternates between the range & the oven. There is no charring or burning to the unit. She feels the unit is unsafe.
Kenmore Elite 790.96593601
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Date: 3/16/2011
The electronic oven control circuit board started sparking and producing smoke at the back of the oven, causing a small electrical fire between the oven and the wall. This oven has a feature that allows programming the oven to turn on unattended at a later time.
Kenmore Elite 790.99013100
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Date: 5/4/2011
Consumer reports that after cooking the electric range was turned off, the indicator displayed HE but the red glow and tremendous heat meant it was still on, so had to use the breaker. Several hours later when the breaker was turned on the element came back, the knob was off.
Kenmore Electric Stove
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Date: 5/7/2011
Consumer reports that after using the oven self-cleaning feature electric range, they found the exterior of the stove so hot it melted the side of the cabinet next to it. Consumer reports that after many months of run around, the claim was denied.
Kenmore Elite 790.99129405
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Date: 5/31/2011
while consumer was using the electric Smoothtop Range it was cooking at a very high temperature regardless of what the setting on the control was changed to. When attempting to shut the unit off, the control goes blank as if the unit is turned off, but the burner stays on.
Kenmore Electric Range
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Date: 7/8/2011
The edge of consumer’s electric oven range stove has very sharp edged. 46 YOF cut herself in her left leg while moving passed the range. She has a permanent scar on her leg. Consumer went to the doctor sometime after the incident.
Kenmore 790.96011407
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Date: 7/19/2011
The burners on the electric stove top will turn on by themselves. consumer also reports that if the knob is on a low setting the burner will run on high.
Kenmore 790.96002601
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Date: 10/5/2011
Left front burner of electric range remains on after being turned to off. It will come on to low setting & even to very high setting by itself. Range was turned off at circuit breaker to prevent more serious incident.
Kenmore 790.96122409
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Date: 10/13/2011
On 2 occasions, while using the burner of an electric range on a low setting & the temperature change to higher temperature than selected. The circuit breaker had to be powered off. On 2nd incident food caught fire. The hood above the stove was melted & cabinets were burned.
Kenmore 790-72903011
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Date: 11/13/2011
48 YOF bumped back of her hand on corner of gass range oven, completely severing or lacerating tendon on indix finger. She was taken to hospital & seen by physician. Later she was reffered to hand surgeon, who repaired damage on hand, but she had to wear hand brace.
Kenmore 709.96009601
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Date: 1/23/2012
Burner of electric cooktop/range started changing temperatures on its own during use. 32 YOM discontinued using it, but this burner activated itself to highest setting. Plastic tray was on top of it, heated to point of disfigurement. He got Injury, no first aid received.
Kenmore 790.96122408
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Date: 2/6/2012
Consumer turned the right rear eye on an electric range off & it came back on by itself 2 or 3 times. She had to work with the knob to get the eye to go off. Later the left eye on the range malfunctioned. She is not using the unit due to the safety issue could result in fire.
Kenmore 790.9641340F
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Date: 2/20/2012
Electronic oven control module (circuit board) on 71 YOF's electric range failed causing an electrical arc and immediate unit failure. Electrical arc extended beyond sheet metal housing, which consumer believes posed personal injury & fire hazard.
Kenmore 790.95354803
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Date: 3/9/2012
Consumer reports that while cooking dinner, the electric oven started overheating, the broiler came on by itself and the food started to burn. The stove wouldn't turn off until unplugged. Found the clock timer unit and a small diode were burnt off. Replaced them, now ok.
Kenmore Elite 790.99123403
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Date: 3/20/2012
Approximately 15 minutes after oven of electric range was turned on, consumer noticed crackling & popping noises. Black smoke began rising from behind top user interface area, then flames shot reaching vent hood. Consumer cut power through breaker box.
Kenmore 790.95663201
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Date: 5/10/2012
34 YOM was cooking in electric range oven when smoke started coming out of it & smoke alarms started going off. Later he discovered top element was glowing hot red & there was smoldering fire inside oven. Element started glowing again after he shut power off & back on.
Kenmore 790.79384400
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Date: 5/23/2012
a Dual Fuel Range caught on fire while in use. Interior of control panel was covered in soot from burning components and kitchen was filled with fumes. The fire was extinguished when the home's circuit breaker in the service panel tripped.
Kenmore 790.99123405
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Date: 6/21/2012
51 YOM came home & found that surface element of electric range was on. He stated that the only way to turn it off was kill the circuit breaker & when the breaker was reset, element immediately came back on. He stated that this is due to relay board failures.
Kenmore Elite 790.41073101
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Date: 7/8/2012
Consumer reports that after running the self clean cycle on the range, the oven walls bowed out just enough so that the racks no longer fit and they fall down if a weight is put on them, especially a heavy weight such a Thanksgiving turkey.
Kenmore 790.96010407
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Date: 8/16/2012
A 32 YOF report about an electric stove that is a hazard. It turns on spontaneously & also heats up to extremely hot temperatures if it is on a low setting & also will not turn off. The consumer sustained 2nd & 3rd degree burns due to the stove turning on spontaneously.
Kenmore 790.9021
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Date: 10/22/2012
While consumer's daughter was baking in oven of electric range, she noticed smoke coming out from behind range. She pulled it out & noticed flames behind control board. She unplugged unit & flames went out. Fire was limited & contained inside range.
Kenmore 790.9912340B
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Date: 1/3/2013
Consumer was cooking on an electric range & the stove was turned off. Later, she noticed the right front burner was still lit. She went to lower the temperature & notice the range was off. The consumer unplugged the range & had to trip circuit breaker to turn off the range.
Kenmore 790.90214012
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Date: 1/15/2013
Consumer says she was using the electric range - one burner and the oven at 375 degs for approx. 20 mins, when she heard a zapping noise and saw black smoke emanating from the rear of the unit. She opened the rear of the unit and found that the electrical wires had melted.
Kenmore 790.77513800
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Date: 1/16/2013
Consumer reported that front glass shattered while not in use. It shattered in small pieces with shards.
Kenmore Elite 790.7754 3805
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Date: 2/9/2013
Consumer reported that gas range has control knobs positioned so close to oven ventilation on front, that when oven is in use, they got too hot to touch. 5 YOM burned himself after touching knob. No treatment was necessary.
Kenmore 48763
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Date: 3/22/2013
Consumer says that the interior oven rack fall to the bottom of the oven. She stated that the wall of the ovens is bowed out & is a manufacturer's defect. On a couple of occasions, she has had a roast fall to the bottom of the oven & causing grease to spill inside the unit.
Kenmore Elite 790.41073100
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Date: 4/4/2013
57 YOF reports that stove interior oven rack falls off wall of hot oven when returning rack with hot dish back into oven. Wall of oven bows as rack is returned to oven and both rack and dish fall to floor of oven.
Kenmore Elite 790.46729700
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Date: 4/9/2013
The oven being used began producing excessive smoke & electrical burning smell. A flame was seen inside the cooktop cavity. An electrical short cut the power and the flame went out. It was found that the blower motor had caught fire. Injuries to 57- & 33-YOF and 33- & 58-YOM.
Kenmore 790.97423901
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Date: 5/14/2013
Consumer stated that his wife was baking at 350 degrees. The electric range had been on for about an hour. The oven cooled down. Later, the front glass of the oven door shattered. The majority of the glass landed about 2 feet away. The same incident occurred 2 years ago.
Kenmore 790.96009601
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Date: 6/24/2013
Consumer reports that the smooth top stove has begun having the same issues as in current recall. The burner elements will get stuck on while cycling to maintain set temperature control. Burning extremely hot & will not turn off; even when turn the knob to the off position.
Kenmore 790.9031
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Date: 7/11/2013
Consumer found that oven door glass (middle one) had shattered all over kitchen floor. Some shards of glass stuck in between outer & inner glasses. Oven was used last time three weeks prior to incident. She also stated that there are visible wires underneath oven.
Kenmore 790.79913300
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Date: 8/26/2013
Consumer & his wife noticed snapping & crackling sound from rear of oven when it was on “broil” setting. Then smoke emitted from top rear of unit & almost immediately consumers saw flames emitting from it. After breaker was tripped flames had extinguished.
Kenmore 790.96112409
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Date: 8/28/2013
The consumer reports that the front left burner on the electric range does not shut off when the control is turned off. The areas around the burner, including the edges of the stove, get warm when the burner is being used.
Kenmore 790.96542602
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Date: 8/29/2013
About 6 months ago consumer & 60 YOF noticed that oven of Electric Range was not always turning off after they finished using it. Frequency of this problem has increased & now they have to shut off breaker, wait for 2-3 minutes & then turn breaker back on & oven stays off.
Kenmore Elite 790.98023801
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Date: 10/11/2013
Oven racks in electric range appeared to be loosening. 55 YOF went to check food, & rack would fall down onto next rack or onto oven floor, spilling pan contents inside oven. Food was very hot. Technician stated that this was caused by defect in oven wall.
Kenmore 790.46783901
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Date: 10/17/2013
The 57-YOM consumer stated that his index finger brushed/slid against the vertical edge of the closed oven door and was sliced by the edge of the door which required a trip to the ER and required 3 stitches and numerous bandage changes due to the amount of blood shed.
Kenmore 790.96113409
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Date: 1/9/2014
Consumer was using left front burner of electric stove when she noticed that it didn't go off when she turned it off. She had to turn stove off at circuit breaker. She stated that periodically burner would come on by itself & this only happens on left front burner.
Kenmore 790.96012400
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Date: 1/17/2014
Consumer reported that control panel of electric range started sparking & popping & it caught fire. There was flames & smoke. She stated that control panel stopped working & oven no longer works. Her husband opened control pane & its inside was burnt.
Kenmore 790.71312701
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Date: 2/4/2014
The consumer stated that his gas range has the same issue as Rel #10-048. He stated that he was baking when he smelled gas in the kitchen. He shut the oven off, then turned it back on to see any flame would ignite. There were no flames, but he smelled gas.
Kenmore 790-46769901
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Date: 2/27/2014
Electric oven glass door handle fell off when consumer held it & then door exploded shattering glass pieces. There were glass pieces on floor & on her counter top. She has had service calls for thermostat failure & burners breaking away from electrical wiring.
Kenmore 790.95200102
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Date: 6/5/2014
While baking, electric range oven got hot & wouldn't shot off. Broiler element came on by itself & wasn't controlled by temperature control. Power to range was disconnected to shit off range. When it was reconnected broiler element came on in full force while unit was off.
Kenmore 790.97473805
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Date: 6/23/2014
The consumer stated that the outer glass on her son's oven door exploded 3 times. On the third time, the element on the range blew out. The unit was in self-clean mode. The consumer was informed that they can replace the glass for the third time but not replace the unit.
Kenmore 790.97453802
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Date: 7/20/2014
39 YO's electric range started on fire. There were flames on back of oven.
Kenmore Electric Range
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Date: 10/8/2014
Glass door on an electric range exploded. Hot, shattered glass all over the floor, in a house full of children and pets.
Kenmore Elite 790.99113301
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Date: 10/27/2014
Consumer noticed the front; right burner on her electric range was turned on & fully engaged. The burner is the hottest & largest one of her unit’s 5 burners. Everything surrounding the range was hot. She slightly burned her fingers trying to shut it off because of the heat.
Kenmore 790.47789405
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Date: 11/24/2014
Electric Oven was in use for approximately 6 hours & set to 325 degrees when consumer's wife opened its door & attempted to pull out its rack. Rack started to fall toward bottom of oven. Oven walls had expanded which allowed one side of rack to fall down.
Kenmore 790.9611340
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Date: 2/5/2015
Consumer reported that front & back left burners of Electric Range wouldn't turn off. Once burners are on they stay on & continue to get hotter & hotter. Consumer stated that only way to turn burners off is to unplug stove.
Kenmore 790.97432802
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Date: 2/9/2015
44yom reported that electric convection oven while in use he heard a buzzing/crackling noise & saw smoke coming from behind control panel. Oven was shut off. He disconnected power & saw that one of the connectors & wires on control panel's circuit board was burned & melted
Kenmore 790.77483801
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Date: 5/21/2015
Gas range has laceration hazard & consumer discovered it while cleaning unit. Consumer stated that it is located along horizontal bottom edge of stainless steel below range control knobs.
Kenmore 790.32603311
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Date: 7/20/2015
Consumer reports defective & dangerous gas kitchen ranges due to self-extinguishing burners. Discovered that two of the top burners would self-extinguish when the oven door was opened. The tool revealed that all 4 top burners & the oven burner were leaking gas continuously.
Kenmore Elite 790.92803011
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Date: 8/21/2015
57yom stated that the oven door was in the down position. He walked around the door to get something off of the counter. He bumped his left leg on the left corner of the door which cause a laceration. He went to the emergency room & had to get fourteen stitches in his leg.
Kenmore 790.95212201
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Date: 9/24/2015
It is reported that while 31yof was cooking, glass stove melted to the bottom front right pot & a crack radiated out from the pot in a loud booming sound with little shards of glass popping up & around the glass stove top. Stove was not touched & no one was in the kitchen.
Kenmore 790.74233310
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Date: 9/29/2015
Oven heats to high temperature then the set temperature, the food gets burnt & the range knobs would get extremely hot to the touch since purchase. Technician replaced the temperature sensor & another part but the problem persists. Gas Range knobs continue to get very hot.
Kenmore 790.96113409
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Date: 10/5/2015
Front left burner on electric range activated to full power despite being left on lower power setting. Burner didn't respond to knob being turned off. Burner activated even from "off" position. Sequence happened 4-5 times before burner stayed off. Unit was unplugged.
Kenmore 790.46762900
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Date: 10/8/2015
Electric range door blew up, throwing pieces all over kitchen & into dining room & family room.63 YOM's leg was cut. He received no first aid or medical attention. Consumer reports that cleaning glass is laceration hazard.
Kenmore 790.48173002
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Date: 11/20/2015
Consumer stated that light assembly in electric oven has glass cover that burst with normal operation of oven within 12 months of initial use. Light glass cover burst during cooking & broke into few pieces dropping on food being cooked.
Kenmore 790.78874406
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Date: 1/29/2016
A 60 YOF & her family received CO poisoning from the range. She stated that she had been feeling ill & the CO alarm went off, the fire department came out. She & her family were treated & released in hospital emergency. The gas company confirmed that the CO came from range.
Kenmore Elite 790.48803100
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Date: 5/21/2016
Pane of glass on wall oven completely shattered during normal routing cooking. There was loud pop & glass shattered all over floor while oven was still working. 66 YOM, consumer's parent, was injured and seen by medical professional.
Kenmore Elite 790.9802
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Date: 8/6/2016
73 YOM consumer states that oven racks are now not wide enough to have support from the side wall rails causing them to fall when any weight is placed on them. The walls of the oven warp to outside. Consumer states that this is dangerous and has caused burns.
Kenmore 790.48842901
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Date: 9/16/2016
We heard a loud crash noise in the kitchen and found that the glass front to our oven was exploded into millions of pieces. The oven was turned off at the time, there was no one near the oven, there was no damage to the oven. The glass exploded with no reason.
Kenmore Elite 790.9413310
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Date: 10/8/2016
A 46 YOF reports that her stove cook top cracked due to overheating oven. Cook top replaced. Later, while she was baking some biscuits, electric panel on her cook top started shooting out electric sparks & was on fire. Lots of smoke, flames & sparks.
Kenmore 790.45409410
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Date: 11/21/2016
Left burner on cooktop turned on spontaneously, which 74 YOM discovered because of smell of burning plastic & metal. He had to switch off breaker d/t no response from controls. After he reset breaker, burner turned on again. Metal contacts & plastic plug sheaths were melted.
Kenmore 790.92909011
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Date: 1/24/2017
62 YOF reported that oven double glass door exterior glass exploded 45 minutes after she turned oven off. She was baking in oven for 45 minutes at 350°. There were sharp black shards of glass as well as safety glass that were projected into room.
Kenmore 790.97454802
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Date: 1/30/2017
Control panel of electric range burned up & had to be replaced about two years after range was purchased. Recently technician checked range, it had not been in use for about two years, & advised consumer not to use self-cleaning feature because it affects electronics in panel
Kenmore 790.92204014
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Date: 2/14/2017
Consumer indicates that her range displayed an F10 error code when her oven was in use. She unplugged and replugged the range. The error code showed up again. She opened the oven and food was burned and the pan she used warped as well. Unit is not in a recall.
Kenmore 790.96002600
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Date: 3/21/2017
Caller's electric range's baking/bottom element caught fire while oven was preheating. Flames burned the element in half. He turned the oven off and threw a wet towel on which extinguished the fire.
Kenmore 790-92203011
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Date: 5/15/2017
Consumer turned on the front right burner of an Electric range. The burner had been on for 1 to 2 minutes, when the consumer heard a cracking sound & found that the range was on fire. The flames were approximately 12” high. The breaker tripped for the range.
Kenmore 790.92803010
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Date: 8/5/2017
Electric range started to turn on automatically. Consumer woke up with one of surfaces completely red. Consumer called retailer and was told to contact manufacturer. Consumer sent message to manufacturer. 48 YOF was injured and received no first aid or medical attention.
Kenmore 790.46789902
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Date: 10/25/2017
33 YOF consumer was cooking food in electric range oven. She opened door and handle gave more than usual. The left side of it had come separated from the door. She pulled more & entire front panel of glass exploded. It burned and cut consumer's skin. No ER trip was necessary.
Kenmore 790.92202014
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Date: 11/3/2017
I was cooking dinner in the oven when the electric range started beeping like it does at the end of a timed cook cycle. I saw F10 flashing in the digital display & black smoke was coming from the back top of the range. I hit the "stop" button, but F10 continued to flash.
Kenmore 790.92413201
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Date: 1/26/2018
Consumer was cooking in oven at 375°. After about 8 minutes she noticed that edges of prepackaged meal were black with embers & tried to turn oven off but got F1error. Top coils were red, bottom coils were off. She had to disconnect electric range at breaker to get oven off.
Kenmore 790.94469700
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Date: 2/22/2018
A 63 YOM Consumer reported that power relay board on on electric range has safety issues. The micro processor control has no safety features to stop an F10 runaway &/or lock the oven door to prevent harm. Consumer said the only way to stop runaway is to turn off main breaker.
Kenmore Elite 790.75233310
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Date: 3/28/2018
The consumer stated that during normal use, the gas range oven burner failed and was not completely combusting fuel. CO released, detectors set off, and the oven interior was coated with soot. Fire Department confirmed elevated levels of CO in several areas of the home.
Kenmore 790-94203311
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Date: 8/9/2019
40 YOF was cooking an egg in a skillet on the turbo boil burner of her electric range & when she went to turn the burner off, it exploded & emitted sparks from the back of the unit, in the exact area of the knob, singed everything in the vicinity. The whole unit went out.
Kenmore 790.99113300
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Date: 12/7/2020
In order for the front right burner of electric range to come on, the consumer had to turn it to the "high" setting and then she could decrease the temperature. The technician told, he could repair it, but the electrical panel need to be replaced.
Kenmore Elite 790.79383406
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Date: 8/16/2013
The consumer reports that after 9 years of light use, this stove had an electrical fire behind the back panel. The power cord wires going into the unit melted, causing the electricity to spark up under the control panel and burnt other parts.
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