 Kitchenaid KEMS378SSS Combo wall oven Strengths: Features, Appearance, functionality, compactness yet large oven cavity, smooth glass control panel
Weaknesses: Build quality, assembly quality control, some poor design issues
Summary: Considering the $3000+ cost, this oven is poorly put together. We are on our second unit. First one had loose screws everywhere, jerky turntable, condensation between sealed microwave glass panels. Nothing really major, but I made Sears get me another one. Sears was GREAT!, BUT... The new unit was the same way. It works OK, but I had to tighten most of the cabinet screws before installation. Many were loose or stripped out, and four had actually fallen out and were rattling around in the package. 3 screws were missing and never installed. One screw had backed out of the door bumper and scratched up the door trim. 2 screws were missing from the center vent and rattling. The lower oven door handle was loose, and upon inspection I realized it was assembled with sheet metal screws screwed into a "machine" thread in the handles. All four screws did not match the threads and would not tighten properly. I had to replace with the proper screws. There were scratches on the upper door panel-happened at the factory because shipping box was not breached. (Protective plastic was also intact) Turntable support already had wheel fall off and turntable hub fits so loose it causes the "jerky" turntable motion.
Sears and Kitchenaid have been good about getting the replacement parts, but all these quality control issues are absolutely INEXCUSEABLE! I wish I could spend a day in the plant showing these problems to the Q.C. manager. That will never happen because that person would be out of a job!
That being said-- The oven does work OK, and the features are fantastic, and it looks great! It's just really a shame that nobody really cares about quality and workmanship anymore. I know that productivity is important, but final quality really suffers. Had I not replaced/tightened all those screws, this thing would have been buzzing/rattling/falling apart in a few years. I just hope the quality & durability of the component parts don't follow the assembly quality.
Now I'm crossing my fingers as I wait for my new matching dishwasher to arrive (KUDU03STSS--$1200) We have a 19 year old Kitchenaid we're replacing. It was made when quality was important. We would have gone with a Bosch, but wanted matching appliances and had no idea at the time about all these issues. Hopefully all will work out.
This would be a good value at $1000 or less, but at $3000+ someone is making WAY too much money!
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