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martinkk333

Miele service stinks - Please advise!

martinkk333
9 years ago

Our local dealer installed a Miele steam oven DGC4084XL on March 6th, 2014. The oven appeared to work when they started it up, but it had a brown stain on the bottom interior. It wasn't a stain like something had been spilled and it stained. It was a perfect square about 6" or so in the center of the oven, maybe like there is a burner underneath that had somehow scorched the interior bottom surface of the oven. Our dealer advised us not to use the unit until it was sorted out. Three weeks ago, the dealer advised that Miele had agreed to replace the oven and it was okay to use the oven until the new one arrived. We used the old oven for during that time. It worked well and we loved it. Day before yesterday, the dealer installed the new oven. Last night we used it for the first time. The oven blew hot, wet exhaust out the entire length of the top
of the door. This morning I called the dealer to look at it. They came and told me this is perfectly normal. They all vent out the front this way. (The first one had a small outlet on each side at the top of the flat stainless panel behind the lift door.) This totally heated the house and it took until midnight to cool it down (and it was a rainy day), not to mention the water collecting on the handle of the oven and dripping all over the wood floor. I am so exasperated with this machine and this company right now. I purchased a Miele because I believed their products and service were superior. So far, that is not my experience. Does anyone else have these issues with their steam over? Surely not! This machine would not be so highly recommended here if everyone had hot kitchens, wet handles, and ruined floors!

Comments (24)

  • nosoccermom
    9 years ago

    I'd call Miele directly. I found them to be very responsive. Below a thread on the stem oven.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Miele steam oven

  • martinkk333
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Can not anyone tell me if their Miele steam oven vents out the front of the door, please?

  • nosoccermom
    9 years ago

    I doubt that it's designed that way; that's why I would call Miele directly.

    Did your installer do the two cutouts as required?

    Here is a link that might be useful: installation

  • a2gemini
    9 years ago

    Ditto on calling Miele directly - the local "techs" messed up my DW.

  • martinkk333
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    I'll try tomorrow. This has been going on too long and I am just frustrated with them. Hopefully, it is them and not Miele.

  • MizLizzie
    9 years ago

    Please post this at the Appliance Forum, too. You will get more response. This sounds awful.

  • martinkk333
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Just thought I would post a follow up to this. This news is not good. The local guys finally came out Tuesday (7/29) to look at the oven. This time the regular guy and his supervisor came. They ran the oven so they could see the issue. Within ten minutes, they were both sweating bullets. The heat/steam escapes the oven along the entire front of this machine. Within minutes, the handle is covered in condensation so badly that it drips on the wood floor. You literally cannot stay in the house while it is running, They have no idea how to do anything to fix it. They call Miele from the house and supposedly Miele tells them this is normal operation. Please let me know how your Miele steam ovens vent. I knew this oven wasn't very popular in my area when I bought it. I made the purchase mostly on recommendations from this forum and my own research. I thought it would be okay because it was a quality product and everyone touts the "great service" Miele gives. I'm so tired of this. We've had this oven since MARCH 6 and can't use it. I don't know what avenue to try next. They said they would get with the regional Miele supervisor and get back to me but that it 'could takes weeks and weeks'. I'm not willing to wait 'weeks'. What should I do now? Call AmEx to dispute the charge? Go the social media route? Eat it and buy a Wolf? Completely dumbfounded and exasperated and any help seems so far away...can't believe I'm bawling over an oven....

  • oldbat2be
    9 years ago

    Sorry for your troubles but how many times have you been advised to call Miele directly?

    I would not let the people who installed it back into your house! You said that they called Miele from your house.... Were you not right there during the conversation? I would not have accepted their comment and would have asked to speak to the rep, requested names and confirmation in writing that it was 'functioning as designed'.

    At this point, I'm very much questioning your installers, especially because of the delays you cite. If it's the oven.... post the issue on Miele's Facebook page and describe the problems and how long you've been struggling with this.

    Good luck!

  • oldbat2be
    9 years ago

    Just goggled your model and found this note from caliente63 from the owners manual. Do you have this?

    Important note - the Miele needs about 24 square inches of ventilation to the back of the oven; that may not be easy to arrange if your cabinets + crown molding go all the way to the ceiling (you do NOT want to pull it from the space containing a wall oven, because that gets hot). In our case, we have filler to the side of the oven cabinet, so we can put holes in the side of the oven cabinet and draw air up beside it from the space under the cabinets (an advantage of euro-style legs instead of traditional base box).

    Here is a link that might be useful: Link to thread

  • oldbat2be
    9 years ago

    And here's the manual for those who are able to read them:).

    Here is a link that might be useful: Installation manual

  • martinkk333
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    I have called Miele directly on three occasions. That is how I am finally getting this response. They only have the one representative in this area. I'm not sure they have another choice of anyone to send. Supposedly, there is a regional director, but no one seems to know who that is when I ask for a name and number.

    Also, they did cut the 2" x 24" vents in the back of the cabinet shelf the oven is sitting on and also on the shelf below. (BTW, they would not have done so, had I not insisted during the installation and pointed it out to them in the installation manual) It is an under counter installation.

    I also had the cabinet installers pull the adjacent cabinet (holds a cooktop) forward 2 inches to allow room for additional venting, just because I have a tendency to overdo most things.

    I know the oven is not supposed to work this way, my original oven (that had the strange square scorch on the bottom) did not have this issue. but since they are telling me it is working correctly, I was hoping I could get a few people on here to chime in and say that theirs don't operate this way either. I thought it might give me more leverage for my opposition.

    Like I said, I feel alone in this. There is no one disputing the way it works, except me. No one else that I know has this oven so they have nothing to compare it to. They're telling me its working correctly, the dealer has NO IDEA how it's supposed to work, there are no other dealers, and I think I need others, besides myself, to say "No, it doesn't work this way."

    Surely, no one is living with an appliance like this in their kitchen.

  • weissman
    9 years ago

    You should try to get Miele or the dealer to take it back for a full refund and get something else. If your state has a lemon law you could use that as leverage. If it's not too late, you could try disputing the charge on your credit card - that would certainly get someone's attention.

  • oldbat2be
    9 years ago

    Very glad to hear you've called and glad your install sounds correct. Unbelievable that you've lived with this that long! I definitely think social media is the right way to go, if you can't get an immediately replacement/refund from Miele. Also, suggest an email/letter to the President/CEO. I would think what you want is this model oven, but working correctly, because that is what you've planned for in your kitchen.

  • schicksal
    9 years ago

    If data points are needed, our 6000 series combi-steam oven does not blow steam on the handle or generate exterior condensation during use. The only indication that it's running is that the display is on. Obviously there is a little after the door is opened when someone takes something out but that is all. When turning it off, after the clean operation is complete I've learned to leave the door open just a bit so the inside will dry. Even this doesn't result in a lot of vapor - we have a standalone dehumidifier in the HVAC system and the thermostat is at the far end of the kitchen and the oven doesn't cause a big spike in humidity.

    In my uneducated opinion it sounds like the door seal is not on correctly or the door is not closing all the way.

  • nosoccermom
    9 years ago

    Can you take a picture of the condensation/drips/wetness and then send it to the CEO:

    Nick Ord
    9 Independence Way
    Princeton, NJ 08540
    Phone: (609) 419-9898

    Or go to LinkedIn and sen him an Inmail

  • pprioroh
    9 years ago

    People in these forums are largely gaga for Miele. Everyone will advise you to just call them and they'll send bunnies and rainbow unicorns to magically fix your problem. Likely this will not happen.

    We have had a very negative experience with Miele products, the company was very unwilling to solve it, and local installers unwilling to fix problems either. For a product at a premium price point quite honestly their customer service sucks. We will never buy one of their products again.

    Best of luck to you, but from personal experience I can tell you it's not likely to end well.

  • nosoccermom
    9 years ago

    Well, I had problems with my Miele washer. They replaced the first washing machine free of charge after about 3 years when it became obvious that the technician couldn't fix the intermittent problem. The machine always worked when he showed up, so I had to tape record the problem (drum didn't turn sometimes).
    They replaced the second one after about 5 or 6 years, giving us a very generous discount. I went up to the regional manager. I think part of the problem is that many of the installers and technicians don't know how to deal with Miele appliances. (As do some consumers --- so take pictures or film it.)

    Compare this to GE, who just said "tough luck" about 1-2 months after the 12-month warranty expired and were only interested in avoiding liability.

  • nosoccermom
    9 years ago

    Great to hear that it worked out for you in the end. I suppose that persistence pays of; however, I agree that it shouldn't be such an uphill battle.

  • agk2003
    9 years ago

    wow 6 1/2 months?! but glad to hear the oven is working and it looks gorgeous in your kitchen to boot!

  • rococogurl
    9 years ago

    It's so funny. I've gone through 10 years of nightmares with Viking and slowly have been replacing with Miele. The problems go away. Recently, I needed service on my Miele oven. Their tech came to the house in his little red van, fixed the oven (out of waranty) in 30 minutes and I could not have asked for better service.

    He's worked for them for 7 years and brings a laptop which helps do the diagonostics. I don't know why they let anyone who isn't a specialist do any service. Once you see their guys do a repair it is a world of difference.

    A few weeks ago, my washer stopped heating properly. I called and, again, the tech arrived on the minute and fixed the problem quickly. I have a 5-year waranty, which I bought last year on Cyber Monday at a discount.

    Yesterday, our 10 y.o. Viking built in refrigerator was replaced with a Miele. I registered it online and also called tech support to ask a question about the ice maker. They are open 12 hours a day with call centers on both coasts and they've talked me through many issues.

    While I was on the phone, I got a permanent discount coupon code for any accessories and for the fridge waranty if I purchase online. I'm waiting until Cyber Monday to see if I can get an additional discount.

    So AR Kiki, if I can suggest this, register your new oven. Then call them and ask a "question" and see if you can get a coupon code.

    Like many companies, service is different from place to place. But mine has been 4 stars -- with benefits. You've had enough aggravation, yours should be too.

    This post was edited by rococogurl on Fri, Sep 19, 14 at 17:11

  • pprioroh
    9 years ago

    I think it's pathetic that with such a high end product you're reduced to threatening social media pressure just to have a defective product fixed properly.

    I had a terrible experience with Miele customer "service" which I've documented elsewhere and as we build our new home wife has specifically insisted "I don't care what we buy so long as it's not Miele".

    I'm glad you got your problem (finally) fixed, but it's pathetic that it took that long and that much effort on your part.

  • martinkk333
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks, everyone. I do really LOVE this oven. The few weeks we had the stained one working made such a difference in our meals. It made cooking healthier meals a breeze. I'm so glad we have a working model now and hope we have no more issues. At the end of the day, I guess the real problem is that these appliances ar not abundant in my area, yet. Therefore, the service techs are not experienced. I hope that changes.

    Thanks rococogurl for the tip. I will do it first thing tomorrow. I would love a coupon code.

  • brightm
    9 years ago

    Happy for you AR_Kiki! I just got my speedoven installed (it's been sitting in the box in my kitchen for about 6 weeks). I'm loving it so far. It's also a 6700.

    And rococogurl, another round of thanks. I bought the speed oven and DW at a time where they were giving the 5 year warranties N/C if you had them install, but I'm going to want to get them on the W and D.

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