Whirlpool Microwave - 1000 watts MH1170XS Review

    Our Whirlpool Microwave came installed in our new manufactured home. There was no problem for the first 14 months. The beginning of the 15th month the microwave began to give off sparks in the back left corner of the interior cooking area about every 20-25 times it was used. I never witnessed this, it was reported to me by the kids. A couple of weeks into the 15th month the microwave had a meltdown in the interior (the cooking area). The cover of the area that vents (looks like louvers in the upper portion of the interior) had melted and was giving off ash of a papery black consistency as well as a terrible burnt electrical smell. I immediately turned the microwave off, cleared the room and found the warranty papers for the unit.                                                                           

    The Whirlpool company is contracted with the Sears Co. for repairs in our area so a Sears repairman came to check it out. The repairman could find nothing wrong with the unit, he could not explain why it would melt in such a way but he suggested it could have been from grease having being sucked up the vent. It cost me almost $70.00 to have the repairman come out to tell me there was nothing wrong with my microwave that he could find and he said it would cost $145.00 for him to order the part that had melted as well as a service call charge to come back to install it.

    I am very partictular about keeping my appliances clean and there was no evidence of oil or grease residue on the interior of the melted cover when the repairman removed it therefore i have my doubts of grease or oil residue being the actual reason for the malfunction of our unit. I have no proof but i believe this Whirlpool unit to be defective. When relating this story to some of my friends i was told of 2 other of the same  model Whirlpool microwaves which had malfunctioned in the same way within the last 2 years in our general area (the sourounding 75 miles). The general public should be made aware of the possible malfunction of this unit.