75 year old mother in law was cooking dinner, put garlic bread in oven and set timer. Before timer went off the smoke started rolling from the oven vent and the garlic bread was burning. She shut off the control for the oven and removed the pan. Then she noticed the burner was glowing brighter than she had ever seen it. Immediately she called me. I was about 30 min. away grocery shopping and asked her if she thought she could find the house breaker, she couldn't. I drove like a nut home to find her frantic, the kitchen in shambles and the range pulled from the wall with the plug pulled out. A friend of the family was kind enough to assist her with it. After almost 2 hours you could still not hardly touch the range outer walls and the kitchen wall itself was still hot. When the unit was plugged in again the lower element came immediately back on even though the control panel showed it was off. Model number is 79061751100 and serial number VF13009839. Needless to say Sears is not interested in assisting with the situation at all. I now have to scrape together enough money to purchase a new (definately not frigidare or kenmore) range. I wouldn't even think of fixing it. Fix it with what, more junk parts that could do it all over again? What in heavens name is Sears problem, are they just waiting for someone like my mother in law to die before they stand up and take responsibility? The woman can't even fix a hot meal without risking her life. Everyone needs to be aware of severe risk with having these units plugged in to a power supply, let alone using them to cook with. I cannot express enough my anger and concern with the product and it's representatives. Knowing there are other people out there who are totally unaware of the danger that is sitting in their kitchen just waiting for the opportunity to destroy their home and possibly take their life makes for alot of sleepless nights for me but obviously not for the manufacturer or their distributors.

We own 3 Kenmore Electric Ranges model #970-686021 and we have severe discoloration on the left side of the knob panel. This is due to the oven venting. The steam apparenlty has peeled off or stained the paint on the range. Anyone else have this problem?

Photo available if required! No camera at the moment.

Sheila

On Tuesday 8/12/08 we lost electricity. I had just placed supper in the oven. Kenmore range model number790.52001100 purchased 2002. Power was out for an hour. We had a 30 minute errand to run. My husband and I discussed not leaving because the oven was on at the time of power failure. We did not think the oven would turn back on nor think go turn off circuit breakers. We returned 30 minutes later to fire shooting out of our kitchen window. The neighbors noticed and called 911. Before the window broke the neighbors looked in the window. They reported seeing the fire behind the stove. After the fire was out the fire fighter showed us the raw meat still in the oven. The fire chief said that he had seen many Kenmore ovens in kitchen fires. They malfunctioned. I am trying to find out if there was a recall on my model. The fire and smoke damage destroyed our home. Now I am waiting on investigators and adjusters. It is a nightmare. If anyone can share info. please do.