Complain about a product or service

Viking Ranges

Matthew of Chester NJ (10/11/08)
Like many others with Viking products, I'm amazed by the gap between their prices and the quality and reliability of their products.

I bought a home that had a 60 inch ($10,000) double range installed already. As a former owner of Wolf brand range (pre-Sub Zero), I enjoyed 10 years of solid, trouble free use.

This Viking model is different. Aside from lower quality fit and finish, this range uses cheaper design elements, and materials. For starters, the igniters on the ovens were replaced twice by the previous owners, and now I have to replace two more. This is actually an easy DIY replacement and I feel sorry for people who've paid $500 to a service company to do it. I paid $25 each for two aftermarket Armstrong igniters and they work well.

By comparison, my Wolf oven's igniters didn't need replacing in the 10 years of steady use. One reason is that they would not run non stop, but would stop heating once the gas was lit. That makes a big difference the life of the unit and something that Viking has not built into their design.

Now, when I removed the oven pan, it was totally warped. This is a joke. What kind of quality oven does that? It does not greatly affect the oven except that heating will be uneven vs. the original design - but since Viking ovens use thinner steel than others, your heat sink is smaller so uneven heating is built into their design anyway.

In the end, what we have here is cheap design choices that have large costs for consumers because they need to pay expensive diagnostic and labor charge to replace what should be inexpensive parts (but are not).

John of Hot Springs AR (09/30/08)
I purchased a Viking refrigerator in Oct. 06. The instruction manual is no help in adjusting the temperature. A service tech had to off-set the temperature to keep produce from freezing. The second year the main control board, inverter box and low voltage board all had to be replaced. The service tech that Viking had contracted with, had to call Viking to get instructions on how to repair. Each board was replaced one at a time, resulting in my refrigerator being out of commission for a month. The cost of lost produce, refrigerator items and freezer items were very expensive considering this is SUPPOSE to be a top of the line product.

Also, the cost of eating out due to not having a refrigerator is ridiculous! I have no faith that this repair will last long. It was barely under a two year warranty and I dread the cost of keeping this refrigerator working. The last repair cost $574.00 dollars. I have asked for an extended warranty, replace the refrigerator or return the refrigertor. No answer on that yet. I will never buy a Viking product again! Do not waste your money. The hassle and headaches are not worth it. Buy Kitchen Aid or Whirlpool.

Millie of Trumbull CT (09/28/08)
Viking has replace my 48 SxS refrigerator once already - the frist one leaked water all over the brand new flooring - it is a built in model designer series - the second does not leak but it has the same type if not more problems than the first one had - condensation in the interior, cracks in the interior box and interior shell of door - food freezes in frig- even though the temp was adjusted by service tech several times - plastic parts just crack and break off - stainless steel handles finish rubbing off ( at least there supposed to be stainless steel)

many lost food items - and alot of time taken off work to meet with service people

Bob of Maryville CA (09/27/08)
I bought a 36 Viking gas range with the grill in the middle about 8 years ago. After watching Emeril I had to have one. we got the hood to go with it for a total cost over 6k. After a year or so the bottom of the over started making noises, and became warped. turns out the welds broke on the gas spreader. We got a new one shipped to us and put that one in. They changed the design a bit and it was beefier, however the same screws were used in that one and several years later it warped too, which caused the oven hinge to fail eventually.

This year the bottom warped again, the screws pop out of the holes holding the gas spreader on, and then it warps. After almost 3 months i got viking to come out and put a new one in for free, and yes customer service was not very helpful, wouldnt let me talk to a manager. I finally sent a letter to the general mgr by snail mail to get some help. Im on my third set of oven ignitors now (you can find them online for only $40 apiece) instead of paying the repair mans charge of 110 apiece.

My spark module failed once and had to be replaced, this thing runs the top burners sparks, and most of the burners work most of the time. A screw fell out of the broiler into a pizza i was making one day. I learned you have to tighten the screws in the broiler and gas spreader periodically. The simmer feature on the range is almost impossible to use, its too delicate an adjustment to actually get it right, so we use the low setting. The hood filters are very difficult to clean, and if you are using your hands watch for sharp sheet metal cuts. they hardly fit in my dishwasher also.

Another problem is the underside of the stove isnt sealed and so if you have mice, the mice crawl up inside the stove, and eventually eat some of the wire insulation, or can. You can level the stove body, however the panels the burners sit on have several other surfaces involved and so you may end up with some burners that are level and others that are not. The grill in the middle? looks great on tv, but takes a long time to warm up, and even longer time to clean as there are layers of metal below the grill surface. I ended up getting a grill pan to cook pancakes on to put on top of that.

All in all, I have spent almost $1000 in the last 8 years on repairs for this stove, and would never buy another viking product.

Jamie of Simi Valley CA (08/29/08)
In March of 2007 we purchased the entire Viking Kitchen. The WORST purchase I have ever made. The repairman is here as we speak fixing our frig for the 5th time. Previously for the Ice maker freezing up and now the water dispenser freezing. The cook top igniter clicks on 3 of the burners. The dishwasher smells because the water sits in certain spots. I thought for sure buying the top of the line product that I would get my monies worth. Not the case. I tell everyone to never buy Viking!

Tamitha of Belleville MI (08/16/08)
I have a 48 6 burner Viking Oven and it's only 5 years old. When it was 2 years old I had to replace both oven igniter's. Now it's Aug 08 and the oven hasn't been working since last winter. It sometimes works and sometimes doesn't work. I had to wait till now to fix it because I had to save enough money to fix it.

The repair man just left and said that both igniter's had to be replaced again. I asked about the damn warranty and they said that they aren't warranted for long. I am personally going to complain to the company that makes these igniter's and whatever they are doing, they are doing it wrong. Doesn't anyone believe in Quality anymore! Unreal! I am very upset.

Kristin of Columbia MO (08/14/08)
As a very nice house warming gift our grandmother purchased a Viking range top oven for my husband and I as newlyweds. After one year the temperature indicators began to fade and wear off. Now, four years later they are almost non-existent and I have to experiment to determine where the temperatures are to what burner. It's been very disappointing.

Thomas of Wichita KS (08/11/08)
We had our kitchen remodeled in 2000 and had a Viking 48 6 burner/griddle range installed. Right away it was apparent the small oven did not work right. Everything burned in it. We had the serviceman out and he found the door was misformed and letting a lot of heat out. They ordered a new door and it has worked fine until recently when the large oven would not reach temperature and there would be the smell of gas. I read a number of these complaints about viking ovens and having the ignitors replaced, so I ordered two from an appliance repair dealer on ebay. The cost $24 each. I did not know how hard it would be to replace, but when they came, I pulled out the racks, pulled up the bottom panel in the oven and removed the front lower panel. Both were right there with plug in connectors and two screws each holding them in. I replaced them and the oven heats up to temp with no smell in less than 10 minutes.

Richard of Massapequa Park NY (07/24/08)
I've had my Viking 36 6 burner range for almost 5 years. From day one I had trouble with one of the burners that would not stop clicking after it was lit. Eventually it stopped clicking and wouldn't lit up at all. Now my oven will not ignite. The repair tech says I need to replace both igniters in the oven for almost $400 in parts and labor. He also mentioned that it would cost a similar amount to fix the bad burner's igniter and spark thing because it would stop clicking even after we lit it with a match. Very disappointed with Viking.

Peter of Trussville AL (07/19/08)
Bought a Viking Outdoor Gas grill in 2000 for $3,000 because I believed that it would be worth investing in a quality product instead of replacing grills every 5 years or so. Well, my advice is to buy a new Ducane every year and through it away - you'll be way ahead and the Ducane works better.

What a terrible product only exceeded by Viking Customer care (?). They could'nt care less about providing any assistance at all. The burners, deflector plates and grates rusted through after 5 years. The grease tray slides and shelf hinges are rusted off completely now. I called and wrote Viking and guess what? Too bad. I'm now an advocate - an advocate for any brand but Viking. Inferior design and materials compounded by terrible customer care.

Expensive repairs because of rusted out parts.

Richard of San Francisco CA (07/14/08)
We have a Viking range 4 burner with a griddle and the two rear ignitors are constantly clicking even when the burners are on. I had the ignitors replaced in 2005 at the tune of $500.00 because the ignitors stopped working and now they will not shut off. The only way to use the rear burners is to cook with the constant ignitor clicking. Anyone have a similar problem and was able to fix it?

Linda of St Paul MN (07/06/08)
We purchased a Viking professional oven and range about 7 years ago. We have to replace the oven igniters 4 times. I will never buy a Viking oven again.

Paul of Sterling AK (07/06/08)
Bought an all-Viking kitchen in '03. The dishwasher didn't work upon installation. Waranty repair required a new control selector. We noticed about a week later that the convection oven fan did not work. I took it apart myself, found insulation wrapped around the fan. Now, after using it 2-3 times, the self-cleaning feature has failed. Out of warranty! Looks like the door lock mechanism has failed. On the fridge, the light started staying on. Viking said need to replace the door switch mechanism. I readjusted the door stop mechanism, now works ok. Viking make poor products, would not think about buying another one.

Frustrating, oven self-cleaning doesn't work, and reliability is always in doubt based on the history. It would cost $300-400 to fix. Not worth it.

Ron of Kingston IL (06/22/08)
Our kitchen is solid VIKING. Head to toe! Fridge, 6 burner cook top, oven, Microwave. warming drawer, wine cooler, trash compactor and dishwasher. Am I leaving something out? NEVER AGAIN. They are the biggest POS I have ever owned. I have a $500.00 fridge at my shop that is 10x the unit my Viking fridge is!

Kathy of Monroe ME (06/20/08)
I bought my 36, 6 burner gas Viking range in 2005. It is burgundy with brass trim and I feel lucky that nothing has gone wrong with it yet. I did have the same problem with the clicking of the burner that would not shut off. The repairman came right out and fixed it and also left me parts in case some of the other burners did the same thing. I have not had to use them yet.

Sometimes the oven does not light by itself. I turn the oven on. if it hasn't lighted in a few minutes then I turn on one of the burners and that seems to cause the oven to light. Sometimes I have to do this several times. Other than these quirks, I am happy with the oven. It cooks bread for my business very well. It looks great and I will keep my fingers crossed that it continues to perform well. I will concede that it is a lot of money to spend on one appliance. I spent about 7,000 on range and matching hood plus installing extra large gas line.

Marty of Belleville IL (06/19/08)
4 years ago we purchased a viking cooktop, built in oven, dishwasher and refrig. The refrig has been worked on 6 times with problems ranging from the ice maker freezing up to a screw falling of the door hinge to relacing the compressor. The cooktop's lettering/numbering for the tempture controls has been replaced 2 time and it need replacing again. The built in ovens clock has not worked for 3 years. The dishwashers control panel needs to be repleced because the plastic covering the selections has cracked.

The first couple of visit by the service department were cover under warranty and the other 4 have not. I'm looking at approx $600-$1000 in repairs that need to be done to the appliances. I would replace the appliances but because I have wood fronts on the refrig and the dishwasher and the fact that all of the appliances are built in it would be even more expense to replace. I could potentially be looking at $25,000-$50,000 to replace the cabinets and appliance.

Phil of Bagley IA (06/17/08)
Viking 36 Wall Oven. We have never been able to use the convection feature on our VGSO166 Oven. As soon as the oven temperature get around 350 the back panel begins to warp and the fan starts grinding and banging.

The oven bottom panel that sets over the dual burners is warped so bad that it's difficult to remove now. After it was removed we discovered that the flame diffuser attached to the underside of the panel, had broken several of the spot welds that held it in place. Then the control board gave out just recently. Viking wants $437 for that little piece.

I ordered it and when I opened the box, it was a different style. (They only keep current products for parts.) Given the difference though the part does fit however the wiring connections are different. I called the factory to ask for technical support concerning which wires to connect to which terminals, I was told that they don't release that information to customers. Well Thank You.

Overall, We have had wall ovens in our homes for the last 30 years. None with more problems than the Viking top of the line! The Viking Parts Distribution Center in Dallas also treats you like you like your interupting something more important. Rude. I told the Customer Support person in Mississppi that I was going to let others know about their shoddy products and disappointing service and she wished me Good Luck. I learned my lesson the hard way. Don't repeat my mistakes.

Deborah of Parkville MO (05/12/08)
Built a new home three years ago, we installed a Viking freestanding range - my husband had to have it - Bought the expensive hood to go over it and basically designed the kitche around it - now the oven has quit agin for the third time, after service calls on the cooktop ignitors and a bad convection fan. Cooktop burners still light or not depnding on their mood apparently. Viking response is no one can help - out of warranty - too bad. Seeing all the other oven ignitor issues, wondering is their any sort of class action against Viking?

Will probably have to buy a new range to repalce the $3000 paperweight in our kitchen - down to a life safety issue - not sure if the thing won't just blow up one day.

Tom of Huntington Beach CA (05/09/08)
Viking appliances are all junk. I bought a new house with all viking professional appliances. After 10 service calls within the warrenty period on the refrigerator I asked Viking to refund me the price. They basically said go pound sand. I found a lawyer on the internet under lemon law attorneys and sued Viking. They waited until just before trial to give me my money back and I bought a sub Zero. What a difference I now have ignition trouble with the 36 inch range and of course viking will not help. I'm trying to fix myself before shelling out over $100 for the service call. Their dishwasher is terrible. Strange layout and doesn't wash that well. I would never but Viking again

Theresa of San Francisco CA (05/06/08)
We purchased a Viking stove for $5,000 in 2002. We have had to replace the ignitors twice and need to again -- the last replacement was only 9 months ago and we use the stove about once a week. We have also replaced the door hinges and had the spontaneous ignition problem with one of the burners. What a lemon. If there is a class action suit on this, sign me up!

Multiple service calls, ranging in cost from $150 - $400.

W of Mill Valley CA (04/11/08)
Viking Stove purchased from Home Expo has not properly worked since we acquired it. We have over $600 in repairs in the 2 years since Expo installed it. They said they won't do anything for us unless we come up with the receipt. Shouldn't they have a receipt? This is a $7,000 appliance! Viking doesn't stand behind their product either!

$7,000 PLUS repairs!

Gerard of Garden City NY (03/03/08)
I don't really enjoy cooking...which is a blessing because if I had to rely on my Viking cooking products to eat I would have starved to death long ago. ALL of the appliances have been breaking down since shortly after I bought them 3 1/2 yrs ago--$20,000 worth of stuff. Stove has been repaired 3 times for same problem (faulty knobs). Oven has been repaired 2 times and going on a 3rd this week (faulty timer and clock functions). Fridge...about to be fixed for the 3rd time (water leaking into freezer). Microwave--repaired only once (control panel failure). Wine Fridge...once (short in light socket). Is this normal? From the looks of your other listed complainers, I may actually be getting off easy.

Warranties expired long ago, but thanks to the diligence of my dealer (Hampton Appliance) and to the fact that the appliances have basically been under repair since I bought them, I have not had to lay out any more money...UNTIL NOW. The repair company (Delia) tells me that since the appliances are no longer under warranty, I will have to pay a service charge of $150 per hour--and this despite the fact that this will be the 2nd and 3rd times, respectively, that these problems will be dealt with. DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME. The last time I had this problem with the Fridge it leaked water from underneath onto the hardwood floor...which had to be replaced. Viking paid to have the floor replaced ($2000) but have refused to consider replacing the appliances.

Leonard of Keswick VA (03/01/08)
Another horrible customer service experience with Viking! Read this before spending your money, assuming that the high price will buy good customer service after the sale. We bought a Viking Professional Series (VCBB) Bottom-Mount Refrigerator/Freezer in the summer of 2005. Within two years, the freezer coated wire basket began to rust at the joints where the wire was welded to the basket frame. We contacted Viking customer service, which asked us to send photos of the problem. After doing so, we received the following disappointing e-mail:

Thank you for the pictures of the freezer drawers. I did have my supervisor look at the pictures. This is wear on the drawers and Viking would not be able to cover these drawers. If you would like to purchase replacement please contact HADCO at ---. Sincerely, Georgia Caffey

We have had refrigerators (both GE and Kenmore) all our lives, and we've never had the coated wire racks or baskets rust. It's insulting to suggest it's out fault that we wore out the basket through normal use--it's clearly poor manufacturing and/or design. I called to talk to the Customer Service person, Georgia Caffey, who parroted the explanation that they determined, though looking at the photos, that we wore out the basket and therefore it wasn't their fault. The representative was clearly hired for her thick skin and ability to shamelessly deny company responsibility for their products' failures. We're very sorry we bought Viking products, and we heartily recommend that anyone who's considering buying one run the other way from this company's products. You'll get no decent customer service from them after they've made their sale and taken your money.

Nick of Atlanta GA (02/10/08)
Bought several of their products 6 years ago and have had nothing but trouble. Nothing worked properly. Have had 15 service calls and my oven still doesn't work. Locks up periodically and cannot be used. The dishwasher had to be replaced after 10 service calls. Techs are not very good and never have the right parts on their truck.

Many days spent at home waiting for repairmen. No use of the oven for months. Poor quality of all products.

Neel of Seattle WA (02/07/08)
We purchased the Viking Microwave Hood on December 4th 2007. A week later we were able to have it installed. It never worked. It wasn't until December 31st that Viking had someone come out to repair. Two techs worked on it for over 6 hours and called it in that we had to have it replaced. They couldn't fix it. Now it is February 7th 2008 and we still DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT. So we spent over $1300 for two months of nothing and much trouble.

Economic damage? Well, we are out a load of money and haven't gotten anything for it. Our cooking habits changed without a microwave for over two months now.

Jackie of Lisle IL (01/29/08)
I purchased a Viking VGSC367-6B 36 wide range with six burners in Dec. 2005. In the first year I had the ignitors replaced and the door hinges. Year two had the electrical panel replaced along with oven thermostat. Now here I am in January having the door hinges replaced again at the tune of $700.00. The customer service is appalling; they are rude and obnoxious. I have been told that if it can be repaired to shut up and live with it. Even better because the door never closed completely, the cabinets on either side of the range are damaged. The heat leaking from the oven has caused the glazing on the cabinets to melt off pulling the paint with it. NEVER BUY A VIKING!

Maggie of Ann Arbor MI (01/27/08)
We bought our Viking 30 inch oven, 7 years ago and have had to replace the oven ignitor every 9 months average. We paid too much for this to happen and I will never buy another Viking oven. I have been extremely unhappy with this product.

Deiter,Aimee of Northridge CA (01/21/08)
My Viking ovens are the most inferior appliances I've EVER used.They're VERY,Very costly and function more poorly than ovens costing 1/4th their price.You get absolutely NO redress at all from Viking.They said there was no way you could trade up-even with extra payments. I was told that I was stuck with these LEMONS. Do not buy Viking appliances.

Sayra of Peck ID (01/20/08)
I own a Viking range model#VGIC-3054BSS, I bought it in October of 2005. While making breakfast this morning (two burners on). The spark module for the stove began firing by itself. I thought it was because one of my burners had gone out by accident. It had not. It was misfiring while in use! My husband came into the kitchen and unplugged the stove. The sparking stopped. Please note I made a seperate complaint about this same stove yesterday. It seems to be deteriorating before my eyes. If it were a car it would have been recalled!

I bought a $42. spark module to replace the one that was starting to go bad. I also have to pay the stove repair man an unknown amount to install it. Now it's worse, I am afraid to use the oven (the stove would need to be plugged in) since my daughter will be going down for a nap soon. I had wanted to bake some chiken for a salad for dinner. Now I am anxious, and do not trust the stove. Why is this happening?

Michael of Palo Alto CA (01/14/08)
I have a 3 year old kitchen with all Viking appliances. This evening the oven stopped working (after its very first use). This followed one day to the week after my Viking microwave went and one month after my Viking refrigderator inverter board went (for the second time in one year). Warranty just expired in each case. I am less than thrilled with the quality of these very expensive appliances and the lack of response from Viking.

Gail of Lexington MA (01/07/08)
Another Viking range with multiple repair bills, and now an incessant smell of gas when using the oven. The broiler doesn't even work. Viking customers MUST have recourse. Class action seems the right course, I haven't gotten service from Viking.

We have not had use of our oven since mid-December. Since purchasing this top of the line range, we've spent about $1,100. on repairs and we still have a poorly functioning stovetop and a non-functioning oven.

Thomas of Fountain CO (12/20/07)
To whom it may concern, After reading the reviews, I believe contacting Viking on my unit would be a complete waste of time, still, I feel I should lodge a complaint based on the fact that I bought this Viking GIC-305 nat gas 4 burner free standing range approx 6 years ago and so far have replaced 3 ignitors and both burners all in the oven section. My family and especially my wife have always complained of a gas smell (carbon monoxide or CO) and the oven takes forever to heat up to temp. It certainly does emit CO, as do all gas appliances...but even though the air adjustments are fine...it still stinks and I get consistantly high readings on my monoxor when the oven is in operation. This with the vent hood on high of course.

The reason I bought a Viking range in the first place is because I have owned and operated my own commercial refrigeration and HVAC service company for the last 15 years, have been in the trade over 30 years, and have ALWAYS had the highest regard for Viking ranges. But from the experiences with my unit and the reviews on this site, I'm very sorry to say that they appear to have gone straight to hell with the rest of the greedy corporate world. I spent the big bucks on this unit so that I would never have to worry about having to replace it..turns out after checking it yesterday (once again), that the burners have burned out for the 2nd time...big holes burned thru them by the ignitors that never seem to go off.(possibly the cause of the holes??) ..the burners light, go down to half flame, flicker and go out. Try and relight, pop, flicker, etc and the oven now won't come up to temp at all. Oh and I forgot to mention the hard time the 4 TOP burners have lighting...

ANYWAY FOLKS, take it from a service tech, you might want to steer away from Viking stuff in the future... Sears has a brand new stainless steel free standing 4 burner range WITH a clock and timer (which this expensive beast doesn't have) for about the same money as the PARTS I need to rebuild the Viking oven. Ridiculous!!! Corporate greed strikes again. I refuse to spend any more money on this expensive imitation of a REAL Viking Stove. Whatever happened to the folks that cared about the quality of their products instead of the corporate geeks who only care about the size of their price tags....I think they used to call those folks CRAFTSMEN......anybody remember THOSE guys??? Sincerely, T.W.Clary, owner/operator Doc's Refrigeration

Barbara of Manalapan NJ (11/18/07)
This is a warningPLEASE do not make the same mistake that I did. I bought sealed burners Viking range and I have only problems. I am so disappointed that I spend so much money.

Fred of 9432 Maler Road CA (10/29/07)
We have Viking appliances in our house and we have had nothing but trouble with them. This morning I had someone replacing two oven igniters ($360.31) after two years in use. I WILL NEVER BUY VIKING APPLIANCES ANYMORE.

Robert of Deerfield WI (09/03/07)
W e also have a Viking Range( all gas). We have had it for over 8 years. IN the first five years it had 6 sets of oven ignitirs replaced. The base of the oven twice due to porcelain popping off and the sheet metal oil domeing. All the trim replaced due to it tarnishing(brass). The Porcelain on the door is peeling. The spark ignitors for the right two burners never shut off after the burners light. Viking blames everythings but the poor qaulity product they make. My wife cooks alot and takes care of her kitchen tools. This Range is a Junker.

Claudio of Morristown NJ (08/29/07)
I have a 48 Viking, Pro Series refrigerator. About 3-4 years into service, small cracks started to appear in the plastic mullion that serves to separate the freezer section from the refrigerator section. At this poing, the cracks have increased in size and the problem is no longer just cosmetic.

As a result of the crack, the refrigerator door will not remain closed and the cooing system has developed a leak. I am told that the crack cannot be repaired and that if I replace the coiling element that are leaking (at a cost of $1400-1500), the work is guaranteed for only 3 months and that the problem will most likely recur. In addition, the cracks in the mullion cannot be repaired. Viking states that the unit is out of warantee.

Upon further investigation, I have learned that there is a heating strip that runs behind the mullion that most likely cause the crack to form. As such, this leads to the suspecion that this is a design flaw and as such, perhaps others are having the same problem.

Joanne of Point Pleasant NJ (05/24/07)
I bought a Viking 42 refrigerator/freezer from Gabowitz TV & Appliance Co. on 07/15/06 to put in our newly remodeled kitchen. It never worked correctly upon installation and several repairs were attempted by Carl Schaedel and Co. who handles Viking repairs in this area. When none of their repairs fixed the problems with the fridge they had Viking replace the fridge on 11/13/2006 (order date). Since we've received the new fridge the same problems have been occurring and as of right now the fridge cannot keep food. I have called Carl Schaedel three times over a period of several weeks since the replacement fridge has been having the same problems as the first fridge I bought from Viking.

Tara of Hamilton NJ (04/14/07)
We upgraded our kitchen almost four years ago. In the up grade we really upgraded our range to the Viking all electric range. In the first year, under warrenty, three of our switches for our burners went. The glass in the door wasn't secure and to top it all off at about 2 1/2 year old I had to replace the first of six surge relays.

You would think after the third they would have thought to look into some other cause for the relay to be burning out. But now working on surge relay number seven and seven months with out an oven I'm still waiting for a mistery part that is suppose to make it all better.

Like every one else who has made a complaint against Viking I got the insulting letter and email saying that it is my problem. I would love to know if there is anything we could do about the mounting problem. I have to run a family of five and seven months without an oven is terribly unacceptable.

C. A. of West Hartford CT (04/07/07)
Our family loves to cook. We thought that a Viking Duel fule stove (36) with a grill would be just the thing. After paying over $6000 for the stove and the hood we thought that this woud be our lase stove. When the stove was about 4 years old the heating element burned out and had to be replaced at the cost of almost $200. Then a few months later the door to the oven would not close and the right hinge has to be replace to the cost of $225.00 The electronic lighter for the gas burners had to be replaced I do not remember what the cost was for that.

Now I find that the hinge on the left side of the door has to be replaced. Each time there was a repair to be made I made contact with Viking and each time they said that it was my problum. I have been very disappointed with the treatment that I received from them.One would think that they would want a good relationship with their customers One would think that when you purchase a top of the line stove that it should last years without repair.

We could have purchased a stove which was much less expensive and I bet it would have lasted much longer. The treatment which I received tells me that I do not think I would ever purchase another Viking product and that I would tell everyone how poorly built the stove is and how poor the service is.

Eileen of Greenport NY (03/12/07)
I purchased what I thought to be the ROLLS ROYCE of kitchen appliances a VIKING RANGE. I have had to have the oven and stove knobs repaired SIX different times. This time the knob broke but didn't come off it just kept turning and started to fill my kitchen with Propane. This appliance is a dangerous lemon. I need help figuring out how to get VIKING to do the right thing and replace my range.

Last year I was told by VIKING CORP in GREENWOOD Mississippi that the metal used for the knob shafts HAD been a problem but the metal used for the shafts was changed and I would no longer need to worry about the knobs breaking. That was in Sept 06 when it was repaired for the sixth time it is now March and yet another one is broken. This time the consequences could have been deadly! This the metal didn't break off completely but over turns the off position so as to leak gas into the kitchen. We could have lost our lives because VIKING is selling defective ranges. I need help!

Bob of El Dorado Hills CA (02/28/07)

I am a contractor working on a high end home for lease. I found Viking 6 burner range, maybe 2 years old, with 4 igniters that suddenly started firing on their own. I have turned off the breaker to the range, but can't find a shut off on the gas. What a liability if a prospective tenant turns on a burner and forgets to turn it off.

Steve of Traverse City MI (01/14/07)
We bought a viking 4 burner range/oven feb of 05. At first the ignitor was going off intermittently when one of the burners was used. It always lights up just fine, but the back left ignitor keeps clicking away. Eventually when it stayed on enough for a repair man to see for himself, he replaced the ignitor module. Worked for a few weeks, but started again. This time I convinced them that replacing the ignitors should be done as well as the module. (as if the module would be bad after two weeks of use) So a new module (again) and four new ignitors replaced, we had two whole weeks of click free stove use and it started up again with the very same problems. We're not sure what to do now.

Fortunately we purchased an extended warranty for an additional 3 years. So this has cost us the $349 for the warranty plus the frustration of constant clicking while cooking.

Kathy of Palmerton PA (01/08/07)
I too am having problems with my $17,767.24 Viking appliances. Even wrote to President of the company with no success. Just passed the buck and that person said if you can afford Viking appliances you can afford to have them repaired. Not the point. I had 4 dishwashers, 2 refrigerators, (the first one was dropped somewhere between there and here and just stopped working 3 months later), and several service calls to replace the spark modules for my dual fuel range (which it still clicks on occassion).

I am now in need of another service call for about 1 inch of ice (probably because it's not defrosting) on the bottom of my bottom mount freezer which I had already cleaned out once. It is very diffcult to get a repair person in a timely manner, (sometimes 3 weeks), where I live, to fix the many problems. FYI my repair man said Viking was junk. I wish I would have known Viking would not stand behind their product before I purchased my appliances for my dream kitchen that has been a total nightmare and barely gets used for fear something else might go wrong. I was wondering if there is any class action suit against Viking to rectify these problems.

I had asked for compensation for the food that spoiled in the fridge that had been dropped. Of course the response was NO but said they would send me a griddle cover which I have not received to date and I'm not holding my breath because that was 3 years ago. I'm afraid of what will go wrong after my extended warranty runs out and have to pay outragous repair bills for appliances that should last longer than a few months.

Chris of Alexandria VA (01/05/07)
In Oct '04 I purchased a 30 stainless steel-dual fuel-sealed burner Viking Range (model VDSC3074BSS). Initially, it performed as advertised (first 3 months), but soon started to demonstrate the same igniter challenges faced by the other unsatisfied customers voicing their complaints on your site. It started with one igniter firing intermittently during the first couple of months and now all 4 igniters are experiencing failure to zap challenges.

Luckily, I can still fire up the burners with my $2.00 clicker-type lighter (it's 2 years old!!). As an active duty military member, it's been a challenge to prioritize resolution of this issue. And after reading your site, it looks like igniter replacement (or any type of warranty effort with Viking on this matter) would have been a waste of my time anyway.

I finally took the time to speak to Viking today! The Viking response was to attempt to clean them myself prior to calling a certified repair person...the igniters are not covered beyond one year. I inquired about the igniters further asking if there was a known design problem or maintenance concerns with them and was told by Viking that there's no way of knowing when the igniters will wear out.

Did I mention how difficult the sealed burner top is to clean? My wife is now prodding me to write how difficult the range top grates are to clean...very true.

The only physical damage is to my wallet, because of the more expensive (+30%) purchase price compared to similar performing ranges. The overall greatest damage is to my ego. I failed to adequately research the shockingly abundant Viking product & customer service complaints on the web (before shelling out too much money for a product I'd give 2 out of 10 stars. I feel used and helpless (even though I'm laughing at how underwhelmed at this whole affair), because I realize that no amount of correspondence can incentivise Viking into fixing a design flaw that hasn't turned into a safety issue...yet. (I'm just trying to imagine some poor customer out there, holding the gas on too long, with their mind on something else, when all-of-a-sudden one of the igniters decides to work!!!)

Kathi of St. Louis MO (01/01/07)
I have a Viking gas stove with an electric oven. I have owned this for 7 years. We are a very busy family with athletic children, which limits our time for baking. My complaint is that it has always taken 25 min. and sometimes more to preheat this oven. Each year I would use my oven less and less due to the fact it took sooo long to preheat! That was disappointing.

A year and a half ago my toaster went out, so I decided to buy a toaster oven. I noticed I totally avoided my Viking oven for an $18.88 toaster oven, except on Holidays! So you can see how little I have used this... Well today I was preheating my Viking oven. While making a quiche i just happened to look over at the oven and the heating element was on fire!!

It looked and sounded like sparklers in my oven! Scared me to death! I opened the oven and quickly turned it off. Immediatley the flames dimenished. I looked at my quiche which was ready to go into the oven. This quiche was going with us to a New Years Day brunch at a friends. Needless to say I crammed it in the toaster oven with something in front of the door to keep it closed to bake it. Well that worked, but i still have an expensive oven with the baking element out.

I normally wouldn't complain if it were something like the stove because of the usage, but this oven has totally disappointed me from the start! I am jelous of my friends that paid less for their stainless oven, that looks almost the same as mine, but they are extremely happy with theres and mine continues to give me challenges. This just happened today and I guess I was lucky to have noticed the flames inside my oven when I did! It could have caused extreme damages elsewhere since it is connected to the gas stove!

Leslie of Fremont, CA (12/17/06)
My ignitors went out on my Viking Gas Range after less than two years of use. When the recommended repair person arrived he asked me if I had been baking alot? When I told him that I didn't know how to answer that question, he asked me "Do you use the oven to heat your house?"

No, we have a heater for that purpose.

Now I realize that Viking Ovens are not meant to be used. When you do use them they break.

I have contacted Viking and they have been no help and actually sent me an E-Mail that would insult the intellegence of a stone. Very frustrating.

Lorelei of San Pedro CA (11/25/06)
I purchased my home 3 years ago, the Viking range was only 6 months old at the time we purched our house. The first problem occured this past November when the back right burner wouldn't light. The repair person claimed the problem had to do with a bad ground. He ordered a part and three weeks later the burner lit. two days later the problem happened. This time if the front burner was turned on first, the back burner wouldn't turn on. However, if the back burner was turned on first and then the front, it would light. I called the service person again. He came out and, starting with the back burner, turned all of the burners on. Of course they worked. He claimed what I was trying to explain to him was impossible as the burners all work independently. He wanted to charge a $60 fee for coming out, but the manager told him to let it go.

The next day the problem happened again. the burner would not light. It would not make the ticking sound. I called and by this time we were coming up on Thanksgiving so, since I had three other burners working I told the service company that we could make the appointment after Thanksgiving. Well, the problem just got worse. Today my oven stopped working. It would light, but soon after it would shut itself off, including the oven light and all of the top burners! Now I have a real problem, I'm having a house full of people and I can't even cook the turkey dinner. I'm not impressed with Viking. I have had cheaper ovens that have worked well for years and years. I have never had to call out a service man for any type of problem. This Viking stove and double oven with four burners, a griddle, and a grill is not worth the $7,000 it cost. I'm fed up!

I had to throw out the turkey because we stuffed it before we knew the oven wasn't working. I had to scrap the entire meal because I wasn't able to cook on the top range. the cost of the dinner was about $300 not including the $150 I paid the service repair man to come out and replace a part. We had to take 20 friends and family out to dinner because they were coming down for turkey dinner, we could'nt leave them hanging.

Dayna of Costa Mesa CA (11/20/06)
I was so glad to see I'm not crazy!! I am having the smae problem with my Viking Range oven staying lit. When I turn it on and set the temp it will take at least 5 to 10 minutes to ingnite and I usually smell gas before it does ignite if it does, sometimes it won't light at all. And when it does decide to lite it will turn itself off when it reaches 150 degrees. I don't know, but most people can't cook any thing at 150 degrees. I end up turning it on & off several times to get it to stay on. As a person that grew up in the restraunt business we used nothing but Viking products and very rarely had any problems with them. That is why when I remodled my kitchen I chose what I thought was really top of the line. And now I have an angry Husband on my hands for spending that kind of money on what he thinks is junk!!

I already broke the tracks on the trash compactor and had them replaced by the so called service tech they recommend. As a result I waited 3 weeks for the parts to show up then the service tech did such a rotten job the tracks fell apart 2 days after the service. I spent $300.00 for 2 days of use. Luckly my 22 year old son is very good with repairing this type of thing. he has reinforced the tracks with extra nuts & bolts, replaced the ever so crappy catch on the pull out door I had to un jamb the thing several times. And now the bearings are falling out of the dishwasher tracks too!! I hope someone reads this and helps us poor people that have a whole kitchen full of these appliances that are turing into junk before our eyes

Diane of Lansdale PA (10/29/06)
Purchased my Viking Side-by Side refrigerator in the Spring of 2006. The ice in the icemaker constantly clogged. I have had the service company out numerous times and the problem is better but not totally solved. The icemaker would leak and I would have to have towels in the opening to prevent the water from damaging the front wood panel. In addition, the refrigerator's drip pan is constantly wet. We found this out when the unit was leaking into the finished basement. We were told that the heater unit used to evaporate the water was not installed. After numerous visits (don't ask me why!) the pan still has water in it. I have to empty it out approximately every other day. This is a great nuisance! What am I to do when I travel? Ask a neighbor to watch the dog and empty my refrigerator drip pan?

Also, the first time I used my Viking wall oven the glass shattered the moment it reached temperature. I can't figure out how to change the time on the ovens because I do not have the manuals and have asked Viking and their distributor on various occasions to forward to me another manual to no avail. As it probably does not need to be said but I feel Viking Appliances are greatly overrated and a complete disappointment. I could have completed two kitchens with GE Appliances for what it cost me to do one. Once would assume that with the name Viking, the products would be superior. They are not and I am complete dissastisfied and would never recommend Viking appliances to anyone!

Susan of Brookfield. CT (10/24/06)
In Decmber 2000, we purchased a Viking gas range, refrigerator, dishwasher and hood vent for the stove. Right away we had problems with the dishwasher using the heat-dry option - it would smell like the entire house was on fire. Consequently we do not use the heat-dry option. We had trouble with the stove/oven right from the beginning as well. A Viking repairman came to the house and was unable to detect a gas leak. He repaired the second igniter in the oven because it wasn't even working brand new! The refrigerator also has a problem - sometimes the inside light does not go off and the inside heats up very quickly. The alarm goes off to let us know of the increased temperature in the refrigerator.

Apparently there is a stainless steel screw at the very top of the refrigerator near the hinge that we have to hit with a ruler to turn the light off. The current problem with the range is that the oven would not light. At times, if you turned on the gas cooktops the gas would then flow into the oven? The repairman from our local gas company says it is probably the igniters and/or the safety vent that might be sticking. Plus, the repair man broke the oven door and now we have to get that fixed as well! We paid over $10,000 for these appliances and they are total JUNK. I would never, ever, suggest to anyone that they buy Viking appliances. In fact, I would strongly tell them to stay as far away from them as possible. Now after reading other complaints posted on the internet, I dread contacting Viking!

Besides being unable to use the oven, now I have a broken oven door and the gas company says they didn't do it! How can someone break the oven door? I have had two service calls from the gas company and dread calling Viking because the last person they sent out was an idiot.

Danny of Northampton MA (10/10/06)
We have a four burner, 36 Viking range purchased new from Manny's Appliances in western Massachusetts two years ago. The first year we only used the house on weekends so the stove received very little use. July of 2005 we moved in full time. Starting this past June the oven would shut off by itself during baking. Repair people claimed mice has moved insulation in the stove causing the problem. They replaced a controller (?) which did not correct the problem. Then they claimed the thermostat was bad and needed to be replaced. The stove still did not work properly. The temperature would vary by 100 degrees during a baking cycle.

The service people claimed that thermostat was defective and ordered another. The back burners also stopped lighting and needed new ignitors. When the second thermostat was installed the service man lost a clip for the temperature knob so we still had a 50 to 75 degree variance between the actual temperature and the setting. The clip was replaced and then the hinge on the oven door broke. Each time a part was ordered we had to wait at least three weeks for the part to arrive. Consequently during the last four months we were able to use our oven three times! We called the dealer, the service manager, and Viking stating the stove we received is a lemon and we would like it replaced. To date Viking has not returned our calls, the dealer is passing the buck to the service company, and they are saying it takes time to build a case.

Unable to bake or use the oven for four months.

William of Soquel, CA (10/10/06)
In July, 2001 I purchased a new Viking 4 burner stove. The oven flames were 4 + inches high with incomplete combustion. After repeated complaints to retailer and a letter to the manufacturer, I finally put a stop payment on my Visa.

The retailer finally returned with all new oven parts and everything was replaced, except the metal walls and bottom.  Finally, the flames were normal in height and the exhaust was normal.

Now, October 2006, the exhaust is again incomplete burning and the oven, at times, sound like a blow torch has been turned on. In addition, I have 17 pieces to remove to clean the 4 burners of this piece of junk.

I am concerned about an oven fire. I have yet, but will, contact Viking Customer "No"-Service, try to buy the part, and complain.

Ali of Brisbane CA (08/31/06)
We bought our expensive viking range two years ago, the first time my wife tried to self clean it yesterday, the oven door would not open after the cooling period. We have not contacted anybody yet, I thought it is a simple fix. I was looking through the internet to find a solution until I encountered that it is a common defect and it may be costly. I am going to check if my range has an access door to unlock the oven door. If I fail, I have to call viking tommorrow and see. We had self cleaning ovens before we had not encountered this problem.

Peter of Diamond Point NY (08/04/06)
Broiler flame goes out when oven door is closed quickly. Flame spreader in oven fell apart oven will not stay on untill 4 or 5 tries. These problems started when range was still in warranty, Viking said this was the way the range works.

Julie of White Lake MI (07/20/06)
I purchased a stainless steel double wall Viking Oven and also a Viking five burner cooktop stove two years ago with warranty. These were very expensive and the top of the line items. The first time I used the oven, the steam from opening the oven caused some of the numbers and lettering to peel off the control panel. Each time I used the oven I lost more of the decals. It got to the point where I could not tell what settings I was using to operate the oven, so I called customer service about the defect. I had high expectations that Viking would #1 want to know about the defect, and #2 stand behind it.

Instead I was blamed for using stainless steel cleaner. WHAT? It is a stainless steel oven! I SCRUB my other Viking product (stove top) stainless steel panel with the same cleaner and much more frequently and the decals do not come off. Viking Customer Service told me there is a coating over the decals that cannot withstand cleaner, only soap and water. I am convinced there was no coating on the wall oven panel to begin with. I have since ordered and received a new panel and it clearly has the coating where my other did not. My warranty is active and I am disappointed they will not honor it.

William of Princeton Junction NJ (07/19/06)
I purchased a 6-burner range (VGIC365-6B-SS) on April 2 2001 in New Jersey. The first year I had to have the ignitors replaced as well as the convection oven fan - they had all failed and were all covered by the normal one year warrenty. I've again replaced the ignitors TWICE more in 2003 (11/25/03), (6/13/03) and twice in 2004 (5/11 and 12/10) spending over $800 with Jersey Appliance (the formal Viking support group in New Jersey).

The first year I was covered, but I have been told by Viking and Jersey Appliance that these ignitors will go from time to time and that I have to pay for this. I can't understand why this is with such an expensive stove. I've had stoves my whole life and never ever exerienced anything like this. I would expect something more from Viking than telling me I have to spend a few hundreds of dollars each year to maintain a very expensive stove.

Chris of Riverside, CT (05/07/06)
I went to clean my Viking oven and the door locked!

I called Viking but they never got back to me so I went online and found this is a common problem with viking. Viking should fix this problem, or I am going to let everyone know about this defect

now i have to pay to have the oven service by an authorized viking dealer.

Mark of Baltimore MD (01/31/06)
Viking range self clean feature locks the oven door, but door will not unlock after c. Lock can only be accessed with $400.00 repair each time oven is cleaned.Later models have access door,making repair less than $60.00.

Viking refuses to retrofit acess door in a $5000.00 oven.

Maryann of East Norriton PA (12/29/05)
I purchased two Viking Ranges for my kitchen remodeling project.

Because we travelled a lot during the year, my ovens did not get much use. The first time I used the self-cleaning feature on one of my ovens, the inner glass on the oven door exploded.

Mike of Naperville IL (6/16/03):
I have a Viking Commercial Gas Range, Purchased in 1997. Cost: Over $3500. It is now on its third set of oven igniters. $81.00 each (2 required) plus labor. Complaints to Viking got me the following E-mail

Thank you for contacting Viking Range Corporation. We are sorry to learn of the recent problems you have encountered with your Viking range. Naturally, we are concerned when we receive comments reflecting adversely upon the quality of our products.

Viking Range Corporation makes every effort to manufacture products of the highest quality. Unfortunately, in spite of all the precautions taken to ensure ther reliability of our products, occasional part failures may occur. Igniters are similar to batteries. They do not last forever. Their life expectancy is 2-5 years, dependent on usage.

To assist our customers, Viking provides a comprehensive product warranty. Our experience and testing has shown that the warranty period is sufficient time for defects in materials or workmanship to surface on a product. We regret that we cannot assist in repair costs for your Viking range.

Thank you for advising us of your situation. Customer satisfaction is very important to us and we appreciate the opportunity to assist our customers.

I responded that the Igniters in my Maytag gas dryer has been in operation for 8 years and the igniters in my furnace have been operational for over 10 years. However, it is Viking's opinion that igniters at $81.00 each (two required) are like batteries, albeit very expensive batteries. Consumers should know this before shelling out $3500 plus for a stove.

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