Just bought my 6qt last week. My first run with it I should have known it wouldn't last. Kinda had a funny smell, but it went away so I assumed it had just been sitting a while and dust had settled in it. It was kinda cranky sounding...didn't sound like I thought it would, but having nothing to compare it with, I thought it was just because it was a larger motor than my sunbeam. Well, went to whip up some buttercream today, and during my 4-7 minute de bubblizing, she started making this horrible crunching sound like it was grinding gears!! I turned it off and I am boxing it up. I am not dealing with this! Sorry KA, but your products have gone down the toilet!!! I going with the Cuisinart!

Did you call KA or visit their website to find out what may have happened? It could have been a defective machine, things like that do happen - after all humans make them! lol KA customer service has always been great when I had to deal with them.

We had the same problem with our most recent KAs. Have a Hobart KA that's older than dirt and still works great and the new ones we've purchased in the last 3 years haven't been worth squat.

I hit enter too soon. We did contact the company and they responded like it was not a new issue and replaced it without any hesitation.

The old Hobart KAs are wonderful. I've got one that has to be 40-50 years old.

The new ones are not so good. KA does have a great replacement policy though.

All in all, both Viking and Cuisinart makes a much better product.

I got it from Bed bath and beyond, and they have a great return policy and will be able to replace it right there in the store. But if KA has this many problems so often that its no surprise, then why should I even bother with their products? I knwo it can still happen with other brands, but shesh, seems like I have only been getting negative reviews when reading about them lately! I got it 20% off, plus a rebate, a $100 ice cream maker attachement. So pretty much all that for $250!

I don't even know how old my KA is, but I love it. I also have a Sunbeam and could do without it. It's so awkward. I got it from my grandmother, but the next mixer I buy will definately be a KA or a Cuisinart!

One thing that Ive found from online reviews is that most of the time, only the negative ones are posted, so you have to take that into consideration. Think about it, when you purchase a product like the KA or some other product, if you are happy with it, do you think about posting a good review for that particular product on the manufacturer website or any other place? (Of course with Ebay or Amazon - they remind us, but it's normally a review about the seller). If someone is angry about a product's performance, we are always quick to post that.

Not trying to get anything started! Just a general observation from reviews that I have read on all sorts of products! lol

I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your KA. I think it's like Ford and Chevys - some people swear by Ford, some by Chevy!

My KA did that. Easy to fix. Remove the screw in the back that holds the metal strap on. Remove the cover. Remove the top of the gear box. You will see the gear has slipped out of place. Put the gear back in place. Put it all back together. Mine has never done it again. I didn't fix it; my hubby did but he says it is a very simple fix. No harm done to the mixer.

If you can pick up an old Hobart KA at a garage sale or estate sale, do so. You might wind up with an ugly avocado colored mixer, but it will more than likely be a work horse.

I bought one of those last year from BBB. I haven't used it much, but so far, mine seems to work okay. For smaller projects, I rely on my older KA that my parents gave me as a birthday present at least 10 years ago, so I could stop making things with a hand mixer I worry sometimes about my poor mixer though, as it sounds a little funny these days when it runs. But I am going to run Lucy into the ground (That's my name for the small mixer. I named the big one Ethel).

I just bought my first KA, and read hundreds of reviews first. I stumbled across a couple that mentioned UPC codes. Don't quote me, but I think I read that they found a problem with a lot of the newer KA mixers beginning with the number 05 and lower. Not all, but a LOT of the reviewers are having problems with grinding sounds and the motor burning out when making fondant. Regardless, I still purchased a KA artisan, and am unsure of the # (ebay). Since I have heard great things about KA customer service, I figured I'd take my chances, and if I get a defective model, I will just call them: ) I have also heard a lot of people say "They don't make em like they used to." KA says they haven't changed a thing as far as the way they are made... I hope customer service can make this right with you!

I bought a 6qt mixer from KA maybe 4 years ago and it works great, no trouble at all. I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulty with yours. Just to let everyone know kohls has a great return policy. You can return your mixer there even if you didn't originally buy it from them. Just let them know it's not working properly and they'll gladly exchange it out for you. They just end up sending it back to the manufacturer so they don't really care. So maybe switch it out for a diffrent mixer and see if that helps, maybe it was just a bad mixer.

I've had my KA for 3 years now and LOVE it! It was a refurbished one, which probably was actually the safer route to go. It was a gift from my hubby and works great. I don't know what I'd do without it.

I had the same problem with my 6 qt KA a few years back. Its long gone and has been repaced with a Viking thats been working great.

My opinion only but KA mixers nowadays, are nothing but junk now that hobart isn't making them anymore. KA mixers are and have been a whirlpool product for some time, (unless thats changed again), and not worth the money and headaches.
I read the same thing on cooking and baking boards about KA mixers. One person will have nothing but good things to say about their new KA whereas 4 or more others talk about having to have them replaced, or constantly repaired. Thats the problem with KA mixers now, the machines are not consistant, they're not reliable anymore. Its a crap shoot if you're going to get a good one or a total dud, & thats something none of us should have to deal with.

I love my KA! Mine is majestic yellow. Not made in that color anymore. I have all of the extras and the blender, hand mixer, chopper, and every KA gadget in the same color. A drawer full of kitchen tools I seldom use. LOL

I love my Cuisinart!

I love my KA! I bought the 6qt about 3 years ago and at first, I thought I was going to have problems because at one point the oil from the factory was making it smoke, but Bruno (his name) prevailed and I've never had a problem.

I do notice that the motor has a harder time with fondant though. So far, I haven't found anything that can stop Bruno.

I bought a refurbished 6qt KA about a year ago and use it just about every single day. I LOVE this mixer - I wasn't really prepared for how loud it was going to be, as I'd never owned a heavy duty mixer before - but once I got used to that, no problems. FABULOUS machine!

Warchild, It was a KA representative on QVC that said they never changed the way they were made. She mentioned something about the gear system being unique and said something along the lines of they make the mixers the same way they always have and that's why they are so trusted... I haven't used mine yet, just got it today, but now I'm nervous

LOVE my KA mixers. Bought closeout Accolade tilt-head all-metal gear KA; never had a problem.

I turned it on just to let it run, sounds fine!? The sound I heard today was while mixing buttercream, sugarshacks recipe, so i know it should be able to power through it! I heard sort of a clicking sound then a grinding, crunchy sound, does anyone know what I am talking about LOL!?!? Now, Its running with just the whizzing sound of the motor. Of course, it wasnt mixing anything..please pray it was jsut a freak accident and the cake gnomes fixed it I don't want to return it, its so pretty on my counter!

Not all 6 qt KA mixers are alike. I too bought one from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was incredibly loud, like lawn mower loud. So I took it back. Then I went to a locally owned kitchen store to order the 7 qt Cuisinart. I have that one now too. The first batch of cupcakes I made without the beater blade did not mix well enough. I am not enamored with it, but plan on keeping it for frosting.

While I was picking up the Cuisinart I got to talking about the 6 qt KA I bought from BBAB and how loud it was. The lady was surprised. She said it must have been defective because they are not that loud. So I did some research. It turns out there is the 600 series and a 620 series. The 620 series is no longer on the KA website, but you can see them on Williams-Sonoma site for a every expensive price. So I went to Amazon and found them on there for about half the price of WS. I ended up buying two. And yes, they are quieter.

I don't intend on making fondant though. I am just going to buy it. So I can't say how it will perform with harder doughs at this time.

i have to KA's both purchased about 10 years ago. Both work great. LOVE them.

wow me gots good english 2day LOL!!!! that was supposed to say I have 2 kitchen aid mixers.

I just got the KA 6 qt ( professional architect 600 series)
gotta say I LOVE it!!! I never knew bc could be so smooth!
Defective models happen! As previous poster said there is still
the variable of human err!
I think that if KA was do awful all the time, they probably
would no longer bf on business, or have lasted this long!

I did a lot of research before buying my KA 6 qt mixer. I could find the tilt head mixer locally for a good price, but wanted the bigger one. I found mine online at Everything Kitchens. I got a great price, plus the mail in rebate for an attachment. I've had no problems at all and can whip up a batch of frosting in record time. BTW - my is OU red

OH no....that's too bad that you're having/had problems with your new KA! Hope the next one you get works out much better for you! I'm a believer that sometimes there are "bad eggs", but that doesn't necessarily mean the entire batch is bad I've had a 600 Pro (rebuilt) for over 15 years now, and a few years back bought a Viking....cause geez, they're SO beautiful! Had to return the viking 3 months in for bad gears (grinding). So, got a replacement....2 months later, same issue. So, I returned it and bought a smaller tilt-head KA, and have been happy as a clam ever since! I still believe Viking has to make a good product because they sell so many mixers...I just didn't have the best of luck I guess!

The only time I've had any problems with my KA was when I moved and needed to adjust the beater height afterwards. I think that's only on the tilt-head models but it's super easy, there's an adjustment screw that you see when the head is tilted up.

I have one of the older KA models too...bought it for $25 on craigslist as a backup after hearing bad things about the newer ones. I haven't had any trouble with my newer one though, and I'm thinking of loaning the older one to my sister on a pretty permanent basis because I just don't need two.