Kenmore Oven: not turning off

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your Kenmore oven is not turning off and continues to heat even after selecting OFF, it may be due to a faulty control board or a malfunctioning touchpad. This issue can lead to safety hazards, as the oven only stops when unplugged or the breaker is turned off. Immediate attention is required to prevent further complications.

Urgency: High

Important Tips for Kenmore Models

  • Earlier Kenmore Elite models with smooth-top electric ranges were part of a recall for units that could fail to turn off or heat incorrectly; identify model/serial to check if affected.

Possible Causes

Faulty electronic control board sending continuous power to heating circuits

How to Identify: Oven continues to heat despite OFF command; control board relays may be shorted, continuous voltage delivered; display might be unresponsive or show errors.

Part: Electronic control board

Malfunctioning touchpad/control panel sending incorrect signals

How to Identify: Buttons not responding or stuck; disconnecting touchpad ribbon stops oven heating or control becomes unresponsive.

Part: Touchpad and control panel

Shorted or failed bake/broil heating element

How to Identify: Visible damage (blisters/holes on element; element may have continuity to chassis indicating short.

Part: Bake or broil element

Defective temperature control thermostat or sensor

How to Identify: Thermostat fails to cycle heat off; oven overheats; testing with multimeter shows abnormalities.

Part: Control thermostat/temperature sensor

DIY Solutions

Reset Oven Electronics

Easy 5-10 minutes
  1. Disconnect oven from power (unplug or breaker off).
  2. Wait 1 minute before restoring power.
  3. Power oven back on and test if OFF command now works.
⚠️ Safety First: Always disconnect power before attempting resets.

Inspect Heating Elements for Shorts

Moderate 15-30 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdriver, Multimeter, Work gloves
  1. Turn off power at circuit breaker and confirm power is off.
  2. Open oven and visually inspect bake and broil elements for damage.
  3. Use a multimeter to test continuity and insulation to chassis; replace element if shorted.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power is off before touching internal components.

Professional Repairs

Replace Electronic Control Board

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400+

Replace Touchpad/Control Panel

Estimated Cost: $100 - $250

When to Call a Professional

Control board suspected defective
Visible electrical component damage
Uncertain diagnosis requiring internal access

Preventive Maintenance

  • Regular inspection of control panel and heating elements: Early detection of wear that can lead to failures causing oven not to turn off
    Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Kenmore Oven not turning off?
Common causes include a faulty electronic control board, malfunctioning touchpad, or shorted heating elements.
How do I fix Kenmore Oven not turning off myself?
Reset the oven electronics by unplugging it for a minute or inspect heating elements for shorts.
How much does it cost to fix not turning off?
Professional repairs range from $150 to $400+ depending on whether the control board or touchpad needs replacement.
When should I call a technician for not turning off?
Contact a technician if DIY solutions fail or if you're uncomfortable handling electrical components.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

67%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Either

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Faulty control board (2 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Turn off at breaker or unplug it

    Success rate: 20.0%

  2. Turn off the gas at the shutoff before the flex line

    Success rate: 20.0%

  3. Buy a used oven instead of repairing

    Success rate: 20.0%
Analysis based on 3 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Kenmore oven(gas) won't turn off, stuck at 150°F
  2. My Kenmore oven won't turn off
  3. Kenmore Oven won't turn off.

Community Discussions

oven won't turn off, stuck at 150°F

Turn off the gas at the shutoff before the flex line behind the stove.

DIY View on Reddit →

My Kenmore oven won't turn off

User decided to buy a used oven instead of repairing the current one.

Pro needed View on Reddit →

Oven won't turn off

Turn off at breaker or unplug it

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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