Panasonic NC-ZK1 Kettle, lid pops open in use

imaginarynumber

Hi al

Has any one else with the Panasonic NC-ZK1 Kettle noticed that after a week or two the lid pops open when you pour water out?

Out of the box the lid seems to be nice and flat however after being used for a while it starts to bow; like a bimetallic strip but it stays bowed.

After filling you hear a positive click as you close the lid but when pouring the water (immediately after boiling) it sometimes pops open. if the kettle is full the boiling water goes all over the place.

Our first one was replaced by Next but the second developed the same fault in under 2 weeks. I guess this is a design fault but just wanted to see if anyone else had experienced it.

To date I have seen one other person mention the same problem on the John Lewis site (I did a google search just now)

I guess my next post should be to Trading Standards.

fluffnutter

I think perhaps going back to Next and getting a refund or different model is the next step. You could always contact the manufacturer if you're concerned about the design fault. I don't think Trading Standards is appropriate - they're not trying to mislead anyone, they've just got a product with a potentially faulty design. Tell Panasonic, but get your money/different kettle from Next first.

imaginarynumber

fluffnutter wrote: »

I think perhaps going back to Next and getting a refund or different model is the next step. You could always contact the manufacturer if you're concerned about the design fault. I don't think Trading Standards is appropriate - they're not trying to mislead anyone, they've just got a product with a potentially faulty design. Tell Panasonic, but get your money/different kettle from Next first.

I see your point re trading standards. I contacted them because my only experience of reporting a safety issue previously resulted in me wasting hours of my time in the knowledge that the manufacturer was assuming that I was some kind of nutter. In that case I had to get trading standards to enter the offices of the UK importer. Within seconds they confirmed that there was a potentially lethal fault. it was only then that the firm ceased selling it and redesigned the product.

I am confident that Next will refund the money without any quibbles but I guess that it would be fairer to tell Panasonic and give them an opportunity to address the issue. I will email them in a moment but TBH I am not confident of a real response.

imaginarynumber

I did contact Panasonic as a matter of courtesy. Frankly it was a waste of time, the response suggested that all products eventually fail and that I should seek a refund.

I clearly stated that the product and previous kettle were only 2 weeks old.

Been to busy to chase it up with trading standards...