Kenmore Model 665

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Kenmore Model 665

by James
(Nashville, Tenn.)

I am the owner of a Sears Kenmore Model 665 Dishwasher. It is about six years old and was purchased along with a washer/dryer combo from a Sears Discount outlet in the South Nashville area for around $200.

The front advertises itself as being equipped with “QuietGuard 2”. You may believe that advertising. This is the quietest dishwasher I have ever owned! The device comes with a maximum 12 hour delay for washing. I usually set the timer for it to wash overnight and have yet to be awakened by the wash action. My daughter’s bedroom is right above it and she sleeps soundly through the wash also.

The dishwasher has five wash cycles: Pots and Pans, Normal Wash, China/Gentle, Time Saver and Quick Rinse. The Pots and Pans wash takes the longest - about 80-90 minutes including the drying action. The Time Saver cycle is a simple wash with no heated drying that’s about 30 minutes in duration. I have yet to use the other cycles but am very satisfied with the cleanings so far.

There are also options for a “Hi-Temp Scrub” and a “Sani-Rinse” with all wash cycles. The front has lighted indicators for when the machine is sensing the right wash temperature and when it is heating the incoming water. At the end of the wash there are lights for when the dishes have been sanitized (using the “Sani-Rinse” option) and for when the dishes inside are through with the wash.

The machine has your standard two-tiered rack combination. The bottom rack has at least two fold-down wire holders that allow you to place a small turkey pan or 5 quart crock pot container inside. Most delicate items, plastic wares and cups fit reasonably well in the top rack.

You may use powered dishwasher soap or the liquid kind. There is an extra slot next to the regular soap holder for adding extra soap for the Pots and Pans cycle. If I had a complaint about this model it would be that you can sometimes easily overfill the regular soap slot resulting in the device not being able to open properly due to the powdered soap crusting during the beginning wash cycle. Otherwise, just be careful and you won't have any difficulties.

I paid $50 extra dollars to have the unit professionally installed by the good folks at Sears. As always, money well spent - I’ve never had a leak.

No trouble or breakdowns six years in. Everything inside comes out very clean. I very much recommend it’s purchase!

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Kenmore Model 665

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Jan 25, 2012
Rating

was good until now...
by: Anonymous

Have had this dishwasher for 4 years, up to now no issues, actually loved it.
But now...the dishes are not coming out clean, and I end up having to hand wash them, did some trouble shooting will see if it makes any difference. Also the cutlery basket is falling apart, causing the cutlery to fall through to the bottom of the machine. so there are about 3 sections which I can not use for anything smaller than a large spoon inserted upside down. Irritating!

Dec 20, 2011
Rating

unsatisfactory
by: newport kt

This is without doubt the most unsatisfactory washer I've owned. It doesn't accommodate wine glasses with stems unless they are less than eight inches in height. Our dinner plates fit only if we place them at an angle, and then we have to check to see that they clear the spray arm. We have broken many glasses and chipped many plates. We had a washer that fit into the same spot and accommodated all of our dishes. What a waste of money this was!

Jul 25, 2011
Rating

18 wonderful years with my 665
by: Anonymous

I moved my Kenmore 665 dishwasher from my old house 13 years ago into my new home. It was about 5 years old at the time - so it has worked like a charm for 18 years! It stopped this weekend and I'm sad. I never had one single problem with it. Guessing that I will never find something comparable :~(

Jun 20, 2011
Rating

lasted 3 years
by: Anonymous

Looks like we need to replace... only three years old and several Sears visits in that time under warranty... Leaked so bad it flooded the ceiling in the basement!

Apr 25, 2011
Rating

lemon
by: Anonymous

nothing but trouble and pretty poor service from Sears

Feb 25, 2011
Rating

Only lasted 5-1/2 years
by: Al

Bought our Kenmore 665.17039401 dishwasher May 30, 2005. By 2008 I had to replace the plastic wheel and transport assy for the lower rack. No big deal. But on Feb 20, 2011 the plastic tub cracked and leaked all over the floor. Repairs were quoted at around $389 by Sears Technician. Disappointed because Consumer Report lists Kenmore as one of the more reliable brands. Guess I'm one of the unlucky purchasers.

Jan 10, 2011
Rating

brand new!
by: dpn

we just bought the kenmore 665 used from craigslist installed it today so excited because our last dishwasher was a real crapper we had months of eating on dirty dishes always had to worry about the uncleanlyness and getting sick but now we have it and it is cleaning our 1st load of dishes right now oh we are soo super excited to see how they turn out!!

Dec 23, 2010
Rating

Wash dishes twice in kenmore ultra clean
by: Hammer of Medford OR

The kenmore ultra clean 665 is so energy efficent that you only have to wash the dishes twice to get them clean - once in the machine then once by hand.

It is nearly identical to our old whirlpool that ran for 25 years until a serious leak developed in the pump, but nearly is the discriminating word.

The kenmore ultra wash 665 is the energy efficient model and this was achieved by putting in the weakest electrical motor they could find to drive the pump. With a weak pump the internal water pressure is so low that nothing in the top basket gets clean and anything in the lower basket that is soiled with dried on gunk needs some attention after the wash cycle just like everything on the top basket.

This is the quietest dishwasher ever, unfortunately it doesn't wash the dishes. The washer is quiet because the housing is crammed with fiberglass insulation, I wish I had thought of that because the old whirlpool was a screamer - but it cleaned everything in it.

My wife has gone completely nuts dealing with the kenmore ultra wash 665. No amount of additives, detergent brands, rinse agents, or water pressure, will improve the performance, it just does not have the power to pump the fluids through the system.

Just like the energy efficient toilets that you have to flush twice this is just a dishwasher that you have to wash the dishes twice. Thank you tree huggers everywhere, I think I'll vent some carbon dioxide or freon into the atmosphere to celebrate the kenmore ultra wash's lower impact on the environment.

Sep 18, 2010
Rating

Crack
by: Anonymous

"That seems to clog it up pretty nice but it is an easy fix. The repair man brought a ?magic care solution? which we used in a complete cycle with the dish washer empty. Operating the dishwasher is also very easy, just push a few buttons and away you go, no confusing knobs or switches.

The only problem with the operations is that during the cycle you have no way to tell what part of the cycle it is on. This is problematic if you have some extra dishes you wish to include in your washing. It only shows a count-down timer. However, this is a minor down side.

The only major problem with this dishwasher is the silver ware basket. The bottom grates on the basket are completely broken out causing the silverware to drop down and block the main washing mechanism from spinning and washing the dishes. Overall I am very pleased with our Kenmore dishwasher."

Are you on Crack??? or a paid Bot??
Only means ONE as in the one and only, only one Winner,
Kenmore Dishwasher is NOT QUIET and Works Poor at best,
Save some money Purchase some ZIP TIES and Repair BAsket yourself as I did as I refuse to Purchase another "QUALITY" Cutlery BAsket.

Sep 08, 2010
Rating

Kenmore 665
by: Anonymous

We bought ours about 7 yrs ago and it is great! best dishwasher i have ever had! quiet and cleans great!

Sep 02, 2010
Rating

One year old clunker
by: Anonymous

We had a Whirpool dishwasher for seven years that worked great, but eventually had to be replaced. Bought the Kenmore 665 model and it is absolutely horrible. After a year, the dishes are not cleaned, have to re-wash by hand. I should have stayed with the Whirlpool brand.....

Nov 13, 2009
Rating

We got a lemon
by: Fred

Bought the Kenmore 665 Elite to replace the old Whirlpool dishwasher that came with the house. Paid a little extra thinking we would be getting a nice appliance. Guess again . . . our dishes were cleaner using the old dishwasher. We've had techs out six or seven times to replace multiple parts and they can't seem to get it to work. One tech said the water was too cold, another told us it was too hot. Pretty obvious at this point that we got ourselves a lemon (thank god we got the extended warranty). We just want a dishwasher that works, but its looking like we got ripped off big time at this point Actually headed over to store to speak with the Appliance Manger and we are taking some of the dirty dishes along as proof. If you are thinking about getting a dishwasher, choose another model.

Nov 09, 2009
Rating

I think I got a lemon!
by: BV

We bought our Kenmore 665 washer in 2005 and it has broken down 3 times now... The first time, it was a heating sensor due to the "delay cycle" feature. Apparently you MUST run the hot water before starting the washer. So when I delay the washer to start while I'm not home, then cold water runs to the machine and then breaks down. The Sears repair person told me not to even use the delay feature, which is upsetting as that was one of the most desirable features when we purchased the washer. The heating sensor went out again later within the first year and a half of owning the machine, no known reason as to why. Now it has broken down again, indicating it is the heater sensor yet again.

I am disappointed in this product and Sears. Every time it breaks down, it takes Sears weeks to get it resolved. Each issue we've had with this machine, Sears has come out several times and each time they sent a different repair person. One guy they sent didn't even work on dishwashers, he was the laundry machine guy!

I have never had this many problems with any appliance I have ever owned, and they are mostly Kenmore products. Sadly enough, I am rethinking all future appliance purchases to not include Kenmore. This washer certainly is not worth the high price we paid for it.

Oct 23, 2009
Rating

Great Tool in Washing our Dishes
by: Anonymous

Pros
- The washer is very quiet
- Has great loading capacity

Cons
- Some times the top rack does not get cleaned very well
- Does not say what part of the cycle it is on

This dishwasher has been in my house since we moved in, in 2001. It has been a great tool in washing our dishes. Our family of five can fill it up in about three or four meals, which in my opinion, is remarkable. So we usually run it at the end of the day just to stay caught up on the dishes.

Because it is so quiet we can run it at night and empty it the next day; which is quite convenient for our busy schedules. This dishwasher has not broken down very often. And when it has, the problem has been minor and very cheap to fix. The biggest problem we have had with the dishwasher is hard water build up.

That seems to clog it up pretty nice but it is an easy fix. The repair man brought a “magic care solution” which we used in a complete cycle with the dish washer empty. Operating the dishwasher is also very easy, just push a few buttons and away you go, no confusing knobs or switches.

The only problem with the operations is that during the cycle you have no way to tell what part of the cycle it is on. This is problematic if you have some extra dishes you wish to include in your washing. It only shows a count-down timer.

However, this is a minor down side. The only major problem with
this dishwasher is the silver ware basket. The bottom grates on the basket are completely broken out causing the silverware to drop down and block the main washing mechanism from spinning and washing the dishes. Overall I am very pleased with our Kenmore dishwasher.

Oct 17, 2009
Rating

Great!
by: DanSmedra

I purchased this unit in late 1994...nearly 15 years of dependable service with daily abuse!!

So what Kenmore model should I replace it with?

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