I have a mid-line Panasonic inverter microwave my wife decided we needed to replace our 30 year old unit (which had given virtually NO problems after the "stirrer" was replaced under warranty at just under a year). Like many others (according to reports on the internet) it started having problems with the door not closing properly - resulting in the microwave being more difficult to get started.
I opened it up just after the warranty expired and installed an "L" angle braklet to re-enforce the lowere latch/switch mount which got us another year or so of functionality - but it was getting bad again so I took it apart again today to find the upper latch/switch mount was now bent. I ended up putting a (tension) brace from the mounting screw of the latch to a hole in the lip of the inner enclosure made of a chunk of stainless steel MIG wire to keep the bracket from flexing. Mabee a few more years before something else goes?
These things are built worse than a travel trailer - and that's saying something!!!!!
For a few pennies more they could design them so the brackets didn't bend - or put a bracket on either side of the switch/latch. I'll bet more than 90% of them get pitched when that bracket bends - and theyALL bend sooner or later. The rest of the design seems pretty good
- so most likely the majority that get thrown out are for that reason.
Cheap "consumer grade" crap!!!! I'm sure the old one would still be soldiering on without a problem.