Microwave exterior (top, sides, or control panel) becomes excessively hot to the touch during or after use.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: If the cabinet is too hot to touch comfortably or you smell burning plastic, stop using the microwave and unplug it.
User-level steps:
- 1. Check clearance: Ensure the microwave has the minimum clearances specified in the Breville manual on all sides and top.
- 2. Clean vents: Remove dust and grease from all external vents using a soft brush or vacuum.
- 3. Limit continuous use: For heavy cooking, allow short cool-down periods between long cycles.
- 4. Listen for fan: During operation, listen for the internal cooling fan. If you do not hear airflow, the fan may have failed.
If overheating persists despite proper ventilation, the cooling fan motor or internal airflow path should be inspected and repaired by a technician.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
We may earn a commission from links on this page.