GE - 1.6 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave - White

First, I'm easy to please, and don't use the microwave for anything more complicated than heating up frozen food or boiling water. I've not tested out any of the more advanced features, and can't comment on them. I read a bunch of online reviews in making a product selection, and overall most people seemed pleased with this unit. The complaints seemed to be about minor stuff, like the button labels being hard to see in low light or the dark, which is true, but it doesn't bother me (I turn on the overhead light so I can see the buttons). I installed the unit myself, am not a pro, just a regular old DIYer. Installation was straightforward, the instructions were clear, and all the parts I needed were present. I ended up using some different lag bolts because the ones included with the install kit are not very beefy: they take a philips head, or you can use a 3/8 or 1/2 ratchet (can't remember which), and the philips receptacle on the screw stripped out quickly when applying a reasonable amount of torque. I tossed them and used the stainless lag bolts with a square head inset from the last install. The instructions seemed a little bit unclear to me about how the fan blower motor housing needs to be manipulated. The pictures are good, but I believe some of the words are in error. But if you understand what the basic premise is of what you're doing, it will work out fine. The instructions provide a drilling template for the overhead screws, and everything matched up well. The mounting plate seemed a little bit flimsy, but seems to work fine. It fit perfectly into the spot where the previous microwave went, and the microwave unit itself also fit perfectly. As far as operation goes, I found the unit to be quieter than its predecessor, and can't say if this unit is more or less quiet than other current units. It does what it is supposed to do, heat stuff up. I like the way the rotating plate sits on the spindle. It is simple and works well. I also like the generous amount of light the unit provides from the bottom of the unit to the top of the stove. The door feels solid, and the open/close internal latching mechanism also has a solid feel to it. It has been in operation now for about a month, with no hiccups or trouble. If things change, I'll update this review accordingly.

I took measurements of my old microwave and verified that this one had the same dimensions. However, upon installation, this microwave projects out from the wall over my stove almost an additional inch. This is because this microwave's mounting hardware attaches to the back splash wall. My old microwave was attached to the cupboard above it, so there was nothing between the back of that microwave and the back splash wall. At first, I was really upset about this extra projection. I was also worried that the indoor venting (I don't have a vent pipe to the outside) would blow upwards into the cupboard above it since the exhaust vent points upward (my old microwave's vent blew straight out into the room which was awful for us tall people because it would blow directly into our eyes). However, this extra projection into the room actually ensured that the exhaust vents completely cleared the cupboard doors and therefore I don't have to worry about warping the wood. The microwave feels solid. Some microwave doors feel plastic and flimsy, but this one feels very solid. The handle feels sturdy (you simply jerk on the handle to pull the door open, there is not a button to press to pop open the door). The keypad doesn't seem to collect any finger prints. The turntable is surprisingly large and moves quietly during operation. I like that this microwave has a feature to stop the turntable from rotating. This feature is really helpful when I've put in a 13"x9" casserole dish of leftovers to reheat.

I threw out a 30-year old microwave that worked great, just because I wanted stainless steel vs white appliances... Before choosing one, I checked Consumer Reports, and bought the (this) best rated microwave by GE, which was also on sale at Best Buy. It worked for 1-year, and then it started tripping the breaker. When I turned the breaker back on I could use the light, exhaust fan, and clock, but not the microwave. I had an Electrician change the breaker, but it still kept tripping it. He tried plugging it into a different outlet/breaker, and it tripped that one too...so it was clear that the microwave was the problem. While conducting these tests, the microwave then turned off completely, died. I called Best Buy, but they said the 1-year manufacturer warranty has expired, so they can't help. Seems like it was made to only last 1-year... They offered a Technician to come out for $99 p/visit. REALLY?!? This is the WORST microwave oven I've ever had. GE should be ashamed. My husband reminds me daily how I threw out a good old appliance to purchase a crappy new one. I will never hear the end of it...and now I have no microwave. I'm so upset!!!

I don't "trust" consumer reports for everything. I remember one time they down rated a great motorcycle (I liked and bought) because they tested it and found the flip up gas cap popped up after a crash. What about the positive weighting of great handling, rocket ship acceleration, great hardware etc. The GE 3160 microwave tested well. However, I have found these inexpensive microwaves have small power supplies that tend to burn out more easily. Look at the more expensive computers and you will see nice heavy duty power supplies compared to the budget computers. The average life of microwaves is around 9 years and I will be happy if I get that lifespan from this inexpensive unit. The big issue with this microwave is the flimsy door and chassis. The door is not rigid and the closure is locked via 2 fragile plastic clips. Others have complained about this and once one of the clips cracks it is all over. SOLUTION: Do not slam the door. When you close the door bring so so gently. In one motion close the door up to the 2 holes that lock the 2 door door clips without closing the door all the way. Be sure the 2 male clips are aligned into the openings, then GENTLY push the door home so the clips lock in place. Lotsa luck and hope this helps you.

I replaced a ten year old Spacemaker XL1800 (HDM1853WJ) with this and overall I’m very pleased. I wanted to share my thoughts. Installation: First, make sure you turn the vent motor and install the charcoal filter (included) if it’s going to recirculate. This is laid out very clearly in the instructions and is simple to do. One of the reasons I bought another GE was because I was hoping to be able to use the existing wall bracket and maybe the holes required in the cabinet above the microwave would also line up. Got lucky with the former, not the latter. It sat on the wall bracket OK, and although the holes pattern was close, I had to drill new holes. Use: As another reviewer pointed out, it’s difficult to see if your food is boiling over. Cooking oatmeal poses a challenge! It’s not impossible to see, but harder than it was with my previous microwave. I also don’t like that it “forgets” you put food in it. What I mean is that if you put food in it, walk away for a few minutes, then come back and turn it on it tells you to put food in the microwave. All you have to do is open and close the door, but still a pain and different from the previous GE I owned. On the positive side, it does a fine job doing what it’s supposed to do. Plenty of power settings and cooking options. I also like that it has two levels (high and low) for both the surface light and the vent fan.

I built my house in 1999 and this unit makes the third I have installed over that time period. The Expected Useful Life (EUL) of this item is typically considered 7 years although the original GE Profile Space-Maker lasted 11 and the previous GE Profile Space-Maker only went a bit over 6 years thus the EUL is a very subjective estimate. This new unit was on sale and it cost me $179.99, which is a good price. It has more than sufficient settings and features and it seems to be relatively sturdy although the general build quality does not seam as robust as the two previous units. The door has a hollow plastic feel to it when if shuts. However, so far so good! It installed fairly easily into the mounting points the previous unit had without much correction although the screws did not match up completely and some new drilling had to occur. It is the SS that is smudge resistant and that is a nice feature for this appliance or any of your other stainless steel appliances. I prefer black which was what the original motif was but I was overruled by the powers that be! If you can vent the exhaust to the exterior I strongly recommend that as the recirculating methodology does not clear sufficiently on this unit or any unit, in my opinion and the opinion of ASHRAE. If you do vent inside you should change or clean you filters every six months. Beyond that for a buck 79 it is the bomb. Good luck

I researched this microwave online and then went to the store to purchase only to find out they don't keep it in stock. Had to order from store and ship to home. It arrived in only a few days but after opening, I found out it was dented across the top. The box was fine so I was concerned that it was dropped/dented before being packed. I called Best Buy and after discussing with the associate I was told if I kept the microwave Best Buy would submit a request to GE to contact me for either a monetary discount for the dent or possibly an extended warranty as I was nervous there might be damage internally beyond the denting I could see externally. Since the microwave mounts to the cabinets, the denting would be hidden and I didn't really want to wait for another microwave to ship so I took this option. Assuming GE would call and offer some sort of compensation since I was assured they would. They never did... So far the microwave seems to be working fine but beware if the same happens to you. It might be better to send back the damaged microwave since they don't follow through with any compensation. I ended up paying full price for damaged goods.

This microwave has met my expectations so far after about a month of use. Installation was about moderate difficulty - for my application, I had to change the fan orientation, which was not terribly difficult. Installing the bracket to hang the microwave was easy, but the template for where to cut holes in the cabinet above was downright frustrating. I would recommend simply measuring reference distances and marking where to cut and drill. I wasted about 45 minutes here that could have been saved. During my installation, I had a bolt that was not threaded correctly and would not seat into the microwave from the cabinet above. A quick call to GE had a kind service representative sending a replacement my way. The part arrived within a week. Overall, the install took about 3 hours. The microwave itself works great now that it is installed. Noise during use is relatively low, the surface light is bright, and the cooking options are varied enough to be useful. Power is adequate, so food comes out hot without enormous cook times. My one real complaint is the exhaust fan. It just does not pull enough air from above the range. I also feel that vent intakes are too far to the back of the range to be at all effective for a pan that is steaming on a front burner. This seems to be a common issue for most newer microwaves, as I have seen the same thing at friends' houses as well. All in all, I am pleased with this microwave for the sale price that I paid.