Broken Latch – Quick and Easy Fix – Microwave (Kenmore and Samsung)

One day I heard a pop, and after that the microwave door would no longer latch closed! You could push the door closed, but it would just bounce open again. The door would not stay closed, so the light was on constantly.

I took it apart and determined that a small plastic hook in the latch mechanism had broken. This quick post details the simple fix.

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Here is the door sitting open because it would not latch…

01-microwave-door-wont-latch-closed

Kenmore/Samsung Microwave Broken Door Latch

Okay, so the microwave in question is a Kenmore Model No. 401.85042010. After a few internet searches, this appears to be a very common problem, also plaguing several different brand names (Including Kenmore, Samsung, and Maytag) with slight variations.

02-microwave-kenmore-401-85042010-door-latch

Other model numbers for which the fix for this latch mechanism applies (a more complete list is at the end of this post):

Kenmore: 40180082010, 40180082700, 40180083700, 40180084700, 40180086700, 40180089700, 40180092010, 40180092700, 40180093010, 40180093700, 40180094700, 40180099010, 40180099700, 40185042010, 40185042210, 40185042310, 40185043010, 40185043210, 40185043310, 40185044010, 40185044110, 40185044210, 40185046010 etc;

Samsung: 592856000, 592856030, 592856040, 592856060, 592856090, 592856100, 592856130, 592856140, 592856190, 80082, 80083, 80084, 80086, 80089, 80092, 80093, 80094, 80099, BMHC815SS, BMHC815SSXAC, BMHC815WW, ME16H702SEB, ME16H702SES, ME16H702SEW

Tools and Supplies:

Procedure to Fix a Broken Microwave Door Latch

To get at the latch mechanism, use a thin flat tool such as a flat-bladed screwdriver or a paint scraper and pry out the trim on the inner part of the microwave door.

03-remove-trim-microwave-latch

There are these plastic clips that hold the trim in place. I just pried until they popped loose, and none of them snapped, but if you are worried about them snapping, you could reach in with a small tool and press the tab out of its hole, after you have pried out the first 1 or 2 clips. There appears to be about 2 clips on each edge.

11-reassemble-trim-microwave

It is only necessary to remove the trim on the side with the hook latches. Once the trim is out of the way, you can see the latch mechanism. lift it straight up to unseat it from its holes, then pull it out.

04-remove-latch-mechanism-pull-up-kenmore-microwave

In my case, the little plastic hook that holds one end of the spring, had snapped off. That must have been the ‘pop’ sound I heard when it failed!

05-broken-latch-kenmore-microwave

I chose to try repairing my existing latch. Another option is to just purchase a new one off of Amazon since they are pretty cheap. Here is the link if you want to check the current price:

DE64-00760A Microwave Door Latch Replacement

For the repair I did, I used a drill with a small drill bit.

06-drill-hole-latch-kenmore-microwave

I used a 1/16″ drill bit and it worked fine.

07-1-16th-inch-drill-bit

At the place where the hook broke off, I drilled a hole through the piece of plastic that remained, as shown.

08-drill-new-hole-latch-kenmore-microwave-broken

Then, take the spring, and hook it through the hole you just drilled. If your spring broke, here is the link for a new one (it is labeled as Samsung, but applies to Kenmore as well):

Samsung DE61-00048A Key Spring

09-kenmore-microwave-spring

And then hook the other end of the spring through the corresponding hole in the microwave door.

10-kenmore-microwave-spring-locaation

Then pull up on the latch mechanism, and feed it into the holes at the top and the bottom of the channel in the microwave door that it rides in.

04-remove-latch-mechanism-pull-up-kenmore-microwave

That’s pretty much it! Press the trim piece back into place, and you’re all set.

Thanks for reading PracticalMechanic.com!

Tools and Supplies:

Other Model Numbers:

Kenmore:Samsung:Samsung:Samsung:
40180082010592856000SMV9165BC/XAASMH7175BC/XAA
40180082700592856030SMV9165SC/XAASMH7175BE/XAA
40180083700592856040SMH7174BC/XAASMH7175CC/XAA
40180084700592856060SMH7174BE/XAASMH7178STD/XAA
40180086700592856090SMH7174CC/XAASMH7175WC/XAA
40180089700592856100SMH7174WC/XAASMH7175WE/XAA
40180092010592856130SMH7174WE/XAASMH7178STE/XAA
40180092700592856140SMH7177STE/XAASMH4150BD/XAA
40180093010592856190SMH4150WD/XAASMH1713S/XAA-01
4018009370080082SMH7175BC/XAAME18H704SFS/AA-00
4018009470080083SMH7175BE/XAAME20H705MSB/AA-00
4018009901080084SMH7175CC/XAAME20H705MSS/AA-00
4018009970080086SMV9165BC/XAABMHC815SS
4018504201080089SMV9165SC/XAABMHC815SSXAC
4018504221080092SMH7174BC/XAABMHC815WW
4018504231080093SMH7174BE/XAAME16H702SEB
4018504301080094SMH7174CC/XAAME16H702SES
4018504321080099SMH7174WC/XAAME16H702SEW
40185043310SMH7174WE/XAA
40185044010SMH7177STE/XAA
40185044110SMH4150WD/XAA
40185044210
40185046010

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2 Comments

  1. Having difficulty taking the existing door key out
    I have done the step where I have removed the plastic trim
    But I want to rake the existing jet do I can replace it

  2. Hi my microwave door for Samsung
    Model is not listed here
    Won’t close properly
    I bought a door key
    But I am having a hard time taking the existing door key out of the microwave
    Any advise

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