How can i fix my Panasonic NN-554W microwave door catch?

For the models that have the metal tabs around the edge. I just added a small plastic tie to the metal tab to the right of the original. No poking holes in the plastic, drilling etc. (see Jarvo's photo blog's last picture for metal tabs.

Glenn
June 2014

Plastic door latch! Broke on 4-month old Panasonic (after 90-day waranty). Panasonic used to make good products, now they have learned "planned obsolescence". I swapped it out at WalMart, now I will start ordering parts.

StiffedAgain
February 2014

Thank you very much for the explanations. I used your info to fix my door, using a cable tie. I have posted some photos on my photoblog in case that's of use to anyone else.

http://www.photoblog.com/Jarvo/2013/04/09/how-to-fix-a-broken-door-catch-on-a-microwave-oven-panasonic-nn-a554w.html

Jarvo
April 2013

I used a safety pin, in a similar way, to fix our Panasonic NNST 477S. Brilliant! Thanks!
It would have been better if I had found these answers before I de-installed it from above the oven. Oh well; we live and learn.

craig
January 2013

Thank you all so much!!!
The door latch on my VERY OLD Panasonic microwave suddenly made a loud 'click' noise and the door wouldn't close any more, everything else worked except the door and the start button. I started looking for a new brown (70's colour!) microwave, then at repairs and finally spare parts.
Then I came across this page and after reading everything and looking up 'how to' on youtube I had a go at it and it was just as you all said the spring was loose, in my case it was the at top of the spring where the plastic had snapped so it was a bit more complicated to fix. I had to make a little hole in the in the plastic lever where the bit had broken off (I heated the tip of a tiny screw driver over the gas) then I made a hook of the round top of the spring, put the lever in place and then hooked the spring to it. I put the door trim back on and Bob's your uncle it works again!!! I am so proud of myself, a 68 year old woman and I really appreciate all your help and also appreciate my lovely old panasonic microwave :-D

Audrey
November 2012

Perfect! Thanks to all the solutions listed, simple job sorted with a safety pin. I can't believe a tiny bit of broken plastic almost led me to buying a new microwave.

I eased the inner casing of the door around the latch away with an everyday knife, just enough to view the latch. The catches release quite easily once started. Initially, I thought the actual latch was broken but quickly realised the latch was intact with the spring hanging from the end. The problem was that the poorly designed plastic peg that the bottom of the spring attaches to had snapped. This was beyond superglue so I threaded one end of a safety pin to one of the bottom metal rim catches and the other end to the circular part of the spring that was dangling from the latch. This restores the spring to the door so that the latch can engage resulting in a perfectly working microwave!

Sarah
November 2012

Brilliant, one small cable tie, job done, 5 mins, Thanks all. 22.10.12

Phil T
October 2012

Brilliant I've just repaired mine almost the same way. I hooked the bottom of the spring (using thin nosed pliers to the metal catch at the bottom and then just re-hooked the top of the spring to the original place. Works perfectly. Thanks.

Pauline
July 2012

same problem broken door catch, l prised off the inner door black edging,and the spring hook was broken off l used a key ring (metal ring) to attach spring to the inner frame, refitted the door inner edging this pressed and clicks back into place easily enough , microwave now working perfect, thank god for Google THANK YOU it was a 5 min job at no cost.

ray
May 2012

Brilliant help here. Using the advice I very gently prised of the back of the door with a putty knife & a ordinary kitchen knife, top edge first & worked my way around. After this, I found the spring which had been hooked, by one end onto the assembly & on the other end onto a useless bit of flimsy plastic which had simply snapped off. Then took me awhile to figure out what everyone meant by 'paperclip', but it was good ole wifey who saw a smallish hole almost just where the plastic had snapped off. So I got a heavy duty jumbo paperclip & roughly straightened it out & cut off about an inch, hooked one end to the spring & the other through that nearby hole & that was it.
Thanks Guys, you saved me a wad of wonga.

Lee & Min
May 2012

same problem i used small plastic cable tie (tie wrap) to metal frame ,sorted

john
April 2012

Does anyone know if you can get a replacement part... I took the old broken one out and it got thrown away before I found this string of answers on how to fix it

David from the UK
February 2012

Thanks, I found the advice helpful. I bent one of the spring end loops into a hook with needlenose pliers and hooked the spring where the plastic had broken to the metal part of the inner window/door frame. Worked like a charm, saved prob $100 or so and a long trip to the repair shop. Good "how to" videos on YouTube as well.

Brent
February 2012

I have a NN-A554W the same thing happened to me my door catch was broken in three places but managed to superglue it back together. I also was about to purchase a new microwave saved me £140.

Stephen d
January 2012

Same as all the others. 5 mins with a paperclip - I hooked mine round the second lug at the bottom. Scariest bit is prizing the inner covering off with a knife but it really does pop off without breaking any more plasticky bits.
(actually no, scariest bit is dropping the spring at watching it rolling under the fridge)

ben
November 2011

seems like a common problem, i put a small elastic band around the bit the spring was attached to and then undid the loop on the bottom of the spring and attached it through the band. cheapest fix ever and really easy!

Becky J
November 2011

Thanks a lot for the advice. I do agree for such a flimsy plastic support for the spring which broke off. I saved almost £125 fee for comet to fix mine. I used a paper clip to fix the spring.
Good thing I found this site and great advice/
Thanks once again

M G
October 2011

I used the method of small paper clip Attached metal trim supports once i had prized off plastic trim. simple job saving loads of money.
many thanks

Smiffy
July 2011

Brilliant advice - I just released the tension slightly on the spring using a pair of pliers and hooked the spring on to the underside of the inner door frame. Thanks for saving me over £70. Works a treat!

Dave Spencer
July 2011

FANTASTIC! had a bowl of porridge stuck in the microwave for 3 days! starting to pong. took the outercase off and tried to figure out what was going wrong. poked the front button out from inside and found the plastic clip had broken! just need to glue it back. in the meantime I am using a Wooden paint brush handle to push the catch.. through the hole in the front! Brill!!!!!

CAS BLAKE
June 2011

My symptoms were that the door would not stay latched. I checked the latch on the door and it would not spring down into position.

I pryed the inside plastic cover off. I started right at the latch on the door. You don't have to take the plastic cover right off. Just pry it away enough so you can see the latch and the spring attached to it.

In my situation the spring had come off the latch. I could connect the spring to the latch but the plastic anchor for the spring was broken off.

I chose to drill a small hole at the bottom of the door. I took a nail and bent a hook on it and put it through the hole and connected the spring to the hook on the nail.

I did find that I needed to rotate the nail so it caused the latches to rest on the outside of the latch opening. Prior to doing that the latch did not perfectly align with the slots on the microwave.

b kjenner
June 2011

Thanks Guys! 5 minutes on the net and 5 mines with a butter knife plus one clip off a small luggage strap = saving of £305 for a new Microwave! Damn Panasonic's poor quality plastic!

bloggsy74
May 2011

Same problem NN A5554W, not very old. Latch never worked very well anyway, always needed from new a bit of a slam shut. Popped of black plastic inside trim as someone below said (after some fighting trying & failing to get outer/ whole white facia off) Plastic V pin holding spring broken, what idiot designed such a weak and bound to fail, fixing (I know not under much stress but still stupid) I super glued back to hold in place while a generous amount of JB weld (I think and good epoxy would do, seems quite a lot of room to build glue up & around. Quite an expensive panasonic, make me think is it worth buying such branded products in the future.

ThanksToHowToMedIt
April 2011

Thanks Guys that has just saved us £150 for a new one or £40 for replacement door which i wasn't sure how to do. Our trick is an elastic band!

Sarah32
March 2011

Thanks from me too - 5 minutes work and a little bit of jiggering re-hooked the spring to the casing instead of the (broken off) bit of plastic it 'should' be hooked onto.

Big Geoff
March 2011

Thanks everybody!! I just fixed my perfectly good microwave with a paper clip--after following all your great directions!! Saved at least $110 bucks! Power to the People!! LOL

JoAnna
February 2011

What a crap design by Panasonic but the solution worked brilliantly. I used a small brass safety pin attached to part of the door frame.
Cost - NIL
Saving - £70 + for the repair or over £150 for a new microwave
Thenk you HOWTOMENDIT.COM

Jerry
December 2010

Just had the same problem with mine - the paperclip solution works fine - fixed in 10 mins. Thanks everybody.

longcol
September 2010

i am a microwave technician and specialize in this field. i don't think you realise the consequences once you dismantled the door to fix the spring. you are playing with the danger of radiation leakage if you don't assemble the door correctly. after each repair every qualified technician must test the microwave oven for radiation leaks with a microwave leakage detector, otherwise you fall into being sued by the customer. if there is a leakage and it affects your health, then the customer can sue you for health damage. if you repair it correctly and leak test the microwave and in addition you do a safety test, then you are covered under your liability insurance. most customers do not appreciate the health and safety aspect of the repair. it is sad that a door latch or a spring which costs a few pence to manufacture can escalate to a £70 rip off repair. is it really a rip off ? no, it is a question of our world economy which produces cheap imports from china and does not let our economy to prosper. it is globalization, sign of the times

ANDMICRO
August 2010

MY NN-C756 W Panasonic Inverter Dimension 4 Turbo Bake Catalytic Clean All Singing Dancing Top of the Range does everything,, well suposed to do everything but it depends on a CHEAP BIT OF PLASTIC ON THE DOOR CATCH.
This is not fit for purpose but I fixed it with a safety pin as suggested on this page, many thanks. Dont use a rubber band it will rot and break in time. I intend to take this up with Panasonic and also my super duper breadmaker (the 2nd one) that now it does now it doesnt make bread after about 1.5 years.
Panasonic may have good electronic design engineers, but it stops there. Support and service is rubbish, and I have had enough of this what seems to be an accountants take over of the firm, quality control rubbish. Its the county court next.

John
August 2010

Hi, i have the same problem with my panasonic microwave on when the plastic needle that holds the spring in place broke it cracked the door trim too. Im not amused as its only 2yrs old and only used once or twice a week at most.

Chesterlad
March 2010

Thank god for google. I had the same problem on our oven which is less than 5 years old. Followed the above steps and found a small plastic lug had broken that was holding the bottom of the spring. tied it on with a piece of string and it works perfectly. I thought Panasonic was a quality brand, but will never buy it again. This is a cheap, shoddy fitting designed to fail.

Ollies Dad
February 2010

I had the same problem with my NN A5554W. I thought I'd google it before ringing the repair shop. I came across this page.

Once I'd got the black surround off (with a cheese knife) the spring was intact, but the plastic hook had broken off.

I re-attached the spring to some black metal surround with a safety pin from a hotel sewing kit.

Hey presto - it works, and took no longer than 10 minutes.

Thanks!

KJB
February 2010

I had a similar problem on my Panasonic NN-750W. The door was dismantled with a butter knife as suggested above. The hook and spring were OK, but the spring's lower, plastic fixing was broken off. It was easily fixed with a paper-clip! This was straightened, re-bent and fitted between the lower end of the spring and a convenient loop about 1" below the spring on the door surround.

Dave
February 2010

Thanks you guys, was just off to Currys when I read this rubber band fix, it seems to work fine and has saved me £150, have got to say it is a real cheapo design makes you wonder if it is designed not to last deleberately.

Keith
October 2009

Mine is a NN A753W - same problem - thanks for advice. Was able to re-hook the spring to one of the metal trim supports.

Thanks all - can't wait until "the boss" gets home !

Patrick
October 2009

You Guys are fantastic! Just saved myself a £100 - Wife was insisting we needed a new replacement! Fixed (and cleaned!!) in 10 mins flat - just follow the above instructions!

Bip
August 2009

Great help folks!
Same problem on our Panasonic NN-A554W.
I got to the catches by removing the Black Plastic Trim from inside the door (pry off with a butter knife). I opened-out the loop at the end of the spring and hooked it onto the lowest metal clip. Replaced the trim and it all works well.

Steve
May 2009

same problem here!! (broken plastic tab where spring holds onto door) fixed by me as suggested above with a rubber band! Thanks heaps... now back to nuking those baby bottles...

mum of 4
November 2008

Great help guys. I had exactly the same problem

Jimil
September 2008

Thank you, Paul, for the rubberband tip! I fixed the door spring in five minutes, tops! I pried the back of the door off with a butter knife, and the spring and broken tab fell out instantly. I simply attached the spring to the rubberband and the little tab on the door catches, and pulled the rubberband tightly along the interior bottom of the door until the spring was as long as it would be had the broken tab been there. Then I just snapped the rubberband onto the nearest metal thing that hold the back of the door on. Presto, a working microwave!!!! Amazing how much coffee one needs to nuke!!!

HappyMomInWashington
August 2008

I found the previous answers very helpful, but here's my variation...

I found where the tab had broken off I was left with a small plastic box. I cut the end off a rawl plug and put it in the box, using the cut off tip to wedge it in place, I then screwed a small screw into the rawl plug, and attached the spring to the screw.

Pete Williams
August 2007

Fantastic! Have now sorted this problem thanks to the replies. Instead of using a screw i used an elastic band. Could not see where to put the screw without damage.

Morale of the storey is that i did not give £70 to some cowboy for something i did in 5 mins.

Thanks all

Paul
June 2007

I had the same problem with my Panasonic Genius microwave. I used a thin bladed screwdriver and pried the back cover off the door (it snaps on and off). Once I had it open, I found the plastic tab the spring was hooked onto had broken. The spring is used to hold the door "tab hooks" down. Without the spring the door will not lock and the microwave will not work. I drilled a small hole (into the plastic) very carefully right above where the tab had broken off and screwed a very small self tapping screw in. I then backed the screw out and cut the screw shorter and screwed it back in. I used this as the new anchor for the spring. Works like a charm and I did it all in 10 minutes. Be very careful when drilling as you do not want to drill through the the door.

Ross
June 2007

70 pounds!! Tell them to get lost. You could do it yourself in 5 minutes. You just need a thin bladed screw driver to gentley ease the door choke away. You'll probably find the spring has come off and needs re-hooking, or the plastic catch has snapped, in which case you'll need the outer door replacing.

70 quid!! My god there's some cowboys out there!!!!

I hope this is of some help?

Jon
June 2007