36" Retractable Downdraft Ventilation System

Manufacturer reviews · owners of this model, published on the manufacturer’s site

• First one arrived on time but was obviously previously used. See pics. Contacted KitchenAid and the sent replacement. Opened replacement and it was damaged- see pic. Now waiting on another replacement- contractor has been held up as well as electrician - so extra cost to me on both. As for actual operation- no idea yet!

  NorthyAdams06/29/2023 05:48 PM

• I purchased the downdraft vent KSD4630YSS on 10/17/2022 with 5-year warranty with free delivery for $1534.36. On November 9, 2022 the downdraft was delivered smashed probably in transportation and I had to call to return it. Despite I paid $20 for removal of my old downdraft, it was not removed and I had to personally discard it to recycler. On November 19, 2022 a second downdraft was delivered. I hired a professional installer and paid him $250 for installation (Kitchenaid does not provide downdrafts installation). Immediately after the installation, the installer turned it on and we discovered that the downdraft was defective, so we had to uninstall it and return it. On December 14 the third downdraft was delivered. This downdraft looked like it was remanufactured from used parts. Again, this downdraft was also defective and had to be returned. On December 28 I was supposed to get another downdraft, however the delivery was postponed to Jan 4 and then postponed again to Jan 20,2023. The fourth downdraft was delivered on Jan 20, 2023. This downdraft again looked that it was manufactured from used parts (please see attached pictures) which works going up and down, but there is problem with one of the smoke filters which is loose in the fitting and protrudes outside. So, when the downdraft goes down the protruding filter gets hit. Even though it looks that this last downdraft was also manufactured with used parts, I am so desperate dealing with this issue for 3 months that decided to keep it. I will have to call the customer service to send me another smog filter. In conclusion: 1. I lost 3 moths of warranty because I purchased the downdraft on 10/17/2022 and it was delivered on 1/20/2023. 2. I paid for a brand-new downdraft and I got a downdraft which appears to be built with used parts. 3. I lost $250 dollars for installation. 4. I lost $20 dollars that I paid for removal of my old downdraft which was never removed 5. I lost 6 days to stay home to wait for the defective downdrafts removed on some dates and for the replacement downdrafts delivered on others dates. 6. When I reported the problems to the customer service, I was reassured that I will be reimbursed $120 (apparently that is all Kitchenaid can do) which never happened, even though I lost $270. 7. I still have to waste another hour or more to stay on hold waiting to be connected to the customer service to get a replacement for the smoke filter.

  JW202301/31/2023 07:55 AM

• Bought this to replace 20 year old system. It is much poorer quality than the previous exact same model from 20 years ago. The mounting brackets are worthless. The fasteners on the feet are placed on the back of unit - against the cabinet wall. The button to activate is cheap chintsy plastic. The grounding wire instead of being bolted is cheaply soldered. Sad. I'll be surprised if it lasts a year.

  This is a piece of junk05/22/2025 02:25 AM

• I was so disappointed after having the vent installed. It would go up and down but the fan would not turn on. Installer said that it wasn’t the installation so I needed to call Kitchenaid. Repair appointment setup. After waiting 4 hrs - no show. Called Kitchenaid again. Repair company confirmed and this time kept me updated on the appointment time. Turns out that the switch for the vent was not connected! Really? You would think that the assembled unit would be tested before being packaged up and sent to a customer. I am cautiously optimistic now that the vent works. Maybe the rating will improve but for the amount that we spent on the unit, I expect quality assembly.

  KitchenReno03/02/2018 12:45 AM

• My wife really wanted this so we reviewed and as the overview states that it "has the power to provide effective venting for most cooktops or ranges" And "The system is reversible to help fit it in the cabinet space under the vent" Well, the blower fan is indeed removable and may be able to be installed on the other side, or in a different room, (instructions are fuzzy on "exterior blower" instillation) there is still a large plastic covered box that sticks out almost 5" to prevent the "front" of the unit from being close enough to the range to actually pull out smoke and odors. It seems this is *only* for a cook top, be warned. This is not for a range, or a stove. It is *only* for a cook top.

  C&D White03/03/2022 08:03 PM

• The product never worked since, installation. After two visits the authorized repair company came back to me and said the critical part required to fix the problem is back ordered, without an ETA. Kitchen Aid offered only to expedite the part request. I have since provided this information, and can do nothing but wait until it is fixed. KitchenAid says that I am eligible only repair and not replacement, after initial 30 days after purchase. The unit was installed 1 month after the purchase to synchronize with the counter installation. It failed on the day of the installation, and it has been 2 months since then. For something which has not worked from day 1, and the customer is waiting for 2+ months, I am not sure this is an acceptable response. This is not an acceptable level of customer service. I had to wait for 3 times for more than 30 minutes to reach an agent.

  Ravi11/15/2016 06:00 AM

• I bought this downdraft system to avoid installing an overhead hood in my remodeled kitchen. I wanted to maintain the clear sight line from the family room to the kitchen. It is supposed to work with the KitchenAid 30" 4 burner commercial style gas range top that I also installed. The retractable feature works well but the venting is terrible. The fan makes a lot of noise giving the impression that it's sucking large amounts of air. Unfortunately, it won't even pull the steam coming from a pot of boiling water! What a disappointment. KitchenAid, Do you have any suggestions??

  Frustrated consumer06/25/2016 05:00 AM

• What I especially like about this new fan is its height. My old fan, which was a few inches shorter, did not work nearly as well with stockpots as the new fan. It is also quieter and works better. Overall, it is a huge improvement!

  North Oaks Buyer12/07/2021 08:47 PM

• I purchased this downdraft exhaust fan to work with my new induction cooktop. It is working very well and I am really pleased with the workmanship.

  Doctor_Steve09/06/2024 05:40 PM

• The vent is not made as well as one would expect from KitchenAid. The plastic button to retract and raise the vent is cheap and gets stuck. Very flimsy. Causing the vent to go up and down until you straighten out the button.

  Sally R09/03/2023 08:39 PM

• Not sure if it's the design, or the poor manufacturing, or the installation, but we are now on our 2nd blower. The seller is definitely at fault for selling us the first one as new, when it clearly was used and damaged. The blower squeals and squeaks going up and down and we hope it will settle down over time. We had no choice but to use this type of design, as that is what we had previously, except we had Thermador. In retrospect, we should have stayed with Thermador, but it is twice as expensive. The blower is powerful and does a good job. Fortunately, Pacific Sales replaced the first one at no cost, but this whole thing has taken at least a month.

  LCS06/06/2016 05:00 AM

• Same scenario as Gina, remodel, purchased the downdraft, worked a couple months then the level of venting reduced to the point that it doesn't move steam from boiling water and it also only rises a third of the way out of the counter so we have to pull it the rest of the way. We had it checked out by a service rep under warranty (hired by KitchenAid). KA says it works fine but when on high power, it only measures 75 cc air flow on the meter (KA reported that measure of units falls within the acceptable range and deems the DD functional). KA will not replace the unit nor the motor. KA doesn't seemed bothered that it doesn't rise either. Very disappointed in KA. The distributor we bought it from is appalled by KA service.

  MTP04/21/2016 05:00 AM

• Great product. Glad we purchased it. No regrets. Happy campers.

  Ruth07/22/2016 05:00 AM

• I have had this product for less than a year and already it has been replaced completely under the warranty. The second one still 'sticks' when in elevation mode and doesn't come up all the way - this will probably have to be replaced too. It's noisy when the extractor fans are turned on and it doesn't remove cooking odors, steam, fumes etc. which is the whole point of having it - our venting system is excellent - there are no blockages - so why doesn't the downdraft suck away fumes etc? I would NOT recommend this product to anyone - along with my new Kitchenaid 48" built-in, side-by-side refrigerator - the ice maker has been replaced once already and now the new one has ceased to work - we're waiting for a new 'shoot' - meanwhile - no ice also less than a year old!

  LIZZIE0112/23/2013 06:00 AM

• Unfortunately, it came damaged, but not until installing did we realize the stainless cover for the top was damaged and does not sit flat in place. Half of it is perfect and the other half sits 1/2" higher, which is very noticeable. The clip it's suppose to sit in place with was damaged and does not sit flush like the other two. In addition, KitchenAid does not install these and it was impossible to find professionals to install and now it's in and we have a cover that does not sit flat on the counter all the way across the downdraft. I connected KitchenAid last week and have yet to hear back.

  Nicole1208/17/2022 06:32 PM

• We have our stove in an island so we had to get a downdraft. This one is pretty and it works great, but I thinks it goes way too high when you turn it on, what makes it look a little weird, because usually I have people seating on the other side of the island, and when I cook this thing goes really high so I can hardly see my guests on the other side. I works great and that´s what matters, but I wish it wasn´t that high. Also, I though the sound level was going to be better since it is a new appliance with better technology, I guessed, but the noise is just as bad as the old one we had.

  Malgem06/18/2016 05:00 AM

• We bought this a month ago and did the install ourselves. This was to replace a Jenn Air unit that was a stove top with downdraft unit together. Directions were good and videos assisted with ease of install. I did have to move the outward air inside the cabinet, but that is not unit related. We have used the unit several times and really like the height and cfm. This sucks in steam from our 9” stock pot. This is so much better than the prior unit that was only burner high. I cannot give this or any other downdraft unit a full 5 stars because they cannot do what an overhead system can. Compared to all the other units, this is definitely worth the price!

  Cofish9908/23/2018 05:58 AM

• I bought this retractable downdraft ventilation system machine; however, it is not working. The machine dose not response from the push bottom. I called the technical support and the customer service, try to put my phone on hold for several times, ignore and hand up my phone. Try several times finally there is lady to arrange a company ASI appliance to come for checking up, three weeks later. At the end it is controller not working. They need get the part from Kitch aid to repair, so far there is no part and has not gotten fixed. after two months. It is a new machine, and can not working. do not buy this machine any more.

  shrimp0109/17/2024 06:07 PM

• In 2014 I choose a kitchen aid Pop up bc it was the cheaper choice to the Miele. since then I think there are more options. After six months the pop up failed and was dropping down when I tried to clean it. It was broken and after a series of reconditioning I put my foot down and demanded a new replacement. I had to fight for this for months and finally got a new one. it is fine now. The kitchen aid customer service has gotten so bad in the last few years that I decided to never buy one again

  Tkc09/16/2015 05:00 AM

• I bought this from a SEARS OUTLET in Miami for a good price. When trying to install it, we found out there were problems, resulting in a few service calls to the a technician who came to work on it and got it working. The problem we now have is that it won't stay in the 'up' position. It rises while pressing the button and then when it gets to the top it just drops back down again. From doing some research, this model seems to have issues with the 'arm', gears, and limit switches. I do agree with several others that have written reviews that the design is excellent, the look is clean and neat, it has a higher rise than most, and with all stainless filters, you can put them in the dishwasher. Another problem is that when you remove the filters, there is no way to 'lock' the vent in the 'up' position. So, when it drops, due to pulling out the filters, there is no way to get the vent up again, as the switch won't operate without filters in place.

  avocado man05/06/2018 05:44 AM

• At this point we are waiting for the 3 visit from our installer because this vent is sucking air from the backside. On the last visit the installer said it was defective and would need to be replaced. Also the top stainless piece that rests on the counter top area is absolutely hideous! While I am very happy with all of the other Kitchen Aid appliances we purchased at the same time as this downdraft, oven-micro combo and dishwasher, this was a bad choice. We cannot have a exhaust vent above our cook top and a downdraft is the only solution. I wish I had chosen another brand.

  Sunnyv01/29/2015 06:00 AM

• I bought this 6 months ago. After using 10 times the motor wouldn’t turn off. Kitchenaid uses a very rude and incompetent company for warranty repairs ADVANCED APPLIANCE . They came out 8 days after I called and said I needed a new switch. Took 3 weeks for it to come in , they came to replace it and said that didn’t fix it I needed a new motor. That took 4 weeks to come in. They came to refurbish my new vent and that didn’t correct the problem that the motor they sent was defective and had to order a 2nd new motor. I said ok please at least put the old one in so I could at least manually use the vent. They responded “we can’t because we cut out all the wires “. I was assured by my salesman that the kitchenaid rep would contact me. 6 weeks later I’m still waiting. So I have a beautiful new kitchen with a non functioning vent. DO NOT BUY

  NancyBB09/26/2020 06:04 AM

• I bought this 2 years ago - it sat for 6 months before being installed (ie. wasn't used). A year after it was installed it broke down. The vent would rise but wouldn't stay up and would drop down again so you couldn't use it. As it was technically 18 months old it was outside of the warranty period. I had a Kitchenaid repair person fix it and replaced the armature motor, cover switch and another part (# W10421277). It worked again. I used the vent occasionally for another 4-5 months and now I'm having problems again. When I press the button the unit won't rise unless I continue to depress the button. It rises about 1/3 of the way and stalls. If I then continue to re-press the button many many times it will gradually inch it's way up. I have to stop pressing the button before it reaches the top (as it will then go down) but I have to press it for long enough so that it gets to the full extension so that the fan will then work. To get the fan to go back down I then have to press and gently hold the button down as if I stop so does the vent from going down. When the unit works it works well but it's been a pain in the neck. Not to mention the back as well since each time someone comes to repair it I have to disconnect it from the underfloor vent and lift out a very heavy and very awkward and bulky unit, not to mention refitting it again which is very challenging. The unit is expensive, the parts are expensive, the labour to repair it is expensive and its really not worth it. If it worked as it should then it would be great but it just doesn't.

  Mark00712/29/2017 11:42 PM

• So I watch a lot of home improvement shows, and I keep seeing episodes of Property Brothers where they go into the “before” house and these pop-up downdraft systems are talked about as being real pains in the butt and something that will be replaced. Then they do the remodel and they move the stove to a more traditional location with a hood. During the build phase of our custom home I changed the location of the cooktop probably 5 times. Under the window, on the island, then back to the window...finally our builder said “make a final decision - we need the gas and water lines installed.” So it remained in the island. We’re in an area that does not require a range hood, which is good because there was no way I was going to have a range hood in the middle of my island! Talk about disrupting my beautiful open concept design. The appliance store recommended the downdraft as an option, again not required, and after doing some research my husband decided he wanted it. I honestly didn’t care on way or the other. It’s fine. It does what it’s supposed to do. But it’s loud. The KitchenAid dishwasher makes not a sound but this thing drowns out the TV and any conversation. I use it if I’ve got more than just one pot on the stove but I use it and put it back down pretty quick.

  Gwenifer08/10/2019 08:33 AM