My Amana ADB3500 Dishwasher's Latch Is Stuck

Wear-in Period

• A brand new Amana dishwasher will need to run several dishwashing cycles before its gaskets will seal correctly. Until this happens, the latch could be difficult to open and seem to stick when you use it. Sometimes if you apply pressure in the center of the latch while you try to close the door, the latch will release. The gasket should eventually conform to the door the more you use your dishwasher, and the latch will become easier to use.

Installation

• Check to ensure that your Amana dishwasher’s door closes properly and doesn’t hit any screws on the cabinet around the appliance’s edges. If the dishwasher was installed wrongly, the door could get caught on a screw either on the sides or top of the dishwasher, preventing the latch from closing or opening correctly. Consequently, when you try to lift the latch, it will stick. Contact Amana to have a technician come out and address the faulty installation problem.

Loading Issue

• Confirm that the dishwasher is loaded properly and that no dish or pot is popping out from the top or sides of the rack. If an item isn’t loaded properly it could prevent the door from closing correctly, causing the latch to stick when you attempt to use it. Carefully try to jiggle the latch and open the door. If you’re unsuccessful, contact Amana to schedule a service appointment. A repair person will be able to open the dishwasher so the door or latch doesn’t break and perhaps salvage the item that’s jamming the door.

Broken Latch

• The latch on an Amana dishwasher has a spring that compresses to release the lock so you can open the dishwasher’s door. Over time with normal use of your dishwasher, the spring could become brittle and break, causing the latch to stick when you try to open it. Contact Amana to have a repair technician inspect the latch and either repair or replace it, depending on what’s needed.