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“Purchased the Weber s320 Gas BBQ in August of 2008 at...”

written by on 02/02/2010

Purchased the Weber s320 Gas BBQ in August of 2008 at Home Depot. In late September of 2009, started up the BBQ, with three foil wrapped potatoes on it. Left it for 10 minutes to heat up, came back to see the whole BBQ engulfed in flames. The bottom portion of the firebox melted, causing the gas tubing to drop down into the storage cart, completely destroying it!



We purchased this BBQ based on the high rating CR gave it, It's a nice looking BBQ but that's about all it has going for it. As soon as we bought it, we brought it home and started to assemble it. My father, a retired welder noted how low grade the stainless steel is and how very thin the firebox casting was, especially compared to our 15yr old Broil King.



Since the fire, I've discovered that the firebox is cast in China (like many other BBQ brands are), who buys scrap metal from all over the world, and doesn't care about what goes into it. Weber is only assembled in the USA.



Spoke to someone at D.O.T. furniture, who also noted this defect in many of the cast furniture they carry, also made in China. Some items from the same set are very light, while others are very heavy.

Onward Manufacturing Company Ltd. is the distributor of Weber products in Canada and has done nothing to rectify this issue. After I told them that they need to send someone out to look at this BBQ, that replacing parts is not acceptable, they finally sent out 'BBQ' Naz Cavallaro, to our home, who they claim to be a Grilling Expert/Spokesperson for Weber-Stephen Products Co. He's a cook, not an engineer. After looking at the BBQ, Naz said "I will be recommending that the BBQ be replaced", and that he would send us some steaks. Since Naz's visit I was told by Karen Cross (Manager of Customer Services) at Onward, that they don't replace BBQ's, just parts. Karen also said that Onward would like to get the burned out unit so their engineers could look at it. I told Karen they could take the burned out unit if it's replaced with a new one, but she refused to do this. Karen also said that since our BBQ is out of warranty they are not going to do anything but offered to work out a deal with a local retailer to sell us another BBQ at a reduced price. Haven't talked to Onward since and we haven't received the steaks BBQ Naz offered us either!



In the mean time I've contacted the CSA (Canadian Standards Association), who have started an investigation.