Anyone know why is my new blender making a weird grinding noise right out of the box?

Hey, that sounds frustrating especially when you're excited about those morning smoothies and trying to keep things quick in your busy routine. I've had a similar issue with a blender before and it turned out to be something simple like a loose part inside. First, try unplugging it and giving the base a gentle shake to see if anything rattles around that shouldn't be there, maybe a stray piece from packaging got stuck. If that doesn't reveal anything, disassemble it completely following the manual and reassemble it carefully, making sure all the gears and seals are aligned properly without forcing anything. Sometimes with new appliances, the parts just need to settle in after shipping. If the noise continues, it might be a manufacturing defect, so reaching out to the seller for a replacement could be your best bet, but definitely try running it empty for a minute or two on low to see if the sound smooths out as it breaks in. Hang in there, hopefully it's an easy fix and you'll be blending away soon.

Honestly. Oh man, that grinding noise is the worst when you're all set for those smoothies. I remember my blender doing something similar fresh out of the box, turned out there was a tiny bit of plastic from the packaging stuck in the gears. Unplug it and take a close look inside the base if you can, maybe use a flashlight to spot anything out of place. Clean it out gently with a soft brush or cloth. If that doesn't help, running it with just water might loosen things up. Fingers crossed it's that simple for you.

As a fellow work-from-homer, I get how crucial that morning routine is. Don't stress too much yet.

Had the exact same problem last month and it drove me up the wall and especially since I use mine every day for quick breakfasts like you. First things first, make sure the container is seated perfectly on the base, sometimes it's off by a hair and causes that metal-on-metal scrape. If that's good, try blending something softer without frozen stuff to test it. Could be the bearings need a bit of time to wear in. Or maybe a loose screw somewhere, I ended up tightening a couple on mine and bam, silence. Yeah, fixed it right up but if yours keeps at it, probably a defect and worth swapping out.

Working from home means no time for faulty gear, right? Hope this gets you back to blending soon.

I service small appliances and that exact noise almost always traces to one of three things. Cross threaded blade collar, dry or seized blade bearing, or a coupler that is rubbing the motor shield. Easy checks at home. Hand tighten the blade collar until snug then back off a hair so the gasket is not crushed. Spin the blades by hand. If you feel little clicks or hear squeal, that bearing is done right out of the box.

Fill the jar halfway with warm water and a drop of soap and run a five second pulse. If it still grinds through liquid, the load is not the cause. Look under the jar while it runs and watch the coupler. If it wobbles or walks up and down, that is misalignment. Nothing you did. I tell people to return those immediately because running a misaligned coupler will chew the motor in days. Works great after a clean swap.

Sounds like a bummer with your new setup and especially in a tight apartment where noise echoes. I've fixed a few appliances over the years as a hobbyist and and grinding often points to misalignment or dry parts rubbing. Unplug and disassemble as much as the manual allows, inspect the drive coupler for any burrs or irregularities and a light lubrication with food-grade oil might help if it's accessible, but only if you're comfortable. Test it empty afterward. Works great sometimes.

If nothing changes,, contact support; defects happen. Keep us posted on how it goes.

Grinding usually means the blade assembly or coupler is misaligned or worn. Spin the hub by hand for smoothness and reseat the gasket and jar, clear debris, check the coupler for wobble, and if it still grinds with only water stop using it and exchange it.

Grinding right away? That's no fun for your healthy kickstart. In my experience with kitchen gadgets, sometimes it's just the initial break-in period where parts grind a bit until they settle, I ran mine empty for a few sessions and the noise faded, but then again mine wasn't as bad as yours sounds. Check for any foreign objects lodged in there, like a stray label or foam bit from shipping. If it's persistent, might be a faulty motor bearing, which isn't a DIY fix unfortunately. Returning it could be smartest. Hang in there.

I had this with a compact unit and it turned out to be how I was loading it and starting it... Frozen berries right on the blades can make a nasty chirp that sounds worse than it is. What helped me was letting frozen stuff sit for two minutes and adding a bit more liquid and and starting with a few pulses so the blades dig a channel first. I did the two minute thaw and a splash more liquid and boom, the shriek vanished and the thing stopped dancing across the counter.

That said if it also grinds when you spin the blades by hand or when blending just water, it is not a loading problem. Try loosening and re seating the blade base, make sure the jar is fully clicked in, then give it one short test on low. If the sound persists, do not run it again. Exchange time. No shame in that, brand new gear should not make a metal on metal sound.