Why is my new blender making a weird grinding noise?

That grinding sound on a new blender usually means something is misaligned rather than you adding too much fruit. Unplug it and remove the jar, and check the bottom assembly. Make sure the rubber gasket sits flat and is not pinched, the bottom collar is snug, and there is no thin piece of shipping film stuck to the blade unit. With the jar empty, carefully spin the blades by hand using a towel to protect your fingers. They should turn smoothly without scraping or wobbling. If you feel scraping, gently snug the bottom collar by hand. Also look inside the jar while spinning to see if the blades track in a steady circle and do not brush the jar or the collar.

Next, look at the motor base where the jar sits. The rubber drive piece should be centered and intact, not chewed up or rubbing the housing. Set the jar back on squarely and twist to lock so the couplers mesh cleanly. Test with a cup of water starting on the lowest speed, giving a few short pulses. If your model allows it, do a one second test with the jar off to see if the noise comes from the motor or the jar assembly. Loud on the base alone points to a motor or coupler issue. Quiet base but noisy with the jar points to the blade unit or gasket. You can usually find the manual by searching the brand and model printed on the base, which shows the correct order of parts and tightening direction. If you notice a burning smell, metal shavings, or the sound does not improve after these checks, stop using it and contact the seller or manufacturer for a warranty fix while it is still new.

That sound often comes from two parts not meeting cleanly rather than too much fruit. My guess is the blade unit is not seated right or the drive pieces are chewing past each other and which makes a harsh grind even with water. Unplug it first. Take the jar apart and check for a thin gasket around the blade base. It should sit flat and continuous. If it fell out or is twisted, the blades can rub and sound awful. When you screw the bottom ring back on, go hand tight and then a tiny bit more. Too loose or cranked down too hard can both make contact noises.

With the jar empty, turn the blade hub by hand using a towel. It should feel smooth with no gritty spots and no side to side wobble. Any scratchy feel points to a bad bearing in the blade unit and that is not fixable at home on a new one. Set the jar on the base and make sure it drops straight down and locks without rocking. If the little drive nub on the base looks off center or chewed, that is the grind you hear. Do a quick test with a cup of water on the lowest setting and keep the run short. If the sound is still harsh, stop. That means a coupling or bearing issue and you should use the return or warranty while it is fresh. Easy fix if it is the gasket.

That grinding noise is the worst and especially when you're all pumped for smoothies.

Happened to me once, and I figured it out by checking the coupler thing on the base, you know, that part that spins.

If it's loose or something's off, it grinds like crazy.

Unplug it, flip it over, and see if everything's tight.

I tried that and it fixed everything but then I realized I had to clean out some hidden gunk too...

yeah.

Test it empty first, then with water.

If it's still noisy, probably needs a pro look, don't risk breaking it more.

Your friends will be jealous of your fixes soon enough.

Unplug it and spin the blades by hand, clear any debris, clean the base connection, then reassemble and test with a little water on low. If the noise persists it is likely internal, contact support, and you can usually find the manual online with the model details.

I had a new one make that awful noise and it turned out to be a tiny piece of packaging stuck under the blade assembly. Pulled it apart and found a clear film ring I missed. Problem gone. Unplug yours and take the jar off and and look closely for any thin plastic or paper tucked under the blade base or stuck to the sealing ring. Make sure the sealing ring is present and lying flat. If it is missing or folded, the metal can scrape under load.

Check how the jar sits on the base too. If the base rocks on the counter or if the jar does not twist fully into place, the drive teeth can meet at an angle and chatter. Try setting the base on a folded dish towel to see if the noise is just vibration from a hard counter. Then do a short test with a cup of water on the lowest speed. If pressing the jar straight down changes the sound, it was not locking square and needs a firmer twist into place. If none of that changes the sound, spin the blades by hand with a towel and listen. Smooth and quiet means the motor area is suspect. Rough or grindy feel means the bearing in the blade unit is bad. Since it is new, do not keep running it if it still grinds. Swap it through the seller or the manufacturer so you can get back to smoothies without the drama.