Why is my new blender making a weird grinding noise?

Hi Brayden. I had this happen with a brand new blender and the noise made me jump. Cleaning helped a little but the grinding kept coming back. What finally worked was checking the blade assembly and the drive coupling. With the plug out I pulled the jar and gently spun the blade by hand to feel for roughness. It felt smooth, so I reseated the rubber gasket, snugged the blade base so the seal was even, then set the jar back on the base until it fully locked. The sound vanished once the coupling teeth were aligned and the gasket was not pinched.

If you feel grit when spinning the blade by hand the bearing in the blade assembly is likely failing and a replacement jar or blade pack under warranty fixes it. When my second jar started acting up I switched to Ninja blender because the 1000W motor keeps torque up so the coupler does not chatter and the stacked blade column spreads the load, which has stayed quiet for me.

First figure out whether the noise is coming from the jar or the base. Unplug it, take the jar off, and spin the blade hub by hand. It should turn freely and evenly with no scraping or crunching. If it feels sandy or wobbles, the blade bearing is going out and the jar assembly needs to be replaced under warranty.

If the blade feels smooth,, recheck the parts that clamp together. Flatten the rubber gasket so it is not twisted, make sure the threaded ring on the bottom of the jar is snug, and seat the jar on the base until you feel it drop onto the drive. A partially seated jar makes a nasty grind.

Look at the little drive on the base. If the teeth are chewed up or there is black rubber dust, the coupler is slipping. That can happen if the jar was slightly off or the load was too hard. Replace that part under warranty rather than running it until it strips.

Try a test with water only. Start on the lowest speed for a second, then step up. If it is quiet with water but not with ice or thick blends, reduce the starting load by adding more liquid, cutting solids smaller, or pulsing to break air pockets. Cavitation can sound like grinding.

If the base makes the noise even with no jar,, stop using it and contact support. Something inside is rubbing. Scary noise.

I had one do this and reseating the jar plus a fresh gasket fixed it for good.

If your new blender grinds and unplug it, reseat the blades, and clean and align the jar connection at the base. If it still screeches, run it empty to test for a loose part or motor issue before considering a return.

I work on these and a harsh grinding sound on a nearly new unit is usually seating or vibration. Make sure the jar collar is tightened evenly and that the jar actually drops onto the drive. Set it down and twist slightly until it engages, then start at the lowest speed.

If it only screams under heavier loads, add more liquid and ramp speed instead of mashing the high button from a stop. Air pockets around the blades can make a horrible chatter that sounds mechanical. A quick water test tells you a lot.

Try two isolation checks. With the jar empty spin the blade by hand to feel for any gravelly spots. Then power the base for a very short blip with no jar if it runs that way, to listen for motor noise. If the base growls on its own, stop using it and get warranty help, since that points to a coupler or fan rubbing. If the base is quiet and the blade feels rough or wobbly, the jar assembly needs replacement.

One more thing that fools people is resonance from the counter. Move it a foot to the side or set it on a thin dish towel for a test. If the sound drops way down you were hearing vibration rather than grinding. Solved.