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Is your Ninja blender refusing to switch on? Perhaps you were in the middle of blending something when your Ninja blender suddenly stopped working?
Ninja blenders are generally very reliable, but there are some reasons why they will stop working, and it’s not always a sign of a mechanical fault.
So, if your blender has stopped working, be sure to run through this seven-point checklist. We’ll help you quickly determine whether your Ninja blender can easily be fixed at home or whether it needs to be repaired or replaced.
7 Reasons Why Your Ninja Stopped Working
There are 7 reasons that may explain why your Ninja blender won’t turn on. Some of these are user error while others might be an issue with your blender.
Do You Have Power?
Like any electrical item, if your Ninja blender won’t work, your first thought should be that it might not have power. This is honestly one of the most common reasons why your Ninja won’t turn on.
Check that your Ninja blender is plugged in and that there are no problems with the cables or with the power outlet.
A good way to test the power outlet is to connect a different kitchen appliance and see whether it switches on. If it does, then clearly, the problem must be with your Ninja blender.
However, confirming that your Ninja blender is at fault doesn’t tell you what the problem actually is. To find that out, you’ll need to run a few more checks.
Your Ninja Blender is Overheating
The motor inside your Ninja blender will heat up if you use the blender for a long time or blend multiple things in quick succession. In extreme cases, this can cause the motor to overheat to dangerously high temperatures.
If your Ninja smells like it’s burning then it’s probably overheating.
Fortunately, the makers of Ninja were aware of this problem and included a failsafe that will stop the motor from running if it gets too hot.
The system is clever enough to switch off the motor before it gets too hot rather than waiting for any damage to be done. This means that, even if your motor suddenly stops working due to high temperatures, you are unlikely to have permanently damaged it.
If your Ninja blender switches off suddenly while you are using it – and particularly if you’ve been doing lots of blending – then an overheating motor is very likely to be the problem.
It will take some time for the motor to cool down, so the best thing to do in this situation is to unplug the Ninja blender and leave it switched off for half an hour or however long it takes to cool down. Once the motor’s temperature has returned to a safe level, the blender will switch on again as normal.
If you need to use your Ninja blender urgently, then blowing cool air toward the motor using a fan or a hair drier on a cold air setting may help it to cool down more quickly.
However, if you haven’t used your Ninja blender for some time and it doesn’t switch on, then an overheating motor is unlikely to be the problem. After all, if the blender hasn’t been in use, then the motor should be at room temperature and well within its safe operating range.
The Cup is Too Full
Your Ninja blender cup has a line that is clearly labeled “MAX LIQUID.” As you would expect, this is the maximum amount you should attempt to blend in one go.
Though there isn’t a sensor that will automatically detect that you have overfilled the blender and switch it off, filling the cup beyond the maximum line may still cause the Ninja blender to stop working.
This is because your Ninja blender needs space around its blades to move the ingredients freely around the cup and blend properly. If the cup is too full, there won’t be enough space to move all of the ingredients around, and the blades could get stuck.
To avoid this issue, only ever fill your cup up to the MAX LIQUID line, or ideally a little bit less.
The Cup is Not Locked in Place
Your Ninja blender will not start if the cup is not properly locked into position. This is a safety feature to prevent the blender motor from potentially dislodging a loose cup that has not been connected properly.
If your Ninja has a blinking power button, this is likely the issue!
If your Ninja blender will not turn on, try removing the cup and reattaching it to make sure it is firmly locked in position.
The Lid is Not on Properly
Starting a powerful blender full of ingredients with a loose lid is a recipe for a very messy kitchen!
To prevent this, the Ninja blender has a feature that ensures the lid is on properly before you start blending. If the lid is not on properly, the blender simply won’t switch on.
To check whether a loose lid is the reason why your Ninja blender has stopped working, you need to look at the two small arrows on the lid and the handle. The arrow located on the lid and the arrow located on the handle should point toward each other when the lid is securely attached.
If in doubt, remove the lid and try fitting it again, making sure the arrows are aligned, and the lid is firmly locked in place.
You’ve Run the Blender Too Many Times Without Removing the Cup
The Ninja blender has a safety feature that stops the blender from running if it has been used three consecutive times without the cup being removed from the base.
If you have blended three times in a row without removing the cup, then you will need to unplug your Ninja blender and leave it for 15 minutes before you can switch it on and use it again.
Hard Ingredients are Jamming the Blades
If you are attempting to blend hard ingredients, but your Ninja blender’s blades are not spinning, the problem could be that the blade assembly is jammed. With harder ingredients, this problem can occur even if the cup is filled well below the MAXIMUM LIQUID line.
To check whether the blade assembly is jammed, switch the Ninja blender off, unplug it, remove all ingredients and remove the blade assembly. Clean it thoroughly and remove any crumbs or other pieces of food from around the point where the blade assembly connects to the blender base.
You also might just need to add more liquid to your smoothie! Most blenders can’t blend frozen fruit without liquid so try adding more!
To minimize the chance of jamming your Ninja blender blades, always add fresh fruits and vegetables first, followed by seeds, nuts, and other dry ingredients. Then add ice and any frozen foods. Finally, add any liquids to the mixture.
Common Questions to Troubleshoot if Your Ninja Blender Won’t Turn On
If your Ninja blender stops working then it’s likely you have either a power source issue or a a blown motor.
Ninja blenders come with a 2-3 year warranty, but if you maintain them well they can easily last up to 5-6 years.
If your Ninja blender overheats then it should automatically turn off while blending. If the auto shutoff doesn’t kick on and you smell burning, turn off your blender and wait 5 minutes before you try again.
Summary: Why a Ninja Blender Stops Working
In summary, the seven most common reasons why a Ninja blender stops working are:
- A lack of power, whether the fault is with the blender or the power supply.
- The Ninja blender motor overheating.
- The cup is filled beyond the MAXIMUM LIQUID line.
- The cup is not securely locked in place.
- The lid is not fitted correctly. The handle and lid arrows should point toward each other.
- The blender has been used three times in a row without the cup being removed.
- Hard ingredients have jammed the blade assembly.
Fortunately, many of these problems can be fixed at home, without the need to send your Ninja blender away for repairs or buy an expensive new blender.
