After 3 units breaking every 6 months over the course of 3 years, I am done with my Ninja! I am baffled at the great reviews these products are getting. I admit, I really love it when it works, but unfortunately, they don't work for long.
I received my first Ninja for Mother's Day in May 2016. He purchased the Auto IQ System from Sam's Club. At the time I was having smoothies daily. After about 6 months, the machine became so loud that I moved it into a pantry with a door so I didn't have to listen to it while it was blending because it gave me a headache. About 7 months after that, I started getting shards of metal in my smoothies. When I called the company, they refused to do anything for me because I was out of warranty and they said it was my fault for using the machine after it became louder. Upset that my $200+ unit (at the time) only lasted a year, and I could have been seriously injured, I took everything back to Sam's club (thankfully I still had my box and receipt). Sam's returned the unit, and I rebought the same unit (for about $150) hoping for better luck this time and paying close attention. Sure enough, after about six months the unit got considerably louder, and I discovered that the cup blade was not holding up. I called the company and was told that they did not have any spare parts for that unit and that I would have to return the unit to the store. So I boxed up everything again and this time did an even exchange for the same unit. Six months into my third unit, the cup blade went again. I called the company and received a new blade for free in the mail because I was still under warranty. Seven months later (3rd unit is 13 months old), the motor unit gave out. I called the company and I was out of warranty so all they could do was sell me a new motor unit for around $90. I told them I was done with the Ninja, and I would find something else after which she offered me 50% off. I decided that for $45 I would get another year out of my machine and then I could decide what to do. I reluctantly ordered the motor as well as another cup blade because I knew it was at least six months old and not looking very good. I paid over $60 total. A few days later I received my “new” motor and blade. They were in a box about 4 times too big with no padding and it appears that my motor base is a refurbished unit or even just the left overs of someone else's return. So I am done with the Ninja. I am grossed out by getting a used unit when I paid for a new one. I think it is completely unacceptable that my $150-200 purchase breaks every 6 months. I will not be buying Shark products in the future.