Door Latch
A door latch failure may cause a KitchenAid dishwasher door to open during cycles. The door latch keeps the door firmly closed to prevent water from exiting the appliance. If the lock is faulty, broken or worn, it does not remain closed. While the dishwasher won’t start if the door latch is not completely engaged, once the machine is in operation a faulty door latch causes the door to open.
Door Hinge
A faulty door hinge may also cause the dishwasher door to be released during cycles. The hinges are just as important as the latch in keeping the door closed. Excessive roughness, such as letting the door drop open or laying heavy items on the open door, loosens the hinges or causes them to bend or warp.
Dishwasher Placement
The placement of the dishwasher may result in the door's discharging during operation. If the appliance is not firmly inserted between the floor and counter top, the door may not remain closed. If the dishwasher is lodged too tightly, this may also obstruct the door from closing firmly. In addition, if the dishwasher is not level on all sides, the door tends to open during cycles.
Door Seal
The condition of the door seal may determine if the door remains closed during dishwashing cycles. In new dishwashers or those with newly replaced seals, the door may be hard to latch for a couple of weeks. Operating the machine on the highest heat setting helps the seal quickly adjust to the door. On the other end of the spectrum, if the door seal is worn out, the door tends to swing open during cycles.
Other Considerations
If one of the dishwasher door springs is broken, this hinders the ability of the door to stay closed during cycles. As opposed to an even distribution of weight, the door is heavier on one side, making the door unbalanced. In addition, the top or bottom dish racks are not lodged correctly in the appliance, which prevents the door from staying closed during cycles.