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Quick answer
Stop using the Thermador PRG366GH immediately. Turn the oven and broiler controls off; if smoke is worsening, there is a flame, or you smell gas, leave the area and use emergency or gas-service help. From a safe location, shut off the known appliance gas supply and electrical supply only if they are readily accessible without entering smoke or reaching behind the range. Do not run the broiler again, open panels, or try to identify a burner, igniter, wiring, or vent fault. Arrange authorized Thermador service after the range is safe and cool.
Work through in order
Diagnostic checks
Use only checks that match the exact appliance or system and its official guide.
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Check 1
Turn every oven and broiler control to OFF and stop using the range as soon as smoke is seen continuing from the back.
Expected result: Smoke continues, increases, or is accompanied by a visible flame, glowing material, popping, or an unusual electrical smell.
Next step: Leave the area, keep people away, and contact emergency services from a safe location if there is fire or dangerous smoke. Do not reopen the oven or relight any burner.
Why this matters
Why: This is an active fire or equipment-safety situation, not a broiler-setting problem that should be tested again.
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Check 2
If there is any gas odor, avoid ignition sources and, only from a safe and readily accessible location, close the known main gas supply for the appliance or building.
Expected result: The odor remains after all knobs are OFF, or gas odor is present while the range is no longer being used.
Next step: Leave the area and contact the gas utility or emergency service according to local procedure. Do not operate electrical switches, relight the range, or return to investigate until cleared.
Why this matters
Why: Thermador says persistent gas odor is not to be ignored and requires the main gas supply to be turned off and service arranged.
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Check 3
From outside the smoke area and only after the range has been switched off, record where the smoke appeared to exit and whether the event began during broil or continued during cooldown.
Expected result: The smoke appears at the oven vent or rear area, or its source cannot be distinguished without moving the range or removing a cover.
Next step: Do not move the range, block the vent, reach behind it, or restart it to compare symptoms. Give the observation and full model suffix to the authorized servicer.
Why this matters
Why: Thermador notes that warm air or steam from a vent can occur during cooling, but the public guidance does not establish that persistent smoke from this PRG366GH is normal or identify an internal cause.
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Check 4
Once the range is completely cool and there is no gas odor or active smoke, document only visible external residue or a visibly damaged broiler pan/tray without touching hot or energized parts.
Expected result: A visible spill or residue is present, or no external source is visible without opening the appliance or moving it.
Next step: Do not scrape into vents, remove panels, dismantle the broiler assembly, or run a cleaning or self-clean cycle. Arrange authorized Thermador service.
Why this matters
Why: A visible spill may be relevant to the service assessment, but its presence does not prove that it caused persistent rear smoke; no visible residue does not clear the appliance.
Use your observations
Decision map
Find the observation that best matches what you see, then follow the next safe action.
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PATH 01Next step
What you see
Smoke or flame is still active, worsening, or accompanied by a strong electrical smell.
Do this next
Leave the area and contact emergency services from a safe location; do not re-enter to switch controls or inspect the range.
Why this path and its safety boundary
Why it matters: The immediate hazard takes priority over diagnosis.
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PATH 02Next step
What you see
Gas odor remains after the controls are OFF.
Do this next
From a safe accessible location, shut off the known main gas supply, leave the area, and contact the gas utility or emergency service.
Why this path and its safety boundary
Why it matters: Thermador treats persistent gas odor as a gas-supply/service issue rather than normal broiler operation.
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PATH 03Next step
What you see
There is no active smoke or odor, but the source cannot be identified without moving the range, opening a panel, or running the broiler again.
Do this next
Keep the PRG366GH out of service and arrange authorized Thermador inspection with the complete model suffix and event details.
Why this path and its safety boundary
Why it matters: The available official guidance does not support a user diagnosis of a vent, burner, igniter, wiring, or insulation fault.
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PATH 04Next step
What you see
Only a brief warm-air or steam plume occurred during normal cooldown and there was no persistent smoke, flame, gas odor, or damage.
Do this next
Do not use this branch to clear the reported appliance; have the technician decide whether the observed event was normal venting or a fault.
Why this path and its safety boundary
Why it matters: Thermador says warm air or steam from the oven vent can be part of cooling, but that does not explain the assigned persistent-smoking report.
Helpful context
Understand the symptom
Why persistent smoke after broiling needs service
Thermador's broil guidance describes the upper broil element and recommends a broiler pan and tray, while its general oven troubleshooting page distinguishes normal warm air or steam from the vent from smoke during initial use. This report is persistent smoke from the back after broiling, so those general explanations do not establish that continued operation is safe. Treat the event as an unresolved gas-range safety fault until the source is inspected by an authorized technician.
When checks do not resolve it
Need a professional?
Stop using the range and obtain authorized Thermador service for persistent smoke after broiling, any smoke from wiring or the rear of the range, visible flame outside the intended burner area, repeated smoke after cooldown, a gas odor, or an electrical smell. If there is active fire or dangerous smoke, leave and contact emergency services. Do not retest, move the range, open panels, or perform internal gas/electrical work.
Common questions
FAQ
Could smoke from the back just be normal oven venting?
Thermador says warm air or steam from the vent can be normal during cooling, and smoke during initial use can come from factory oils. Persistent smoke after broiling is not established as normal by that guidance, so do not restart the PRG366GH to test it.
Should I run the broiler again to see whether the smoke returns?
No. Turn the controls OFF, keep the range out of service, and arrange authorized inspection. Repeating a high-heat gas operation could worsen a fire, gas, or electrical fault.
What if I smell gas after the smoking event?
Thermador says persistent gas odor is not to be ignored: turn the main gas supply off and schedule service. Leave the area and use emergency or gas-service help if the odor is strong or the situation is unsafe.
Read the exact guide
Official sources
- WARNING! - SAFETY CONCERNSThermador / BSH Home Appliances · Opened the official Thermador/BSH repair-safety PDF. It directly supports refusing internal repair, part replacement, or technical work by an unqualified user on this gas appliance.
- Broil, Convection Broil & Max BroilThermador · Opened Thermador's official broil guidance for the general operating context only. It says to use the owner's manual for model applicability and does not support continuing operation after persistent smoke.
- Oven Troubleshooting for RangesThermador · Opened Thermador's official range troubleshooting page. It supports the distinction between warm air/steam during cooling and smoke during initial use, but does not clear persistent rear smoke after broiling or identify an internal fault.
- Service Assistance - PRG366GH/05Thermador · Opened Thermador's exact PRG366GH/05 product-service page to verify the assigned model family and gas freestanding range identity. The page provides model-specific manuals and service resources but does not diagnose the reported smoke source.
- Troubleshooting | Gas Cooktops & Rangetops SupportThermador · Opened Thermador's official gas-appliance troubleshooting page for the gas-odor safety branch. It is not used to diagnose the PRG366GH smoke source or transfer cooktop parts/procedures to the range.
- How to Clean Your OvenThermador · Opened Thermador's official cleaning page only for the boundary that vents must not be blocked, cleaning/self-clean instructions are manual-specific, and the oven must cool before wiping residue. It does not authorize cleaning a smoking fault.
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