I'm glad that I was able to find this forum as I recently discovered the exact same damage to the inside of my cabinet caused by the VERY poorly designed water inlet assembly (photos below). Again, as stated previously by others there are mainly TWO SEPARATE issues that are being discussed in this forum (1. the left door vent issue, and 2. the left side water/condensation issue which is damaging the inside of cabinets caused by a poorly designed water inlet port -part number W10195536). My issue is with the poorly designed water inlet port.
Unfortunately for me, my unit is a Sears/Kenmore (manufactured by Whirlpool), and although there is at least one "Technical Service Pointer" (bulletin) which Whirlpool has released regarding this issue, several attempts at contacting Sears/Kenmore have yielded absolutely nothing.
Is it Class Action Lawsuit time? Yeah, I think so, too.
Here are a few that I have learned so far which others may find helpful (and hopefully a lawyer somewhere will eventually read all this and feel inspired to take further action):
*Whirlpool has issued a technical service bulletin regarding this issue which states: "All Plastic & Stainless Steel Tall Tub Dishwashers DISHWASHER STEAM BLANKET- Models: All Plastic & Stainless Steel Tall Tub Dishwashers Serial Numbers: Date Range: All to F440 NOTE: If produced after this date, order blanket per repair parts list. Concern: Condensation may form on the left side of the dishwasher, the surrounding cabinets, or on the underside of the counter top. Cause: There is a potential for moisture to reach the cabinet walls when the dishwasher is installed into a tight cut-out. Due to the tight fitting cut-out, moisture emitted from the siphon break cannot always dissipate or evaporate freely. Correction: Remove and discard old blanket and replace with new plastic-lined blanket (P/N W10380479). Install the new blanket using the same attachment method as the original blanket. IMPORTANT: Make sure that the plastic lining is on the same side as the siphon break (left side). S-CODE to cover part only is S31831. "
....So, "Condensation may form on the left side of the dishwasher, the surrounding cabinets". They claim this is CAUSED by installing the unit into a tight cut-out. HOWEVER, according to the installation instructions furnished with my unit, my unit was installed WITHIN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS. I submit that the condensation issue is IN FACT CAUSED by THEIR design error, and/or THEIR ERROR to provide adequate installation specifications so that my cabinets would not be damaged by the normal operation of the unit.
*The part number of the water inlet port has been revised: They no longer produce or offer the same water inlet port that came with my unit. If you try to buy it from Whirlpool, or Sears/Kenmore you will get a new and slightly different part number. Which probably means that they have re-designed the part to help rectify the design flaws associated with the original part which were installed into many of these units at the factory. The old part number is "W10195536", the new part number is "WPW10195536". (maybe the "WPW" stands for "Whirl Pool's Whoops", or signify's that the new one "Won't Piss Water" all over, or perhaps their engineer thought it "Will Probably Work". -Just guessing.) At this time, I do not know in which ways the product design has changed due to the revision, but I would bet that there is now more baffles on the inside of the part to help rectify the issue which they know exists with units manufactured in their factories prior to the revision.
*Upon reading other appliance repair forums, many other people have experienced the exact same issue with this poorly designed water inlet port. In most cases, it seems that online technical support specialists have been advocating replacement of the part. Which some people claim does indeed rectify the issue. This further supports my theory that the part has been revised in such a way that it now has more baffles inside to prevent water and steam/condensation from escaping. Unless this part were to become plugged up from debris or sediment in the fresh water supply, there is virtually nothing that would wear out or cause it to behave differently from how it was designed. There are no moving parts or pieces inside it. It's a piece of molded plastic, water goes in one end and exits the other end. The issue with this part is not due to wear or mechanical failure but is inherent with how it was originally designed and hence produced.
I plan to post this same information on other forums/discussion threads to help others who are dealing with kitchen cabinet damage resulting from poorly designed parts. Below are the photos of my cabinets which were newly installed at the same time as the dishwasher...which has been ruining them with every wash-load ever since. -Not because a part failed. The original parts operated exactly as they were designed to operate; very poorly. The poorly designed original parts have ruined my cabinetry and certainly thousands of others.
Under my sink cabinet adjacent to where the unit is installed:
Wood is completely warped and starting to mold in this area of my new cabinets and already needs to be replaced:
Note: staining to the insulation blanket from water damage.
Water inlet port. Original non-revised part number W10195536
Here is a view from the inside of the dishwasher compartment. This is how my new cabinets now look. Completely warped and damaged in the area of the poorly designed water inlet port.
Q