Ninja CE251: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-06

Summary

The most repeated owner complaint is water leakage from the base or under the water tank, and two owners report specific hardware failures: a carafe cracking in under two months and a hole forming in the reservoir after under four months. Running costs are low — paper filters are optional because a permanent filter is included, and there is no pod lock-in. At $61-75 it is a good buy; above $90 the value case weakens.

Common problems and fixes

Water leakage from the base or under the tank — the most repeated owner complaint, reported on both Best Buy and Home Depot review pages; one owner reports a timed brew draining the whole reservoir onto the counter. Coffeeness attributes most cases to an improperly seated tank rather than a failed part. Warranty covers it within the first year. [7][14][15][13]
Hole forming in the bottom of the reservoir — one Best Buy owner reports this after less than four months of use, which defeats the removable-tank feature; the owner says support did not reply for over a month. Warranty covers it within the first year. [14]
Glass carafe cracking — one Best Buy owner reports the carafe cracked in under two months. The manual forbids placing the carafe on or near a hot surface or in a microwave. Warranty covers it within the first year. [15][1]
Warming plate does not keep coffee hot enough — TechGearLab measured the pot cooling 10°F over one hour with the plate unable to reheat; one Home Depot reviewer states the plate does not keep coffee hot enough. The plate shuts off after 2 hours by default. No fix — this is a design limitation of a glass carafe on a warming plate. [2][13][1]
Coffee not hot enough — one Best Buy owner measured only 174°F; one Home Depot owner reports their partner thinks the coffee does not get hot enough. TechGearLab measured an average of 191.6°F across five brews, which is close to ideal but short of the SCA guideline. No fix — this is a design limitation. [14][13][2]
Grounds getting through the filter — Best Buy review text flags this. The manual recommends medium grind and forbids fine or espresso-ground coffee. [15][1]
Overflow from the strainer when brewing a full 12 cups — one Best Buy owner reports this. The manual warns against overfilling the reservoir past the 12-cup line. [15][1]
Unit billowing smoke — one Home Depot reviewer reports this one year and six days after purchase; SharkNinja’s response was to take the unit in for repair and reimburse. [13]

Parts and consumables

Replacement glass carafe (part XGLSLID200) — sold by Home Depot, compatible with CE251, CE201, CE201C, CE200 and CE200C; price not confirmed from the listing. [20]
Gold-tone permanent filter — included with the machine; no replacement price reported. [1][2]
#4 cone paper filters — optional, since the permanent filter is included; no price reported. [1][10]
Descaling solution — the manual advises a weekly clean cycle and monthly descaling with hard water; Coffeeness recommends citric acid cleaner as an alternative to vinegar. No price reported. [1][11][7]

Yearly running cost

Not enough data. The consumables are paper #4 filters (optional), descaling solution and coffee. There is no capsule or pod lock-in and no filter subscription. The main cost risk is a cracked glass carafe, but no price was confirmed from the listing. [1][20]

When it is a good buy

$69.99 at Best Buy (October 2026, compare-at $89.99) — the best value band. [15]
$69.99 at Target (October 2026, regular $89.99) — same price, same band. [16]
$69.99 at HSN (October 2026, plus $7.50 shipping, marked sold out) — same price but shipping adds cost. [17]
$90 at Ace Hardware (October 2026, per Serious Eats) — list price; still good but paying for the feature set rather than measured advantages. [3]

Named alternatives:

Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal — the insulated option if you want coffee held hot for long periods; TechGearLab scored it 6.0 on taste against the Ninja’s 6.4. [2]
Technivorm Moccamaster KBT — TechGearLab names it as a clearly better brewer; the choice if brew quality matters more than price. [2]
Breville Precision Brewer — TechGearLab names it as a clearly better brewer; the choice if brew quality matters more than price. [2]
Zojirushi Dome Programmable — Serious Eats’ broader inexpensive category winner; the choice if you want a thermal carafe at a similar price. [3]