Answer Tim, When using the cooktop or oven the range will get hot due to the heat radiating from either the top or the oven. The oven vents out of the front of the unit and will cause the heat to rise and cause the top to be hot. The surface elements radiate heat when cooking and there fore the top will be hot. Also if you are using oversize pots for the burner it will cause this as well. Read More... Answered by AppliancePartsPros.com | Tuesday, November 15, 2016