Braun PowerMax MX 2050 5-Speed Blender

Like many others, I bought the Braun MX2050 based on good ratings from Consumer Reports and cooksillustrated.com. I had read on the CR website that the blender had previously had problems but that Braun had made improvements that resulted in a more durable blender. I noted that the blender I received was manufactured in the Czech Republic, the manufacturing location of the supposedly "improved" design. I used the blender to make smoothies using frozen fruit. Since the blender is reported to make easy work of crushing ice, I didn't think there would be any problem putting frozen fruit in the jar. Within a week, the plastic gear at the base of the jar broke. I returned the blender and got another one. This time, the plastic gear assembly broke nearly in half on the second use. The problems with the gear assembly really are a shame since this is otherwise an very good blender.