Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic KX-TG5240M GigaRange Supreme 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System

purchased the base unit (which includes one handset) and two additional handsets. They worked okay for about a month or so, then the handset started inexplicably dying. Sometimes the screen went totally blank and you would lose the call or couldn't dial. Othertimes the screen said that I was too far away from the base (even when I was literally right next to the base). So I called customer service and they said that it sounded like I needed a new battery (after a MONTH!). I actually read the directions before using the phone and I wasn't even putting the phones on the bases to recharge after every call so that the NI CD batteries wouldn't develop a memory (they don't use the better Lithium Ion batteries that do not develop a memory). So this made no sense. Anyway, I went ahead and bought the batteries (for all three handsets) and that didn't solve the problem at all. I then went ahead and purchased another handset. Again, no problems for a month and then the same issue. Customer service issued remanufactured phones (4 handsets) and in about a month to 8 weeks all were exactly the same.

I know I wasn't doing anything wrong to cause this. I began searching the Internet and low and behold I am not alone. Apparently a law firm in New Jersey has already filed a class action law suit against Panasonic for the entire KX-TG and KX-TC cordless phone lines. Search "panasonic cordless phone class action" on google. It will be the first hit. As an attorney myself (not in any way affiliated with or even previously aware of the firm that has filed the suit), I can tell you it takes a lot of consumer complaints before a law firm decides to invest its resources in a class action suit as they are very expensive and time consuming.

So, I've learned my lesson the hard way (although there wasn't anything I could've done differently at the time of purchase). Hopefully, my experience and research into this can prevent you from having to deal with it in the future. Panasonic was unjustly enriched in distributing such a defective product and not having the corporate decency to at least recall it and replace it with a functioning line or refunding our hard earned dollars. Very disappointing and I certainly will not be purchasing the Panasonic brand again.

This phone has all the features I could ask for..... However, the sound quality and signal range are very poor. The voices sound very tinny and garbled at times. The signal would drop out at relatively short distances of about 50 feet away from the base.

I have a 6 yr old Sanyo 900 Mhz phone that beats this on distance and sound quality.

When is Panasonic going to make a good sounding phone ? We also have two of the 2.4 Ghz phones and they're only ok.

This 5.8 Ghz is a new low in sound quality and signal range.

I'm returning mine tomorrow. :-(

We've used this phone/answering machine for four months now, and are so glad we chose it. We researched A LOT of systems and this was the only one that had every feature we wanted and an NiMH battery. The clarity is great, and the range has been impressive: No dead zones in our 2400 sq ft house, the basement, at the end of the 125 ft driveway through trees, or way in the back yard.

Great phone if you are away from the base. If the base is located on a desk, nightstand etc., your voice will be "underwater" on the handset untill you move at least 3 feet away or more. Panasonic is aware of the problem and they will repair or replace the defective phone...if you send it to them.

I bought the base station (KX-TG5240M) and a second handset (KX-TGA520M) and both failed within 2 months. The second handset could no longer find the base station and the other handset only half worked - I could hear whover called, but they couldn't here me!

(Comapred to my last Panasonic 900MHz phone that lasted 8+ years and counting...)

The features on this phone are great and worth 5 stars (programmable phone book, room-to-room monitor, multiple voicemail inboxes) but a great phone that doesn't work is worthless