DIAGNOSIS Yeah, this one's common. The warming plate on this model doesn't have a variable temperature setting. It's just on or off, and it runs hot to keep a full pot warm, which can scorch a half-pot quickly.
FIX You can't turn it down, but you can turn it off. After brewing finishes, press the 'Keep Warm' button. The light will go off, and the plate will stop heating. Your coffee will stay drinkably warm in the insulated carafe for about an hour without burning.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the plate is getting hot even when the 'Keep Warm' light is off, there's a relay stuck inside. Unplug the brewer and let it cool completely. Plug it back in—sometimes this resets the control board. If it still heats when it shouldn't, that's a internal fault.
HEADS UP Don't put the glass carafe on a cold surface or in the sink right after taking it off the hot plate. The thermal shock can crack it. Let it cool on a trivet or towel first.