Katherine Webster  |  August 18, 2020

Category: Appliances

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Repair technician works on the back of a silver refrigerator in a kitchen - lg electronics refrigerators

UPDATE 2: On Nov. 16, 2020, the Court granted an extension and deadlines have changed. The claim form deadline has been extended to Feb. 5, 2021, and the opt-out and objection deadline has been extended to Dec. 10, 2020.

UPDATE: September 2020, the LG refrigerator cooling defect class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.


LG Electronics has reached a settlement deal for a LG refrigerator class action lawsuit to resolve claims that the company’s refrigerators stopped cooling due to a compressor defect.

According to the settlement motion, about 1.5 million consumers could receive cash payments and extended warranty coverage. The motion is under consideration for approval in New Jersey court.

Under the terms of the settlement, LG would make cash payments to about 1.55 million consumers in the Settlement Class. 

Class Members are able to receive payments for reimbursement of parts and labor costs in addition to property loss, such as food or medicine spoiled due to the LG Electronics refrigerators not cooling the items, according to the settlement terms.

LG will also compensate Class Members for unsuccessful or delayed repairs, or the cost of replacing the refrigerator.

If affected consumers are able to document their claims, they could be eligible for up to several thousand dollars, the settlement says. Those who provide attestation but not documentation may be eligible to recover up to $450.

There is no cap on the payments. 

Class Members also will receive an extended warranty that will cover the full repair cost for cooling failures in the LG Electronics refrigerators and related property loss for five years from the date the appliance was purchased, the class action settlement says.

To bolster this warranty service, LG has also agreed to employ more technicians and put a dedicated team in place to address the cooling failures, the class action settlement claims. LG will also develop more reliable replacement parts.

Attorneys’ fees and costs are subject to Court approval and will be paid separately. Those awards will not reduce settlement benefits. 

The Settlement Class includes anyone in the U.S. who bought one of the covered models of LG Electronics refrigerators produced between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2017.

Consumers who previously released claims in favor of LG, those who purchased refrigerators manufactured after Dec. 31, 2017, and those who bought Kenmore refrigerators from Sears are not eligible to be included in the Class, according to the class action settlement.

Also excluded are consumers who bought LG refrigerator models of which fewer than 1,000 units were sold “or for which the service rate for No-Cooling Events was less than 1% of sales,” the settlement says.

Plaintiff Michael Bentley’s class action lawsuit was consolidated with other similar complaints dealing with the allegedly defective LG Electronics refrigerators.

According to Bentley’s complaint, he had purchased an LG Kenmore refrigerator for about $1,500 from a Michigan Sears in 2015, after seeing ads touting the appliance as high quality and fully functional.

Bentley said he received additional information about the refrigerator and its compressor in the form of brochures and owners’ manuals, but did not see any disclosures that the compressor was defective or prone to failure.

LG logo on lighted sign - LG Electronics refrigerators

Bentely’s Kenmore refrigerator failed because of the compressor defect in September 2018, the complaint says. It allegedly would not stay cool and spoiled his food.

He requested repairs through Sears, and although he was told the repairs would be covered under the warranty, he was charged $100 to diagnose the issue. He says he was ultimately charged $700 for a replacement compressor.

But the refrigerator failed from the compressor defect again on March 20, 2019, according to the complaint. Again, the repairs — this time completed by a local repair shop — cost about $750, and the repair technician allegedly informed him that he was “wasting money on repairs because the refrigerator would likely fail again from the same problem.”

Bentley says he replaced the refrigerator with a General Electric model in April 2019.

Had he known the LG refrigerator was defective he would not have bought it, would have paid a different price or would have returned it, the class action lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs claimed the linear compressors in their LG Electronics refrigerators were defective and prone to failure, causing them to be unable to cool their contents.

The class action lawsuit also alleged that LG had long known about the defective compressors after many consumers and LG-authorized repair technicians reported the failures to the company.

However, LG has “vigorously disputed Plaintiffs’ allegations,” according to the settlement motion. 

A final approval hearing on the settlement motion has yet to be scheduled.

Did you purchase one of the defective LG Electronics refrigerators? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

The plaintiff and Proposed Class are represented by Shanon J. Carson, Lawrence Deutsch, Jacob M. Polakoff and Amey J. Park of Berger Montague PC; Daniel C. Girard, Jordan Elias, Adam E. Polk and Simon S. Grille of Girard Sharp LLP; and Benjamin F. Johns and Samantha E. Holbrook of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP.

The LG Electronics Refrigerators Class Action Lawsuit is Michael Bently, et al. v. LG Electronics U.S.A. Inc., Case No. 2:19-cv-13554-MCA-MAH, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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216 thoughts onLG Refrigerator Lawsuit Settlement Provides Cash, Warranties to 1.5M Consumers

  1. Michael Meixner says:

    My wife and I purchased a Kenmore Elite model 51867 from a local Sears store on 10/10/2017. Last week on 07/05/2021 our refrigerator decided to stop cooling and just so happened the day after spending over $400 in groceries for our family. We contacted Sears only to find out that the $399 we spent on the Sears Protection Plan expired on 10/10/2020 and was told there was nothing they could do for us. When we mentioned that our manufacture warranty stated that there was a ten year warranty on the “cooling system” we were told that “there are no repairman in our area that could service this model” and we basically felt the service rep just trying to get us off the phone and offering us no help in getting our problem rectified. After talking with Sears my wife started calling around to appliance repair company’s in our area only to find out that not only is our refrigerator an LG model (which I was shocked to find out as the salesperson that sold it to us told us that it was manufactured by Fridgidaire….if I had known it was an LG I never would have purchased) , but every repair company stated the same thing “we don’t service that model and the compressors is most likely the issue as they are junk”. After spending hours trying to find a repairman we finally found one that was willing to come out and take a look at our unit. While waiting for the repairman I went online and was astonished by the number of complaints about these refrigerators in regards to LG and the compressors as well as the lawsuits that have been filed….why is this not a recall as both Sears and LG are well aware of this issue?? The following day the repairman comes out and verified that the issue is indeed the compressor and stated that he sees these LG units with bad compressors almost on a daily basis. The repair was going to cost $1000, but here is the kicker….my repairman stated that if I spend the money, first the compressor and condenser would be replaced with the same faulty components as LG has never redesigned them and second that we would more than likely have the same issue in another 3-5 years and third the parts would take months, that’s right I said MONTHS to get. We are a family of five and cannot wait weeks let alone months for our refrigerator to get repaired. So we paid the $100 for our service call and called Sears back about the “10 year warranty” on the compressor and was once again basically told that we are on our own. Listen, I understand that Sears has been closing stores and is probably not going to be around much longer but this shouldn’t give them the right to just “ blow customers off” and wash their hands of a problem they know exists. Sears or LG should be held accountable for this problem as the average refrigerator should last 12-14 years, not 3 years. So, after much time spent on the phone, all of the aggravation and a large family that needs a refrigerator now, we decided to go out and buy a new one. Definitely will never buy a Kenmore product again, ever. After spending over $2200 on this unit just over 3 years ago, over $400 in food spoiled, $100 for service call and countless hours on the phone we are completely dissatisfied and thoroughly disgusted with this whole outcome. We feel that our family was sold a refrigerator with Sears having previous knowledge that these units have faulty/defective parts as there are cases dating back to the mid 2000’s which is in my eyes is deceptive and illegal to say the least and they should be held responsible. My family doesn’t have the money to go out and purchase a new refrigerator every 3-4 years let alone the $400 for the groceries that have spoiled and the time/aggravation that Sears has caused us. Please email me back and let me know how I can get involved in this lawsuit as we are a busy household and well frankly my family doesn’t have the money and time to hire a lawyer as I feel we were sold a refrigerator under deceptive practices. Contact me as I am willing to talk on the phone and give whatever information I can to help as I feel the consumers should be reimbursed and both Sears and LG should be held accountable. I of course missed the cutoff date for filing a claim, is there any recourse on this or do we file in a new class action suit or hire our own attorney?

  2. James Parker says:

    Purchased a Kenmore Elite 795.73167.610 on-line through Sears.com 9300 800-349-4358 TX on 8/27/2018. The freezer quit first then the main refrigerator in May of 2021. Two and a half years (2-1/2 years). Our cost $2,749.42. What a waste of time and money. We researched this product through Consumer Report it was rated in the top three refrigerators in it’s class and even though some reviews were low we felt confident in our purchase and the companies involved (Sears, Kenmore, and even LG because ratings were high on there products.) Up until this problem occurred we were totally satisfied with the refrigerator. Then in researching the problem on-line we began seeing the problems consumers were having with this issue and the unwillingness of the corporations involved to make restitution for bad products that they have been making for over ten years. What has happened to the integrity of the American corporations? Throughly discussed with the idiots that developed the system and poor judgement by corporate executives to continue to replace bad product with bad product, and then run from their responsibility to the consumer. I want my money back so I can but what we originally wanted a working and convenient refrigerator.

  3. Mary V. Roberts says:

    I purchased a Sears Kenmore French door model number 253. 7034241G on August 2, 2018. On June 15, 2019 there was a buildup of moisture and ice behind the icemaker and the fan was making a loud noise. Sears service man came out and told me all I could do was take my hairdryer and blow it up back behind the icemaker and melt the ice that was hitting the fan and that I should do it each time the fan makes noise and that was all that I could do. Then the code started coming up SYEF which was an evaporative Fan circuit failure. I did some research and in 2005 Sears recalled approximately 20,00O 3 door refrigerators and according to a report from consumer affairs the condenser fan motor obtained or contained a faulty component that could cause a short circuit, The result was overheating of the fan motor which posed a serious fire danger. The repairman should’ve fixed my fan and put in a new evaporative fan. Now the codes are still up the warranty is out and I refuse to have to pay to have this fixed by Sears when they should’ve fixed it when their man was out. I am 73 and cannot afford repairs to a 10 month old refrigerator. From February 2019 through April 2020 I made six calls and emails to Ed Lambert at Sears and no one ever got back with me. My refrigerator is now in the garage unplugged and I am very frustrated. I cannot believe that I was told by the repair man to take my hairdryer and blow it up behind the icemaker to get the fan to work. There is a apparently a faulty component in the condenser fan motor and Sears should have stayed behind their warranty. I called a local repair man in my area and he said that no one will work on those Kenmore refrigerators because they know they are faulty and he wouldn’t even come out. I feel they are subject to a lawsuit due to a design flaw and due to a faulty service man. I paid $1800 for that refrigerator. What do I do now?

    1. Mardene Fernandez says:

      So sorry to hear about your experience. You are not alone unfortunately. We bought an LG french door model in Dec. 2015. It ran fine for almost 2 yrs. The ice maker went out. I had purchased an extended 5 yr warranty for 200.00 from the store I bought it from and they came and replaced the ice maker. He said it is common for them to last about 2 yrs. There was also a bulid-up of ice around the gaskets on the back of the door by the ice maker. He said that is not normal but did nothing to fix it. In a few days it was not working again. He had to come out and order another part and this time he did get it fixed. Forward one yr. There was a loud noise, and the fridge was not cooling right, although there was some cooling. 2 wks later Repairmen came and told us something had fallen out of the bottom freezer and was holding the freezer door open just enough to not close all the way and that was causing the problem. He said to empty out the fridge (Where to???) and let it defrost for 2 days. Then take off the back and use a hair dryer to take the frost off the fan at the back/bottom of the fridge. When we got in there, there was no ice, and no water melted in the area at all. My husband checked it all out thoroughly, we put it back together, and it ran better. So whatever it was, I guess we fixed it! NOT! About 2 mo later, the noise began again. So this has gone on with cooling/frosting up issues for 5 yrs, Now the warranty is over – they do not renew them. (I don’t wonder why not!) The last repair – Oct – Dec. 2020,
      he said they have “learned” they need the gasket replaced around the door and also the bottom fan for the freezer. He did not even mention the class-action law suit while he was repairing some of the very things causing the problems. Since I had never actually lost all cooling, I did not file with the lawsuit. Now, the water/ ice will not dispense. I called LG for a repair, and they wanted to diagnose over the phone. They said it needed a new ice maker. The ice is being made so I don’t see how it is the ice maker. I told them that, and they said if they come out they will install a new ice maker and charge me for that. I told them that is not the problem. It is probably computer chip or solenoid that makes the water/ice come out. So I did not have them come. So I sit with no water/ice dispenser. The fridge would be a dream if it worked. I think they created a perfect fridge but never could make it really work well. So we are all stuck with a piece of junk and no cooling, no water/ice, (which I will live with) and who knows what else. It is disgusting these large companies can get away with this. My Kitchen Aid Fridge before this one lasted 22 yrs, and was still running. It would be nice if LG would make things right, but they will just go on making/selling defective junk and getting away with it. NO MORE LG FOR ME!

  4. Donna Hawco says:

    Kenmore Elite Model No.795.73153.610, Serial No. 705KR00258 purchased in June of 2017. Equipped with LG compressor. First repair on June 27, 2018 – bad compressor needs replacement. November 18, 2020 service called refrigerator not working. Tech confirmed bad compressor and needs replacement again. This needs to be addressed and settled by LG My cost is lost food and a labor charge of $892.85.

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