Hisense class action claims refrigerators have defective shelves

Hisense class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Alex Volinsky filed a class action lawsuit against Hisense USA Corp..
• Why: Certain Hisense refrigerators allegedly have defective shelves that are manufactured with low quality and/or low strength plastic that can detach or break under normal use.
• Where: The Hisense class action lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court.

Hisense USA Corporation sells refrigerators with defective shelves made of low-quality materials that can cause the plastic framing of the glass shelves to detach or break, according to a Hisense class action lawsuit filed Jan. 11 in Florida federal court.

Plaintiff Alex Volinsky says he purchased a Hisense refrigerator because he believed that it would function reliably for many years when used as intended. He claims he would not have purchased the product at the price he paid if he had known Hisense refrigerator shelves were manufactured with plastic framing that is allegedly too weak to support the glass shelving.

The Hisense class action lawsuit points to the company’s marketing, which describes Hisense refrigerators as being technologically advanced and built to last. This marketing leads consumers to believe the product will function reliably for years to come, subject to normal and intended use, Volinsky alleges.

Despite these representations, Volinksy alleges the Hisense refrigerator shelves are made with low-quality and/or low-strength materials that cause the shelves to lose their structural integrity. The alleged Hisense refrigerator defect manifests “[e]ven if there is proper maintenance and only normal and intended use of the product,” according to the Hisense class action lawsuit.

Plaintiff cites online complaints about alleged Hisense refrigerator shelves defect

Volinsky points to numerous online complaints about Hisense refrigerator shelves breaking within a few years even when consumers say they do not place heavy items on the shelves. One complaint says that the shelves “have cracked, chipped and outright snapped apart” even though the consumer purchased the appliance about two years ago.

Others have complained that the Hisense refrigerator shelves began to crack within just a few weeks of normal use, the Hisense class action lawsuit says.

The Hisense class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, false and misleading information, fraud and unjust enrichment.

In 2022, Hisense recalled some of its refrigerators in the United States and Canada over concerns the refrigerator doors could detach when opened, posing an injury risk.

Have you had issues with Hisense refrigerator shelves? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

Volinsky is represented by William Wright of The Wright Office PA and Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.

The Hisense refrigerators class action lawsuit is Alex Volinksy v. Hisense USA Corp., Case No. 8:24-cv-00117, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.

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