Samsung Class Action Says Washers are Defective

A woman from Arkansas has filed a class action lawsuit against Samsung Electronics America Inc. over an alleged defect in the company’s washing machines.

Plaintiff Aimee Olinghouse says certain Samsung clothes washers have a defect that causes the housing for the drain pump assembly to fracture and separate from its base.

Olinghouse says this damage happens because the machine’s design places the weight of the pump and the water against the drain pump housing and base. Add vibration from the tub and the machine’s powerful motor, and the drain pump housing ultimately breaks away from its base, she alleges.

Olinghouse says the broken washer can cause additional damage. Once the drain pump housing and base are damaged, the powerful motor and fast spin cycle can cause “significant water leakage or even an explosion,” she claims, leading to potential property damage and personal injury. She believes the alleged defect makes these Samsung washers unfit for normal use in homes.

Compounding the problem, claims Olinghouse, Samsung has failed to adequately address the alleged defect. She says the company has been unable to provide replacement parts for the drain pump housing and broken motor mounts.

The Samsung class action lawsuit says the defect can be found in Samsung’s WA400 and WA500 series washers. Other models could also be affected, she says, depending on what discovery reveals in the course of the lawsuit.

Olinghouse says she bought a Samsung WA400 washer in 2013. She alleges the machine malfunctioned in January 2015. The technician who responded to her call for service described the malfunction and told her it was a widespread problem among certain Samsung washing machines, she claims.

The plaintiff says she ordered replacement parts directly from Samsung. At first, the company said the parts would be covered by the Samsung warranty, she says. But then she claims the company reneged, telling her she could purchase a repair kit for $130. She claims she tried to ask Samsung customer service to honor their warranty, but that phone call ended when a Samsung representative hung up on her.

Despite knowing full well about the alleged defect, Olinghouse claims, Samsung has not bothered to warn consumers about the associated risks. Neither has the company issued a recall, she says. Meanwhile, Samsung has continued to sell tens of thousands of these allegedly defective washing machines, she claims.

Olinghouse is proposing to represent a Class consisting of everyone in the state of Arkansas who within the “fullest period allowed by law” purchased a Samsung washing machine for their household use.

She is asking the court to award damages to compensate for all actual harm caused by the alleged defect, plus reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. She also seeks a court order requiring Samsung to take corrective action including “notification, recall, inspection, and, as necessary, repair and replacement” of the washing machines at issue.

Attorneys for the plaintiff and proposed Class are Randall K. Pulliam of Carney Bates & Pulliam PLLC; Shanon Carson and Michael Fantini of Berger & Montague PC; Gregory F. Coleman, Mark E. Silvey and Adam E. Edwards of Greg Coleman Law PC; and John Yanchunis of Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group

The Samsung Defective Washer Class Action Lawsuit is Aimee Olinghouse v. Samsung Electronics America Inc., Case No. 4:16-cv-00279, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

UPDATE: On May 25, 2016 the Samsung Defective Washer case was dismissed at the request of the plaintiff.  Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more.

UPDATE 2: Samsung has issued a voluntary recall of 34 top-loading washing machines. Find out more information on how you can benefit here.

UPDATE 3: February 2019, the Samsung washer class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.