Sarah Mirando  |  September 27, 2010

Category: Legal News

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Samsung refrigeratorA design defect in Samsung refrigerators causes the coils to freeze over, leaving the refrigerator unable to remain cold enough to keep food from spoiling, according to a class action lawsuit filed in New Jersey. The lawsuit estimates thousands of U.S. consumers have purchased the defective refrigerators since 2005, and that consumers have suffered hundreds of dollar in damages from lost groceries and repairs caused by the alleged defect.

According to the Samsung refrigerator class action lawsuit, “The refrigerators are designed and manufactured with heated coils that are intended to prevent excess frost from developing in the back of the machine. Instead of preventing frost, however, the coils allow frost and ice to build up in the refrigerators until the ice clogs and/or disables the machine’s fans, making it impossible for the fans to work to keep the machine cool.”

The alleged defect not only renders the refrigerators unusable, but also poses a safety risk to consumers because it leads to food spoilage and the risk of food-borne illnesses. Further enhancing consumers’ risk of illness is the fact that many of the refrigerators falsely display on the exterior temperature reader that the inside of the fridge is at a standard cool temperature.

The class action lawsuit alleges the defect exists in all three varieties of refrigerators Samsung manufactures, including its French door, side-by-side and bottom freezer varieties, and the model numbers:

 

  • RF266AASH
  • RS263BBWP
  • RB1955SH
  • RS2533SW
  • RS267LASH
  • RS267TDRS
  • RS2630WW

 

The lawsuit further charges that “Samsung sold and serviced the refrigerators even though it knew, or was reckless in not knowing, that the refrigerators were defectively designed, would fail prematurely, and would ultimately result in [class members’] inability to use their refrigerators for their intended purpose.”

This is the second class action lawsuit filed in two months over defective refrigerators causing food spoilage. A class action lawsuit filed in July alleges LG’s French door refrigerator models contain a defect that causes the interior light to stay on after the doors are closed, resulting in overheating, food spoilage, melted plastic and fire hazard.

The Samsung refrigerator class action lawsuit is seeking damages, restitution and other awards for class members. A copy of the lawsuit can be read here.

UPDATE: On September 3, 2015, the Samsung refrigerator class action lawsuit was dismissed.

855 thoughts onSamsung Refrigerator Class Action Lawsuit

  1. Sharon Johnson says:

    I need to know how to become a part of this class action Lawsuit ! I too have a Samsung Side By Side model # RS 2545SH that is not working right ! We have had a repairman out 3 different times for the same problem , the back coil freezes and it clogs the drain hole and they have to use heat guns and unthaw it ! They have told us that it can’t be fixed that we just have to keep having someone come thaw it out when it freezes again because it makes the fan not run so it doesn’t keep the food cold ! We need and want a new fefrigerator ! We can’t afford to keep paying someone to come out and unthaw it and we can’t afford to keep losing food because it spoils ! What am I to do ???

  2. Sharon Johnson says:

    I need to know how to become a part of this class action Lawsuit ! I too have a Samsung Side By Side model # RS 2545SH that is not working right ! We have had a repairman out 3 different times for the same problem , the back coil freezes and it clogs the drain hole and they have to use heat guns and unthaw it ! They have told us that it can’t be fixed that we just have to keep having someone come thaw it out when it freezes again because it makes the fan not run so it doesn’t keep the food cold ! We need and want a new fefrigerator ! We can’t afford to keep paying someone to come out and unthaw it and we can’t afford to keep losing food because it spoils ! What am I to do ???

  3. Sharon Johnson says:

    I need to know how to become a part of this class action Lawsuit ! I too have a Samsung Side By Side model # RS 2545SH that is not working right ! We have had a repairman out 3 different times for the same problem , the back coil freezes and it clogs the drain hole and they have to use heat guns and unthaw it ! They have told us that it can’t be fixed that we just have to keep having someone come thaw it out when it freezes again because it makes the fan not run so it doesn’t keep the food cold ! We need and want a new fefrigerator ! We can’t afford to keep paying someone to come out and unthaw it and we can’t afford to keep losing food because it spoils ! What am I to do ???

  4. Sharon Johnson says:

    I need to know how to become a part of this class action Lawsuit ! I too have a Samsung Side By Side model # RS 2545SH that is not working right ! We have had a repairman out 3 different times for the same problem , the back coil freezes and it clogs the drain hole and they have to use heat guns and unthaw it ! They have told us that it can’t be fixed that we just have to keep having someone come thaw it out when it freezes again because it makes the fan not run so it doesn’t keep the food cold ! We need and want a new fefrigerator ! We can’t afford to keep paying someone to come out and unthaw it and we can’t afford to keep losing food because it spoils ! What am I to do ???

  5. C Schmidt says:

    I have a model #RFG297AARS that will not keep foods frozen. Purchased 10-17-09. Can I be added to the lawsuit? Any advice?

  6. C Schmidt says:

    I have a model #RFG297AARS that will not keep foods frozen. Purchased 10-17-09. Can I be added to the lawsuit? Any advice?

  7. C Schmidt says:

    I have a model #RFG297AARS that will not keep foods frozen. Purchased 10-17-09. Can I be added to the lawsuit? Any advice?

  8. carmen reschly says:

    I have a samsung rs2630 please include me!

  9. Babu Antony says:

    I also habe the same problem. Can I join the lawsuit?

  10. Terri B says:

    I also would like to be part of this law suit. I purchased a French Door refrigerator RF217ACPN ANPN July 2011, for $1134.00. For that price I expect to last longer than one year. I have to spend time defrosting a “no frost” refrigerator. I have to wonder if Samsung has even been notified of law suit since they are still selling defective appliances.? Not only does it have ice coming out of inside panels in the top section…I get water in my crisper s. I do not have an ice maker so no water hook up. Also freezer compartment has build up of snow like frost and ice….NOT HAPPY !

    1. Peter Kern says:

      I too have a Samsung RF217ACPN which I purchased in June of 2011. About 6 months ago, the refrigerator started to freeze up and the fan made a terrible noise. Since then, I have had to defrost my refrigerator every month. It now keeps nothing cold and I have been loosing food regularly. I too would like to join this class action suit. I have called Samsung a few times but since it is no longer under warranty, I am faced with expensive repairs.

      1. Yong Jiang says:

        Please add me too. We have purchased RF217ACWP from local sears store two years ago. and the refrigerator temperature went up gradually, now the top panel stop showing any numbers after we defrosted the refrigerator.

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