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A 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
I bought Samsung model RF197ACRS in 2013 and have had trouble with it since 2015. Ice builds up under and inside my crispers and I have to chip it away about 3 times a month. Now it is freezing food in the refrigerator. Have had to throw a lot of food away over the years. Doing a little research before I call Samsung and try my hardest to get a refund. No longer have my receipt, hope that doesn’t disqualify me.
I am a Samsung refrigerator owner. French doors w drawer on the bottom. Its fairly new and freezing up!! The repair man said its a mfg defect. Something about the drain hole having bad placement and freezing over. I am pissed! I just replaced the motherboard in my Maytag washer I haven’t even had 2.5 years! Finally get the funds to buy nice appliances and the used old ones are better. I am not impressed w the appliance world right now. We are repairing our dishwasher as much as possible because I do not want to buy a new one. Same with my stove! I’m starting to think there is a bigger conspiracy here w appliances and China! I shouldve listened to my grandpa, “Buy American products only.”
I forgot to add model #RF263TESESR
Bought Samsung refrigerator in approximately 2014 and have had ongoing problems with the door, the digital readout panel, and multiple issues with the very poorly designed ice maker. Many parts have been replaced including ice maker three times. One time the plastic tabs on the new ice maker broke while service tech was trying to install it!
I also have the double French door Samsung refrigerator which I purchased 2 years ago. From day 1 the fan was making noise and called for service 5 different times and nothing got resolved. After the 3 visit from a technician I had to add the ice maker leaking and freezing and not even making ice. That was also a waste of time 😡
4 different techniques came out ALL with the same song n dance that Samsung knows the ice maker is crap and that nothing we do will resolve the issue! It’s been a couple of months now and still waiting to hear back from Samsung as to what my next step is and surprise surprise no answer. I have paper towels stuffed in the side door trays under the ice dispenser and paper towels on the top of the lunch meat drawer.
I have to constantly wipe the puddle on the floor side of the ice maker. I also don’t store any food under the ice maker inside left side of refrigerator because the food will freeze and I throw it out.
I’m so glad I purchased a Samsung fridge worth 2000+ to do all these things on a daily bases. So embarrassing when I have company over too. I just want my new fridge to work properly and not get the run around from the company!
I probably lost 2000+ worth of food in the past 2 years from all these issues.
I had this issue with my LG. Thankfully I have an amazing & honest technician who changed out the fuse in the bottom of my fridge & it only cost $59 for the $30 or so fuse $ his fee. I haven’t had any issues since. That was about 1.5 yrs ago.
Add me having major issues with mine hasnt worked in a week they wont be out for another 2 weeks, lost all my food & have been living out of coolers. They canceled my service request 3 times for no reason, worst company to deal with
Bought a Samsung side by side fridge it’s 8 years old been repaired twice and now it’s not cooling called Samsung they refused to come out to service was told it is too old so I wasted 1500.00
I would like to be involved in any class action lawsuit the involves Samsungs refrigerators. I bought mine 5 years ago RF263BEAESG/AA and have been trying to get mine fixed for the last three weeks. Numerous lies, hang ups, no call backs, and the worst – no one showed up on the service date becasue Samsung cancelled it without notifying me. Comes down to the fact that they don’t make the part anymore to fix it. Very sneaky and strategic since theses refrigerators are all defective. I even found the part, and they still wont fix it. SAMSUNG is the absolute worst and I will never purchase from them again – but I want my money back. Who can afford to buy a fridge every 6 years? What if they stopped making a component for your car and you had to buy a new one every 6 years? If I new Samsung would not support me as a client, and would stop making parts to repair my expensive fridge, I never would have purchased this unit.
I HAVE THE SAME REFRIGERATOR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ICEMAKER DOESN’T WORK.
I just talked to her repairman and they told me as soon as you take a leave a message saying it’s a Samsung they will not return the phone calls cuz they said Samsung has too many issues with it faces do not get a Samsung or LG it’s the same issues they’re basically garbage appliance if there’s a way to join another lawsuit trust me I would mine just died
Iam so glad to see this problem addressed, Ive been dealing with this since we purchased this refrigerator: Samsung French doors model# RF26HFENDSR/AA, We have lost so much food because of the freezing coils, service repairs etc…
and the problem is still there. Has not been fixed yet. Please include me in this law suit. Thank You
I have the same problem of the fridge coils freezing over and stopping the fan. Is this repairable?
rf25hmedbsr icemaker, temp settings evap fan problems, fixed what i could myself because of all the bandaid service people were getting but after 5 years the internal temp won’t go below 38 degrees and fluxes to 51.
Samsung appliances should have been ordered to fix or buy all units back. Get rid of all those bullshit consumer ratings that they have payed for and stop buying their products.