Whirlpool seeks dismissal of class action over defective fridge wiring

Update:

• Whirlpool asked a judge in Delaware federal court to throw out claims its refrigerators have defective wiring, claiming the plaintiffs failed to show Whirlpool had knowledge of the defect.
• The company claims the plaintiffs cited 22 negative reviews among more than 20,000 positive reviews to claim Whirlpool was aware of the issues.
• None of the plaintiffs had multiple wires within the door fail and none attempted to purchase a replacement door to fix the issue, Whirlpool says.
• The company also claims there are no cases of injury related to the wiring despite the plaintiffs’ claim that the wiring creates a risk of shock, electrocution or fire.

Whirlpool refrigerators class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiffs Stacy Costa, Nathaniel Guerrero and Missy Robinson filed a class action lawsuit against Whirlpool Corp.
• Why: Certain Whirlpool refrigerators allegedly have defective wires that can fray or break, causing a potential safety hazard.
• Where: The Whirlpool class action lawsuit was filed in Delaware federal court.

(Feb. 16, 2024)

Whirlpool Corp. faces a class action lawsuit alleging it manufactured and sold Whirlpool refrigerators with defective wiring that can pose a safety hazard.

Plaintiffs Stacy Costa, Nathaniel Guerrero and Missy Robinson filed the Whirlpool class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and others who purchased certain French-door or side-by-side-style Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Kenmore refrigerator-freezer combinations with defective wiring.

They allege the Whirlpool refrigerators contain defective wires that are intended to flex when the door is opened and closed. However, the class action lawsuit alleges, the wires are made with materials that cause them to fray or break quickly with normal use, rendering many of the refrigerators’ functions useless.

“Moreover, the broken and frayed wires create a safety hazard due to the presence of exposed, live wires,” the plaintiffs allege. They claim the refrigerators defective wires issue often manifests within a few years of purchase.

Whirlpool has known of the refrigerators defective wires problem for at least a decade, as indicated by consumer complaints on social media and public forums, the Whirlpool class action lawsuit claims. 

“Those complaints also necessitated Whirlpool’s communications with repair technicians and service representatives about the [refrigerators’ defective wires], which further evidences Whirlpool’s awareness of the problems,” the plaintiffs allege.

Plaintiffs say refrigerators defective wires issue is ‘irreparable’

The alleged Whirlpool refrigerators defect is “irreparable,” according to the Whirlpool class action lawsuit. The only way to restore functionality to the refrigerators is to install replacement doors, which also contain defective wires that will fail prematurely, the plaintiffs say.

Consumers seeking replacement doors are often required to wait months for their Whirlpool refrigerators to be repaired, if the replacement doors are available at all. When new Whirlpool refrigerator doors are available, the replacement door may cost more than $1,200, the plaintiffs say.

“As a result, most consumers are forced to purchase an entirely new refrigerator,” the class action lawsuit says.

The class action lawsuit asserts claims for breach of express warranty, violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, unjust enrichment, common law fraud, negligent misrepresentation and violations of California, Florida and North Carolina laws.

Last year, another class action lawsuit claimed the company sells certain Whirlpool refrigerators with a defect that renders them unable to maintain a cool temperature.

Have you purchased Whirlpool refrigerators that failed prematurely? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Scott M. Tucker, Timothy N. Matthews, Zachary P. Beatty and Marissa N. Pembroke of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP

The Whirlpool refrigerators class action lawsuit is Stacy Costa, et al. v. Whirlpool Corp., Case No. 1:24-cv-00188-UNA, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

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