How Can a Class Action Help? A class action lawsuit could help hold Samsung accountable for the money consumers spent on the fridges, as well as any relevant repairs.

What's Going On? A class action lawsuit has been filed alleging that the built-in-door ice makers on these fridges are defective and can cause a number of problems, including water leaks, parts "freezing up" and loud fan noises that consumers have described as "growling" or "jamming."

This Alert Affects: Anyone who experienced problems with the built-in-door ice maker on their Samsung fridge. The fridges in question are believed to have French doors and pull-out freezer drawers.

What does the lawsuit allege?

A class action lawsuit has been filed alleging that a defect within the ice makers is causing a number of problems, including, but not limited to the following:

Water leaking to beneath the fridges’ crisper trays (where most people keep fruits and vegetables)

Noise (often described as “loud,” “clicking,” “jarring,” “grinding,” “knocking” or “buzzing”) when the fan hits the “over-iced” compartment

The formation of ice crystals, water droplets and “slushy ice” at the bottom of the ice maker

Ice buckets that are “stuck” and cannot be removed, possibly due to clogged drains

Over-freezing of water in the ice compartment

The proposed class action filed over the defect has since been sent to private mediation, which is set to begin in June 2019.

Class Action Cites Major Problems Including Water Leaks, Fan Noise

One class action lawsuit against Samsung cites a number of complaints from consumers as posted on ConsumerAffairs.com and other websites. These include:

“My Samsung French door refrigerator Rf267AERS started making fan noise and frost built up exactly one year after I purchased.”

- RAJIV OF PEARLAND, TEXAS

“We purchased a Samsung (Mod RF267AB) French door refrigerator, and within 18 months, we had issues with water pooling in the pan under the deli pullout drawer…Starting yesterday, the upper cooling fan has begun growling.”

- DOUG OF ORINDA, CALIFORNIA

“It constantly freezes up, and water is under the vegetables bins. What a lemon. People, do your homework and never buy a Samsung refrigerator! This one had the ice and water on the outside and the French doors.”

- CARRIE OF BRANCHVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

“Shortly after the basic 1-year warranty ran out, the unit began routinely freezing up…When the ice builds up over time, it locks up the fan motor from the glacier of ice (sounds horrible like a screech owl)…Now, the ice maker is making loud clicking and banging sounds and the ice maker has malfunctioned too with inconsistent delivery of odd sized ice cubes (more like chunks of ice) and it, too, now freezes up.”

- ROGER OF MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

The plaintiff himself in the lawsuit also complains of water buildup and leakage, as well as “loud, jarring noises” from the ice maker fan. A technician showed him how to defrost the ice maker, loosen the ice, remove the screws and take out the ice maker and its “auger motor.” He then allegedly showed the plaintiff how to defrost the ice buildup inside the ice hose/drain with a space heater or hair dryer. According to the suit, the technician reported that the ice maker was “defective” and “unfixable.”

Samsung Releases Bulletin on Ice Maker Problems

The lawsuit claims that in July 2015, Samsung issued a technical service bulletin that described many of the issues described in the complaint. Unfortunately, Samsung allegedly did not offer to repair and replace the ice makers or fridges and instead left it up to consumers to remedy any problems they experienced. The suit claims that Samsung knew of the ice maker issues – because the company itself sent out a technical service bulletin – but neglected its responsibility to fix the problem. Allegedly, a large number of complaints about the ice makers breaking or freezing up continue to be reported to this day.

How a Class Action Lawsuit Can Help

A class action lawsuit against Samsung could help consumers recover money they spent on the fridges, as well as any repairs. Furthermore, it could serve as a warning to Samsung and other manufacturers to ensure their products are free from defects – or, at the very least, come with viable options for repair or replacement should problems arise.

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