Whirlpool Refrigerators Control Panels and Ice Buildup Class Action

This class action brings suit against Whirlpool Corporation, claiming that certain Whirlpool-made refrigerator-freezers have defective control panels that lead to failure and ice accumulation. The complaint cites laws on strict liability and negligence, among other things.

The class for this action is all persons in the US and its territories who (a) bought and took delivery of a Class Refrigerator, as listed in Exhibit 1 of this complaint, (b) acquired a Class Refrigerator in a purchase or remodeling of a home, or (c) received a Class Refrigerator as a gift from a giver who meets requirement (a) or (b), without anyone using the Class Refrigerator before it was gifted, at any time between November 13, 2016 and the date of trial of this case.

Whirlpool makes home appliances under many brand names, including Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana, Roper, Admiral, Affresh, and Gladiator.

One of the two plaintiffs in this case, Kimberly Chebegia, bought a Whirlpool-made KitchenAid refrigerator that was delivered in or around November 14, 2016. At some time after it was delivered, she called Whirlpool about an ice accumulation issue. A repair person came and confirmed the ice problem. The complaint reports that the fridge’s “cntrl-elec” has failed.

The other plaintiff, Kristopher Spear, has a similar story. He bought a KitchenAid refrigerator made by Whirlpool and took delivery of it on January 31, 2019. He too noticed an ice accumulation problem and called Whirlpool about it. A repairperson came and confirmed the problem.

Since then, the complaint says, the refrigerator’s “cntrl-elec” has failed. According to the complaint, it has been repeatedly replaced, on January 28, May 29, and September 21, 2020; its other “cntrl-elec” has also failed and been replaced on January 28 and September 21, 2020; its “panel-ui” has failed and been replaced on January 28, 2020; and its “thermistor” has also failed and been replaced on September 21, 2020.

What is the control panel problem? The complaint claims, “The Control Panels are defective in that their premature failure and/or malfunction causes (i) the defrost function to fail; (ii) ice to accumulate on the outside of the Class Refrigerators’ doors, which if left to continue, []will prevent the doors from closing, and result[] in leaks to areas within, below and surrounding the Class Refrigerators; and (iii) an impediment to the useful life of other components in Class Refrigerators. The Control Panels’ defects also damage and impeded the useful life of other components in the Class Refrigerators…”

Article Type:
Topic: Consumer
Tags: Control Panel, Defective Home Appliance, Refrigerator