Whirlpool Settles Class Action Over Refrigerator Wire Harness Defect: How to File Your Claim

Whirlpool has agreed to a class action settlement over an alleged defect in certain side-by-side refrigerators that causes wires in the freezer door to break, knocking out the ice maker, water dispenser, and control panel.

The settlement covers consumers who purchased a new Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir side-by-side refrigerator manufactured between 2018 and 2021. If your fridge had this problem and you paid out of pocket to fix or replace it, you could get money back.

What happened

According to the lawsuit, certain Whirlpool-manufactured refrigerators contain a defective wire harness that runs through the freezer door. Over time, those wires allegedly break under normal use, causing in-door features like the ice maker, ice dispenser, water dispenser, and control panel to stop working. Consumers say they were forced to pay for repairs or replacements that should have been covered.

Whirlpool hasn't admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case. The court granted preliminary approval on March 3, 2026, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026.

Who's eligible

You may be eligible if you purchased a new Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir side-by-side refrigerator manufactured between 2018 and 2021 for personal use in the United States. You can check if your specific refrigerator is covered by entering your serial number on the settlement website.

What you could get

The settlement offers two paths: cash reimbursement or a free or discounted repair, depending on your situation.

If you already paid to repair your fridge, you could get back between 30% and 75% of what you spent, depending on how old the fridge was when the problem happened and whether you contacted Whirlpool before paying. If you replaced the entire refrigerator because of the defect, you could get back between 25% and 50% of the original purchase price.

If your refrigerator currently has the wire harness issue and hasn't been fixed yet, you can choose between a free repair (Whirlpool covers parts and labor for fridges 2–4 years old, parts only for 5–7 years) or a cash reimbursement of up to 50% of the original purchase price.

The settlement also covers future issues. If your fridge develops the wire harness problem after May 5, 2026, you have 90 days from discovering it to contact Whirlpool and file a claim.

How to file

You have until November 2, 2026 to file your claim for past wire harness issues. You'll need your refrigerator's model number, serial number, and documentation of the issue and any costs you paid.

Download ClassyAction to file your claim in minutes and get a reminder before the deadline.