Complain about a product or service

Whirlpool Refrigerators

Whirlpool • Dehumidifiers • Dishwashers • Microwave • Ranges & Ovens • Refrigerators • Washers/dryers • Water heaters --- • Calypso • KitchenAid --- News • California Class Action Throws Cold Water on Whirlpool • Consumers Steamed about Whirlpool Water Heaters • Whirlpool Dusts Hoover • Whirlpool-Maytag Merger Gets Final OK • Whirlpool Wins Maytag Bidding • Class Action Suit Charges Defects in Calypso Units

Lori of Marion Center, PA January 20, 2010

On Saturday January 9,2010 we was getting ready to leave for the day when we smelled burning wires, after investigating we realized it was coming from our Whirlpool side by side refrigerator (only 6 yrs old.) The kitchen filled with black smoke, So I did some reasearch on the internet to find numerous complaints on this problem. The relay switch burning.

I am in the process of making a complaint to whirlpool also. We bought a new one I can not take the chance on this make and model again. Very disappointed.

Raymond of Talking Rock, GA January 12, 2010

In 2003 we purchased several Sears kitchen products for a new home...refriderator,dishwasher and gas stove. So far no problems to report with any product except the Kenmore fridge made by whirlpool. In June 2006 the icemaker stopped making ice and I had to purchase a 1 year contract to cover the service call and parts. The a few days,(Jan.7,2010), ago My wife and I woke up to a burning smell and located it coming from the back of the refridgerator and found it was no longer freezing or cooling the food. Fortunatly it was during a rare snowstorm in north georgia and I was able to save the food in 6 coolers on the back porch and transfer the still frozen foods to a nearby freezer in the garage.

Wondering what to do with a 6 year old fridge my wife called a local repair man who arrived Jan 11, 2010 and made an examination and advised to junk this fridge and purchase another. He found that the compressor and the relay, plus several key wires completely burned black and fried to a crisp. He said that he had seen a lot of these machines go out this way and it really was not worth trying to repair as the cooling lines were also stopped from being blocked by burned cooling fluids. I will never purchase another producy from Sears or Whirlpool that could have killed us in our sleep.

Carrie of Dixon, CA January 8, 2010

As others have recently complained, we awoke to a burning plastic smell this morning and traced it to our refrigerator. It's actually a Kitchenaide Superba side by side, but it's made in the same factory with the same internal parts as Whirlpool. They are the same company. After looking on the internet, we pulled the fridge out and checked out the stuff in back.

At fixya.com, someone wrote: "Nov 27, 2007- It sounds like your compressor start relay may be the cause of your smell. It will be located on the side of the compressor. It will either be an assembly that plugs on the side or it will be under a black plastic cover on the side of the compressor. You could use a straw to sniff with. If it is a white assembly pull it off the compressor (it pulls strait away from the compressor to the left) If you shake it and it rattles it is bad. If it is under a black cover it will be a small part that also will pull off the compressor. Again if it rattles it is bad. Get a new one and follow the directions that come with it and you have save . Good for you! I am betting that is what is smelling but if not please give any and as much other info you can. I will be happy to help. supertechks"

We did as described above, and sure enough, we have a burnt up compressor start relay (part #2220475). My husband is going to a parts dealer right now to get a new one for about 65. I'm grateful we found this now since we'll be out of town soon and could have had our house burn down!

Tom of Oregon City, OR January 7, 2010

After reading all these posts about the Whirlpool Gold Series Side by Side, all happening within the past few days, I am beginning to believe that Whirlpool created this debacle as a "planned obsolences" event. I have been on unemployment for the past year and can ill-afford the cost to replace all the food I lost in my freezer and refridgerator.

For two days I was eating pork and other food items, not even realizing that the Whirlpool Side by Side was at room temperature. This explains the severe stomach pains that kept me awake the past two nights. With all the complaints, I cannot believe that Whirlpool has let this go. I intend to go You Tube and to the Consumer Protection Agency. This is ridiculous with no recall effort on the part of Whirlpool I have a stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer, but my biggest investment was this refridgerator. I will never buy another Whirlpool product.

Not only am I out a refridgerator at this unemployed time in my life, I am also out about 700 in food items. I filled my garbage can with 2 frozen turkeys, meat, frozen meals, entrees and more, not to mention what was in my refridgerator. I am not just devastated, I am outraged.

Richard of Boca Raton, FL January 3, 2010

My 25 cu ft side by side Whirlpool GOLD purchased in Nov.2002...worked nicely. On JAN. 2, 2010 I awakened to a burning smell and discovered the house filled with smoke and black soot...traced to my refrig. model GD5SHAXLQ02. I unplugged it and called Whirlpool, getting a tech who said they had nothing of this type of problem on the computer..advising me to call a repair company. On a Saturday holiday weekend I managed to find one who came in a few hours...the tech showed me the burned wires...burned relay which caused the compressor to fail... Advised me to just buy another fridge since the costs could be upwards to 700. I then see there are many complaints about the same problem... Whirlpool should compensate us for a mere 7 year lifespan for their crappy box... Had to buy another fridge immediately...trying a GE this time.

Melvida of Wamego, KS January 2, 2010

We woke at 4:30 am to an electrical burn smell in our house. We looked everywhere and finally discovered it was the refrigerator(whirlpool gold side by side). We called in a tech and he told us it was the relay that had started a fire and destroyed the compressor terminals. He told us this shouldn't have happened and it could have burnt down our house.

I then contacted Whirlpool and they asked alot of questions and told us they would get back to us. They had to contact the Tech who worked on the Refrigerator. After contacting the Tech, they contacted us and we were under the impression that they would exchange our old refrigerator with a new one. That was not the deal--Artrica later told me in another conversation that someone would bring us a new refrigerator and we would have to pay 638.00 at the time or, they could come and get the old refrigerator and give us a check for 605.00 for the remaining life of the old one.

When we first contacted Whirlpool, they had told us that Maytag had a recall on the relay but it didn't extend to the Whirlpool. After reading some of these complaints, I see we aren't the only ones experiencing this. We are not going to accept the check for 605.00 we would like some legal advice first. We are without a primary refrigerator with ice maker and water. I lost a days work on this and have made numerous long distance calls and will have a bill coming from the Tech. No money to replace the quality we thought we had.

Jonathan of New York, NY December 31, 2009

December 22, called to report that our brand new Whirlpool side by side refrigerator, purchased from Ikea was not working. This unit was delivered on December 14 and installed on the 17th. It was installed at our house on Fire Island, New York. It never worked, sure the lights worked but the machine did not cool or freeze. When we called Whirlpool they made an appointment with Metro Service, at that time we were assured that Metro could service our refrigerator on Fire Island. On the day of the appointment the repairman called our contractor to say he'd be a little late. When the contractor told him he had missed the last ferry, the repairman said they did not do service on Fire Island.

Next day I call Whirlpool. I get them to understand where Fire Island is. They aknowledge that they now know where it is and they will get their "resource team" to find a repair service that will service on Fire Island. They also promise that I will hear back from them in 48 hours. I call them back on the third day. They again setup an appointment with Metro. I again explain the issues and the problem. Again the "resource team" will work out the problem, this time in 24 hours. I call back two days later. They still have no answer from the "team".

On December 30 I get an automated call from Metro saying they will be at our city apartment on the 31st, in the afternoon, to repair the refrigerator. This is after I spoke with Metro and they told me they did not provide service on Fire Island! I called and cancelled this appointment. On the phone with Whirlpool today, the 31st. They still have no information as to who would make the repair. The "resource team" will get back to me "as soon as they can". I gave a deadline of Monday, January 4, 12noon NY time. This has been a huge waste of time. These people do not have the capability to deal with anything other than the most simple of problems. This refrigerator has never worked and Whirlpool will not replace it and they can't service it.

I offered to return the refrigerator to Ikea and exchange it for a new unit if Whirlpool would pay the shipping from Fire Island to Hicksville and back (100.00), they can't even organize that! Whirlpool is a company with no vision, no service and poor or missing quality control. Stay away from them!!

Bradley of Davenport, IA December 23, 2009

I woke up to a pungent odor. The odor was traced to the Kitchen, and then to the refrigerator (Whirlpool side-by-side (2004). I took off the back panel anticipating that I was going to find some debris. Instead, I found that the relay switch was arching from a short. Everytime the compressor kicked on, a small flame is emitted.

All four wires are completely scorched. However, the current is still operational. Obviously, I have unplugged the unit. NO remaining warranty. Is anyone else seeing relay switch problems?

Scott of washington, PA December 15, 2009

Purchased Whirlpool side kick Freezer and Refrigerator. Within the first year the freezer went bad and could not be repaired. They replaced both units since style changed and they wouldn't match. Within a year the refrigerator stoped cooling. They had to replace the compressor and condensor. Within 2 months it failed again. We contacted Whirlpool corporate headquarters and they appoligized for all the problems and sent us in writing if it fails again within a year they would replace the unit. They then repaired the unit for the second time. Two months later 2 weeks before Christmas it failed again. We contacted Whirlpool to let them know if failed again. They informed us that the manfacturer that made the refrigator for them was filing for bankruptcy and they will no longer honor the warrenty or their written promise to replace the unit if it failed again.

Michael of Jamestown, NY December 12, 2009

I purchase a 2005 Whirlpool Refrigerator. Model GS2SHEXNB00 On 25NOV09 the light bulb and the digital display with the Refrigerator and Freezer settings stopped working. I called the local ACME Appliance Store Jamestown, NY where I purchased this unit to schedule a repair. The repair person arrived later that day. He preformed a number of routine electrical tests on the door light switch, light bulb socket, and the wiring around the area of the controls display. The repair person determined that the problem was a result of a circuit board which controlled the lights which were not working. The repair person returned on 1DEC09 with the new circuit board. The repair person replaced the circuit board but this did not fix the issues. The repair person left saying he would be in contact soon. The repair person called back that next day and exclaimed that he would not be able to fix the unit and provided the A&E Factory Service 800 number.

I called the A&E Factory Service number and scheduled an appointment for a 65 service call. The Service man arrived on 11DEC09. The A&E Service man spend a large block of time testing the electrical wiring associated with the problem. The next hour or so, the repair person spent his time calling his support desk. The repair person explained that the electrical lines were only displaying 100 volts of current. After further discussion and investigation the A&E Service help desk explained the problem as a know issue but no service technical bulletin.

Technical Comments from the A&E Work Order: Product malfunction: Per Stac Routing of man Harness against h20 valve caused both Circuit boards to fail, Emgy (Emergency) Ordered Same. I talked to the service man and he explained that a wiring harness was assembled very close (touching) a solenoid controlled water inlet valve for the water and ice in the door. The service man explained that the during the normal functions of the solenoid valve, the electrical signals produced caused the wiring to destroy both the circuit board that controls the lights described above and the main circuit board. He then explained that the A&E help desk told him that both boards were required to be replace and the wires moved away from the valve.

This process took 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Service man then started to type in the parts and service costs. Now this is what was given to me: Labor 211.00 Tax 16.35 Sub Tot 227.35 Parts required – Collect: Sub Contrl-B 225.81 46 106 2255233 1 Sub Cntrl-el 46 106 W10135090 1 108.74 Parts sub-total 360.48 Original Estimate 587.83 Grand Total 587.83

At this point a 65 service call is 211 and I am looking at over 360 in parts. My thoughts are that I did not open the back of this refrigerator and place the wiring next to the electrical valve which ruined the 2 circuit boards. This to me is an design or assembly issue at the manufacturer. I am trying to understand what steps I can perform to reduce the amount of money I am spending on this repair.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2010 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.