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Phentex

(16,504 posts)
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:16 PM Jul 2023

Fridge is dying again. I am caught in the warranty shuffle...

LG. Posted about this back in March and April when it was fixed the last time. The lemon law claims 5 times of same repair and they will replace or refund. This is number 5 at least. But the kicker is the cooling system is under LG's warranty which is good for many years. The warranty people (Asurion, LG's extended warranty) show three repairs. I couldn't even get LG on the phone so I called the warranty people. They ordered parts for the cooling system but I don't know if this will count as one of the repairs or not. Honestly, I wish it would just die and not be fixable. I can't do this every three months!

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Fridge is dying again. I am caught in the warranty shuffle... (Original Post) Phentex Jul 2023 OP
Sorry for your situation. MOMFUDSKI Jul 2023 #1
Thanks! Phentex Jul 2023 #4
Count your blessings mchill Jul 2023 #2
Yikes! Phentex Jul 2023 #3
Same here with the cabinets, someone decided to make all doc03 Jul 2023 #12
One option mchill Jul 2023 #18
We had to fridge shop 2 years ago Diamond_Dog Jul 2023 #5
It's true! Multiple class action suits Phentex Jul 2023 #9
I was at a friend's house back around 2017 and mchill Jul 2023 #19
Not that anyone wants to hear this but I'm still using the same fridge I bought 35 years ago. dem4decades Jul 2023 #6
I scoured NextDoor looking for someone's old garage fridge Phentex Jul 2023 #13
LOL, my childhood friend sells appliances, he told me the life expectancy of a new fridge is 7 yea dem4decades Jul 2023 #14
My wife's sister GE fridge is 45 years old Emile Jul 2023 #24
Oh, man--an LG? cyclonefence Jul 2023 #7
this was a pandemic fridge Phentex Jul 2023 #10
We've had a Samsung TV Diamond_Dog Jul 2023 #17
Consumer Reports jumped the shark ... Basic LA Jul 2023 #21
HA HA! Phentex Jul 2023 #31
We just did the extended warranty shuffle on a kitchen aid... getagrip_already Jul 2023 #8
Yes, the bad cases are the more rural areas... Phentex Jul 2023 #11
A couple of years ago I watched my son's dog and house, he had an LG fridge. dem4decades Jul 2023 #15
Yeah first thing they tell you to check... Phentex Jul 2023 #26
This message was self-deleted by its author dem4decades Jul 2023 #16
Had this with Samsung from Lowe's a fewyears ago. Marcus IM Jul 2023 #20
It may be the way to go... Phentex Jul 2023 #27
Fridges are all "black box" components. Mostly the same as the other brands. Marcus IM Jul 2023 #32
This has to be frustrating as hell. GreenWave Jul 2023 #22
Thanks! Phentex Jul 2023 #28
I am done with LG products. We had two LG tvs go out Emile Jul 2023 #23
Have we entered the printer stage? Phentex Jul 2023 #29
My son bought a Beko refrigerator spinbaby Jul 2023 #25
I wanted five years that's all Phentex Jul 2023 #30

mchill

(1,089 posts)
2. Count your blessings
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:25 PM
Jul 2023

You don’t have a built in that would cost over $10,000 to replace (and due to cabinet arrangements would need this particular size) and you had a repairman come to replace a fan 3 years ago, which didn’t even fix the original problem, and 2 hours after he left the cooling alarm goes off at random hours (sometimes 2 hours, mostly around every 15 hours, but on a good week I’ve gotten 4 and 5 days) and not a sole anywhere, including Viking headquarters, can tell me how to disengage it.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
3. Yikes!
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:31 PM
Jul 2023

Neighbor told me to get a subzero. So for 10,000+, I could get one. OR I could buy a $1000 fridge every year for ten years.

I feel pretty grateful that this isn't the end of the world for me. Just super annoying! I have an old kitchen with nothing built in. I have a hole where there used to be a double oven but now it holds a microwave.

doc03

(36,698 posts)
12. Same here with the cabinets, someone decided to make all
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:07 PM
Jul 2023

refrigerators 2 inches taller and wider. If my fridge needs replaced I will have replace my cabinets. Hopefully I will be able to
find a repairman that can keep it running. Some of those new ones are 6 feet tall and must be 4 feet wide.

mchill

(1,089 posts)
18. One option
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 04:16 PM
Jul 2023

I think about is to get this one narrower model, but counter depth, a Liebherr, so the left side of fridge does not interfere with the cab door. I’d have to build some cubbies around the side to fill out the space. Because I plan to move in the next year or two and don’t want the expense and I love this current fridge, though the freezer not quite solidly freezing, it’s pretty. As all $13,000 fridges should be! The alarm going off is just part of my life now lol. Even st 3 am

Diamond_Dog

(34,620 posts)
5. We had to fridge shop 2 years ago
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:45 PM
Jul 2023

My old Amana finally conked out after nearly 40 years!

Every last salesperson in every store we looked (about 5 in all), said, “Don’t buy an LG.”

mchill

(1,089 posts)
19. I was at a friend's house back around 2017 and
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 04:18 PM
Jul 2023

A refrigerator repair man was there at the time. I can’t remember what year it was but I think he said 2004, he anything made after that year was designed to fail within seven years.

dem4decades

(11,911 posts)
6. Not that anyone wants to hear this but I'm still using the same fridge I bought 35 years ago.
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:51 PM
Jul 2023

The rest of the kitchen is all stainless, a nice Bosch dishwasher and a gas stove we like, along with a stove top microwave. On the opposite wall is my almond colored fridge. I like it's layout and don't want to replace it, and I guess I don't want to know it's energy usage. And after reading about new fridge nightmares I'll stick with the old thing.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
13. I scoured NextDoor looking for someone's old garage fridge
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:09 PM
Jul 2023

cause those are the ones that never die. I mean, we were lucky before this with an old white behemoth that lasted many years.

dem4decades

(11,911 posts)
14. LOL, my childhood friend sells appliances, he told me the life expectancy of a new fridge is 7 yea
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:30 PM
Jul 2023

I have no interest in finding out if he's correct.

Emile

(29,795 posts)
24. My wife's sister GE fridge is 45 years old
Wed Jul 19, 2023, 05:14 AM
Jul 2023

and still runs great. They made that fridge in the USA.

cyclonefence

(4,873 posts)
7. Oh, man--an LG?
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:59 PM
Jul 2023

We had a nightmare year with a Samsung refrigerator (ice problem, too) that couldn't be fixed. We gave up and bought an LG because our LG washer and dryer have worked so well for 10+ years. I thought we'd found a reliable brand, and so far it's worked well for us.

I'm beginning to think you can't rely on brand name--or on Consumer Reports or cnet.com, both of which recommend Samsung as the best. Both our Samsung refrigerator and big TV broke down in maddening ways during their first years of service. The Samsung repair guy literally rebuilt our TV over six months or so, and it still didn't work. We got our money back (they wanted to replace the set with the same model--no thanks) and bought a Sony, which has been excellent.

We've had three unsatisfactory KitchenAid dishwashers--they did not clean well after a couple of months, and to get to the filter you had to take the damn thing apart. We got reimbursement from PECO after a power surge knocked it out; replaced it with a Bosch, which is a dream but has a smaller capacity.

Our lah-di-dah dual fuel KitchenAid range had a bad burner, which was replaced three or four times before we replaced that sucker with a GE Cafe, which has been great.

Internet investigation proved that both KA and Samsung had historic problems with the two problems we had, and we joined lawsuits against both, for all the good that's going to do.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
10. this was a pandemic fridge
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:02 PM
Jul 2023

where there was little to no choice. But yeah, I'm pretty sure the technology is the same in many of them and they break down.

Diamond_Dog

(34,620 posts)
17. We've had a Samsung TV
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:44 PM
Jul 2023

For 12 years, not one problem. I agree with you, I really don’t think you can’t rely on Consumer Reports.

 

Basic LA

(2,047 posts)
21. Consumer Reports jumped the shark ...
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 04:36 PM
Jul 2023

... with a recent 4-page detailed analysis to rate the best pickle-ball paddles. (I still get the magazine though for old-time's sake.)

getagrip_already

(17,434 posts)
8. We just did the extended warranty shuffle on a kitchen aid...
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:00 PM
Jul 2023

The issue wasn't coverage. The issue was the symptoms pointed to a valve and since our system uses a sealed coolant system we needed a tech who was certified to service one.

Well, those are rarer than hens teeth where I live. We finally convinced a regular tech to swap out the control board (the other part it could have been) and luckily that worked.

What a pita. Thankfully we had a spare fridge we could turn on to get by. But if it was the valve we might have a very large ornament in our kitchen.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
11. Yes, the bad cases are the more rural areas...
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:07 PM
Jul 2023

I went into a deep dive on LG cases and there are plenty of people where the technicians are HOURS away. They have gone months or given up altogether. I think there are five in the Atlanta area, so far two have had to drive in from the burbs and none of them want to get caught in Atlanta traffic, lol.

dem4decades

(11,911 posts)
15. A couple of years ago I watched my son's dog and house, he had an LG fridge.
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 03:37 PM
Jul 2023

After the second day it was leaking water all over the floor,. It was giving me a message that it needed repair. I was worried that I had to get a major repair while they were away. My other son went over and fixed the problem, I had closed the doors in the wrong order causing a major problem.

Really, WTF, I have an education, but can't close the doors correctly?

No LGs for me.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
26. Yeah first thing they tell you to check...
Mon Jul 24, 2023, 09:45 AM
Jul 2023

is doors because the very first time you call, they will NOT schedule a repair until you have followed their instructions and wait 48 hours. (while your food is going bad). You have to check all the seals and make sure nothing is blocking the closure. Then wait 48 hours. So stupid. But once you have called previously, you can skip this step.

Response to Phentex (Original post)

 

Marcus IM

(3,001 posts)
20. Had this with Samsung from Lowe's a fewyears ago.
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 04:19 PM
Jul 2023

Used Florida's lemon law to get a new one after three tries to repair the ice maker. New Samsung died the same death. Got refund AND a discount on a Whirlpool. Also made in China. Stopped cooling at random times ruining much food. Same three attempts to repair and another refund.

Had similar issues with stoves and dishwashers when we did our kitchen upgrade. GE. Whirlpool. LG. All had the same problems, and they are built like tin cans with the cheapest wiring and components (relays, switches, fans) - which I saw during the repair visits.

We ended up spending the extra money for German and US made Bosch appliances.

Knock on wood. All has been fine since.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
27. It may be the way to go...
Mon Jul 24, 2023, 09:46 AM
Jul 2023

with a heavy duty brand. I will still probably make sure there is someone who can service it though.

 

Marcus IM

(3,001 posts)
32. Fridges are all "black box" components. Mostly the same as the other brands.
Mon Jul 24, 2023, 02:54 PM
Jul 2023

Much like the auto companies use the same brake, steering, fuel injection and such components from 3rd parties for their assemblies.



GreenWave

(9,167 posts)
22. This has to be frustrating as hell.
Tue Jul 18, 2023, 04:38 PM
Jul 2023

My washer has an unfixable noise and 3 "repairs" and it is back. I wish you better luck,
PS washer still works. It just sounds like a hacksaw is going on.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
28. Thanks!
Mon Jul 24, 2023, 09:47 AM
Jul 2023

I'm not sure it really IS the compressor that goes bad each time but maybe something about the way it works with the other parts. It's ridiculous. I can see why they had two class action lawsuits.

Emile

(29,795 posts)
23. I am done with LG products. We had two LG tvs go out
Wed Jul 19, 2023, 05:09 AM
Jul 2023

around the fourth year. We bought a 60 inch Roku for less than 400 dollars three years ago and so far no problems.

Phentex

(16,504 posts)
29. Have we entered the printer stage?
Mon Jul 24, 2023, 09:49 AM
Jul 2023

Ya know, where a printer is as disposable as a paper plate? Are they making fridges that you just toss each ear? It's crazy.

spinbaby

(15,198 posts)
25. My son bought a Beko refrigerator
Wed Jul 19, 2023, 11:37 AM
Jul 2023

I’d never heard of the brand, but he loves it. I’ve had a Bosch fridge for years, which works great, but the shelves inside are disintegrating—literally held together with duct tape.

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