What is the Whirlpool wire harness settlement about?

Whirlpool reached a class action settlement over a defect in certain side-by-side refrigerators manufactured from 2018 to 2021. The defect involves broken wires in the door hinge area that disable in-door features like the ice maker, ice dispenser, water dispenser, and control panel. Affected brands include Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir.

Which refrigerators are covered by the settlement?

The settlement covers certain Whirlpool-manufactured side-by-side refrigerators with in-door ice makers, ice dispensers, and water dispensers manufactured between 2018 and 2021. This includes refrigerators sold under the Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir brand names.

Is this the same as the Whirlpool frost clog settlement?

No. This is a separate settlement. The frost clog settlement (CoolingSettlement.com) covers three-door French door refrigerators with an evaporator defrost issue. This wire harness settlement covers side-by-side refrigerators with broken wires in the door that disable ice makers and water dispensers.

Whirlpool Reaches Class Action Settlement Over Side-by-Side Refrigerator Wire Harness Defect

Q: What benefits does the settlement provide?

Settlement class members may qualify for a cash reimbursement or free or discounted repair to remedy past or future broken wires that impact the refrigerator's in-door features like the icemaker, ice dispenser, water dispenser, or control panel.

By Steve Levine

Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator Wire Harness Class Action Settlement 2026

Published: March 7, 2026

Whirlpool Settles Class Action Over Broken Wires in Side-by-Side Refrigerators

A class action settlement has been reached with Whirlpool Corporation over a defect in certain side-by-side refrigerators that causes wires inside the door to break, disabling the ice maker, ice dispenser, water dispenser, and control panel. The settlement covers certain Whirlpool-manufactured side-by-side refrigerators with in-door ice makers, ice dispensers, and water dispensers made between 2018 and 2021. Affected brands include Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir.

According to the court-authorized settlement notice, class members who are included in the settlement may qualify for a cash reimbursement or free or discounted repair to fix past or future broken wires — referred to in the settlement as a "Wire Harness Issue" — that impact the refrigerator's in-door features.

This is a separate settlement from the Whirlpool frost clog settlement (CoolingSettlement.com) that covers three-door French door refrigerators, and the Whirlpool freezer drain settlement (FreezerSettlement.com) that covers bottom-mount freezer refrigerators.

What is the Wire Harness Defect?

The wire harness defect involves wires that run through the door hinge area of Whirlpool-manufactured side-by-side refrigerators. These wires are designed to flex every time the door is opened and closed. Over time — often within just a few years of normal use — the wires fray or break, cutting off electrical connections to in-door components.

When the wires break, the refrigerator's ice maker stops producing ice, the ice dispenser stops working, the water dispenser stops flowing, and in some cases the door-mounted control panel goes dark. These are features that consumers rely on daily and are among the primary reasons people purchase higher-end side-by-side models.

The defect has been widely reported by consumers for years. The wires are embedded inside the door and cannot be easily repaired. In most cases, the only way to restore functionality is to replace the entire freezer door — a repair that can cost $1,000 or more. Even then, replacement doors often contain the same wire harness design, meaning the problem can recur.

Which Refrigerators Are Covered?

The settlement covers certain side-by-side refrigerators with in-door ice makers, ice dispensers, and water dispensers manufactured by Whirlpool from 2018 to 2021. This includes refrigerators sold under the Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir brand names. The specific model numbers covered by the settlement should be listed in the settlement notice or on the official settlement website. If you received a settlement notice by mail, your refrigerator is likely covered.

The original lawsuit named several specific model numbers including models in the WRS, KRSF, and WSF series. Consumers who are unsure whether their refrigerator is covered can check their model and serial number (typically found on a label inside the refrigerator compartment) against the settlement's eligibility list.

What Benefits Does the Settlement Provide?

According to the settlement notice, class members who are included in the settlement may qualify for a cash reimbursement or free or discounted repair to remedy past or future broken wires that impact the refrigerator's in-door features like the icemaker, ice dispenser, water dispenser, or control panel. The specific dollar amounts and reimbursement tiers have not been publicly disclosed outside of the settlement notice at this time.

Background on the Lawsuit

The wire harness defect has been the subject of consumer complaints and legal action for years. In February 2024, plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Whirlpool Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, alleging that the company manufactured and sold refrigerators with defective wiring that it knew about for over a decade. The lawsuit, Costa, et al. v. Whirlpool Corp., Case No. 1:24-cv-00188, was brought on behalf of consumers nationwide who purchased affected Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and Kenmore refrigerators.

The complaint alleged that Whirlpool used substandard materials for the wires running through the freezer door hinge, causing them to fray and break with normal use. The plaintiffs argued that the defect rendered the refrigerators' most important advertised features — ice makers, water dispensers, and ice dispensers — useless within a few years. The lawsuit also raised safety concerns, alleging that exposed broken wires near water sources could create risks of shock or fire.

Whirlpool moved to dismiss the case, arguing that the plaintiffs failed to show the company had knowledge of the defect. The court partially granted Whirlpool's motion in March 2025, dismissing fraud and most state consumer protection claims but allowing certain breach of warranty claims to proceed.

How is This Different From the Frost Clog Settlement?

There are now multiple active Whirlpool refrigerator settlements, which can be confusing. Here is how they differ:

The wire harness settlement (this article) covers side-by-side refrigerators manufactured 2018-2021 with broken wires that disable in-door features. The brands covered are Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir.

The frost clog settlement (CoolingSettlement.com) covers three-door French door refrigerators manufactured 2012-2019 with an evaporator defrost defect that causes frost buildup and cooling failure. That settlement received final approval in May 2025. Benefits include up to $300 for documented repair costs.

The freezer drain settlement (FreezerSettlement.com) covers bottom-mount freezer refrigerators with defective drain tubes that cause ice buildup and water leakage. That $22 million settlement has been active since 2019, with Group B claims accepted through December 31, 2026.

If you own a Whirlpool-manufactured refrigerator and have experienced any of these issues, you may be eligible for one or more of these settlements depending on your specific model.

What Consumers Have Reported

Consumer complaints about the wire harness defect have been widespread across online forums, repair communities, and social media. Common reports include ice makers that suddenly stop working within 2-3 years of purchase, repair technicians identifying broken wires at the bottom of the freezer door as the cause, being told the entire door must be replaced at a cost of $1,000 or more, replacement doors developing the same problem because they use the same wire harness design, and Whirlpool declining to cover the repair outside the standard one-year warranty.

The law firm Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP, which has been investigating claims related to this defect, noted that consumers have reported ice makers, water dispensers, and other functions inside the freezer door frequently failing due to broken wires at or near the freezer door hinge, often within just a few years of purchase.

What Should You Do?

If you received a settlement notice by mail, read it carefully. The notice should contain the official settlement website URL where you can check your eligibility, learn about the specific benefits available, and file a claim. It should also contain deadlines for filing claims, opting out, or objecting to the settlement.

If you own a Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir side-by-side refrigerator manufactured between 2018 and 2021 and have experienced issues with your ice maker, water dispenser, or control panel caused by broken wires, you may be a class member even if you did not receive a notice. You can contact the settlement administrator or the plaintiffs' attorneys for more information.

This page will be updated with the settlement website URL, claim deadlines, and additional details as they become publicly available.

Case Information

Likely Case: Costa, et al. v. Whirlpool Corp., Case No. 1:24-cv-00188 (D. Del.)
Court: U.S. District Court, District of Delaware
Defendant: Whirlpool Corporation
Brands Affected: Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir
Refrigerator Type: Side-by-side with in-door ice makers, dispensers, and water dispensers
Manufacture Years: 2018 to 2021
Defect: Wire Harness Issue — broken wires disabling in-door features
Settlement Benefits: Cash reimbursement or free/discounted repair
Investigating Counsel: Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP

How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?

Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:

Sources

• Court-authorized settlement notice (reviewed March 2026)
• Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP — Whirlpool Refrigerator Broken Wires Investigation
• U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware — Costa v. Whirlpool Corp., Memorandum Opinion (May 2025)

About Class Action Settlements

Please note that your claim form will be rejected if you submit a settlement claim with any fraudulent information. By providing this information and your sworn statement of its veracity, you agree to do so under the penalty of perjury. If you are not sure whether you qualify, visit the class action administrator's website. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.

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