Published
March 25, 2026
Updated
May 21, 2026
If your 2018–2021 Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir side-by-side refrigerator lost its ice maker, water dispenser, or door controls, you may qualify for a free repair or 25%–75% cash back.
What Is the Whirlpool Refrigerator Settlement About?
Did your Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir side-by-side refrigerator suddenly stop making ice, dispensing water, or responding when you press the control panel on the freezer door? If the unit was built between 2018 and 2021, you may be looking at the exact defect at the center of the Costa v. Whirlpool Corp. class action settlement — and you may be owed a free repair, free parts, or a cash reimbursement of 25% to 75% of what you already spent fixing or replacing it.The class action, captioned Costa v. Whirlpool Corp., Case No. 1:24-cv-00188-MN, is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware before Judge Maryellen Noreika. The lawsuit alleges that certain side-by-side refrigerators manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation between 2018 and 2021 contain a defective wire harness — the bundle of wires that runs through the hinge area of the freezer door to power the in-door features. The lawsuit claims that over time the repeated opening and closing of the door causes those wires to flex, fatigue, and eventually break. When they break, the ice maker stops making ice, the ice dispenser stops dispensing, the water dispenser stops working, and the control panel on the door may go completely unresponsive.
The settlement covers four Whirlpool-owned brands: Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir. Whirlpool denies the wire harness is defective and denies any wrongdoing or liability. The court has not decided who is right. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid further litigation. The Settlement Administrator operates the official Settlement Website at RefrigeratorSettlement.com, where class members can verify their unit, file a claim, or contact the administrator for help.
Status
Claims Open
Claim Deadline
November 2, 2026 (past issues)
future issues: contact Whirlpool within 90 days of discovery and within 7 years of purchase · opt-out and objection deadlines were June 2, 2026 · final approval hearing July 9, 2026
Estimated Payout
Free Repair, Free Parts, or 25%-75% Cash
tiered by years after purchase · cash reimbursement covers repair costs (up to 75%) or replacement cost (up to 50%) · current unrepaired issues qualify for free parts and labor
Proof Required
Yes (Model + Serial Number; Receipts for Cash Tier)
model and serial from the label inside the fresh-food compartment · repair invoice or original purchase receipt required only for cash reimbursement tiers
30-Second Self-Test: Does My Refrigerator Qualify?
If you can answer yes to all three of the questions below, your refrigerator is likely a Class Refrigerator under the Whirlpool settlement.• Is your refrigerator a side-by-side model? A side-by-side has the freezer on the left and the fresh-food compartment on the right (or vice versa), each running floor-to-ceiling. The settlement does not cover top-freezer, bottom-freezer, or French-door models.
• Is it sold under the Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir brand? All four brands are owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The brand name is printed on the front of the unit and on the manufacturer label inside the fresh-food compartment.
• Was it manufactured between 2018 and 2021? The manufacture date is encoded in the serial number on the inside-cabinet label. If you bought the unit new during that window, it almost certainly was made in that window too.
If you answered yes to all three, go to RefrigeratorSettlement.com and enter your serial number. The administrator's lookup will confirm whether your specific unit is a Class Refrigerator. If it is, file a past-issue claim by November 2, 2026 (or contact Whirlpool within 90 days for a future issue).
Which Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir Models Are Covered?
The settlement covers specific side-by-side refrigerator models manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation between 2018 and 2021. Not every refrigerator from these brands is included — only models that combine an in-door ice maker, ice dispenser, and water dispenser on the freezer door, in the model and serial number ranges identified by the settlement.Some of the included model number families (the full, authoritative list is on the official Settlement Website):
• Whirlpool: WRS555, WRS571, WRS586, WRS588, WRS970, WRS973, WRSA71, WRSA88 series (and related variants)
• Maytag: MSC21C6, MSS25C4, MSS26C6 series (and related variants)
• KitchenAid: KRSC500, KRSC700, KRSF505, KRSF705 series (and related variants)
• JennAir: JSC23C9EEM00 (and related variants)
Because the model lookup uses your serial number rather than just the model family, the only reliable way to confirm eligibility is to enter your serial number at RefrigeratorSettlement.com. Two refrigerators with the same model family can have different eligibility outcomes depending on their manufacture date.
Common Symptoms of the Wire Harness Defect
The Costa v. Whirlpool complaint described a specific pattern of symptoms tied to wire-harness fatigue and breakage in the freezer door hinge. Any one of these alone can be a wire harness issue; two or more appearing together is a strong indicator:• Ice maker stops making ice — cubes stop dropping into the bin, often within days of a previous full bin. The ice maker motor may also stop cycling audibly.
• Ice dispenser stops dispensing — you press the lever or button and nothing happens, no auger sound from the freezer.
• Water dispenser stops working — the in-door water dispenser produces no water or only a trickle, even after replacing the water filter and confirming the supply line.
• Control panel goes dark or unresponsive — the touch buttons or digital display on the freezer door stop lighting up or stop responding to touch inputs.
• Door lights stop working — LED interior lights on the freezer door fail (less common but reported).
If your refrigerator has any of these symptoms, do not pay for an out-of-pocket repair before contacting Whirlpool or checking the settlement website. Paying for a repair on your own first can reduce the percentage of your reimbursement under the settlement.
What Are the Whirlpool Settlement Benefits?
The settlement provides three benefit paths depending on whether you have already repaired the unit, replaced it, or still have the wire harness issue unresolved. All three paths require that the wire harness issue occurred within 7 years of the refrigerator's purchase or manufacture date.Benefit 1: Cash reimbursement for a repair you already paid for (35%-75%). If you already paid for a repair related to the wire harness defect, you can be reimbursed for a percentage of the documented repair cost. The exact percentage depends on how many years after purchase the issue occurred and whether you contacted Whirlpool before paying out of pocket. Class members who contacted Whirlpool first get the higher rate in each tier. For wire harness issues that occurred 2-4 years after purchase, reimbursement is 65% to 75% of repair costs. For year 5, it is 50% to 60%. For years 6-7, it is 35% to 45%.
Benefit 2: Cash reimbursement if you replaced the refrigerator (25%-50%). If you replaced the refrigerator entirely because of the wire harness issue, you can be reimbursed a percentage of the original purchase price of the failed unit. For replacements within 2-4 years of purchase, reimbursement is 45% to 50%. For year 5, it is 35% to 40%. For years 6-7, it is 25% to 30%. As with Benefit 1, the higher percentages require that you contacted Whirlpool before replacing.
Benefit 3: Free repair or partial-replacement cash for a current unrepaired issue. If you have the wire harness issue right now and have not yet repaired or replaced the fridge, you can choose either:
• A free repair — Whirlpool will arrange parts and labor for issues that occurred in years 2-4, or parts only for years 5-7 (you pay labor), or
• A cash payment toward replacement — 30% to 50% of the original purchase price, depending on when the issue occurred.
All three benefits require that you provide your model number, serial number, and documentation appropriate to the tier (repair invoice for Benefit 1, original purchase price documentation for Benefits 2 and 3). The Settlement Administrator handles intake and verification through RefrigeratorSettlement.com.
Future Wire Harness Problems Are Also Covered (Up to 7 Years)
This part of the settlement is unusual and worth highlighting. The settlement does not only cover wire harness issues that have already happened. If your refrigerator has not experienced the problem yet but develops it in the future, you are still covered — as long as the issue occurs within 7 years of the purchase or manufacture date.For future wire harness issues that occur after May 5, 2026, you must contact Whirlpool or the Settlement Administrator within 90 days of discovering the problem and before paying for any repair or replacement. Contact information and the future-issue intake form are available on the official Settlement Website at RefrigeratorSettlement.com. Whirlpool will then process the repair or reimbursement directly.
If you pay for a repair on your own without contacting Whirlpool first, you can still file for cash reimbursement — but only at the lower end of the percentage tier for the year the issue occurred. Bookmark the settlement website now even if your unit is currently working.
How to Find Your Refrigerator's Model and Serial Number
The model and serial number you need for the claim are not the ones on the back of the fridge (which can be hard to read once installed) and not the ones on your sales receipt. They are on a manufacturer label permanently affixed inside the unit:• Open the fresh-food compartment (the larger side, where the shelves and produce drawers are).
• Look at the inside walls and ceiling. The label is typically on the left or right interior wall near the top, or on the ceiling of the compartment. Some models put it on the front rail of the lowest shelf.
• Photograph the label. Save the image. The Settlement Administrator may request it as part of your claim. The label includes the model number, serial number, manufacture date, and other identifiers.
Enter the serial number exactly as printed at RefrigeratorSettlement.com. The lookup will confirm whether the unit is a Class Refrigerator and what benefits it qualifies for.
How to File a Whirlpool Refrigerator Settlement Claim
For past wire harness issues (problems that occurred before May 5, 2026): Submit a claim form online at RefrigeratorSettlement.com or by mail by November 2, 2026. You will need:• Your refrigerator's model number and serial number (from the inside-cabinet label)
• A description of the wire harness symptoms (ice maker, water dispenser, control panel, etc.)
• Documentation of repair cost (for Benefit 1) — the repair invoice or receipt showing date, work performed, and amount paid
• Documentation of original purchase price (for Benefits 2 and 3) — the original sales receipt, credit-card statement, or other proof
• Bank or payment information to receive your settlement payment
Submit only authentic, unmodified images and documents. False, altered, or fraudulent submissions can be rejected and may carry legal consequences. The claim form is signed under penalty of perjury.
For future wire harness issues (problems that occur after May 5, 2026): Contact Whirlpool or the Settlement Administrator within 90 days of discovering the issue and before paying for any repair or replacement. Use the contact channel on the official Settlement Website. Whirlpool will arrange the free repair, free parts, or cash benefit directly.
Key Whirlpool Refrigerator Settlement Deadlines
• Submit a past-issue claim by: Monday, November 2, 2026 (online) or postmarked by November 2, 2026 (mail)
• Future issues: contact Whirlpool within 90 days of discovery, before any out-of-pocket repair, and within 7 years of purchase or manufacture
• Opt-out deadline: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (this deadline has passed)
• Objection deadline: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (this deadline has passed)
• Final Approval Hearing: Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET, before Judge Maryellen Noreika in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, 844 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
When Will I Receive My Whirlpool Settlement Payment?
Cash reimbursement payments will be processed after the court grants final approval at the July 9, 2026 fairness hearing and the settlement becomes effective.• Best case (no appeals): Final approval at the July 9, 2026 hearing, the appeal window closes 30-60 days later, and payments for already-approved past-issue claims begin distributing in late 2026 or early 2027.
• If appeals are filed: Distribution can be delayed by 12 to 36 months while the appellate court reviews the settlement.
• Free-repair and parts benefits for current unrepaired issues can be scheduled with Whirlpool after the settlement becomes effective; the Settlement Administrator coordinates the work.
Providing a current and complete email address and payment method at the time of filing makes payment delivery faster and avoids missed communications. Electronic payment options (when available) typically arrive faster than paper checks.
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing and the opt-out deadline has passed (June 2, 2026), you remain in the Settlement Class and will be bound by the court's decisions, but you will not receive any cash reimbursement or free repair. You will give up your right to sue Whirlpool individually for the economic-loss claims released by the settlement — repair costs, replacement costs, and the diminished value of the refrigerator caused by the wire harness defect.Filing a past-issue claim by November 2, 2026, or contacting Whirlpool within 90 days for a future issue, is the only way to access the cash and free-repair benefits. There are no automatic payments to class members who do not file.
How to Opt Out or Object to the Whirlpool Settlement
The opt-out and objection deadlines were both June 2, 2026, and have already passed. Class members who did not opt out by that date are bound by the settlement and the release of economic-loss wire harness claims described above.For historical reference: opting out meant giving up the right to any settlement benefit but preserving the right to sue Whirlpool individually for the same wire harness claims. Objecting meant staying in the class (and remaining eligible for benefits) while asking the court to reject or modify the settlement. Both required a written, signed submission with the case name and number, contact information, and the substantive content the settlement notice described.
Personal Injury and Other Property Damage Claims Are Not Released
This is an important carve-out worth noting. The Costa v. Whirlpool settlement releases only economic-loss claims related to the wire harness defect — repair costs, replacement costs, and the diminished value of the refrigerator itself. If the wire harness issue caused personal injury or damage to other property (for example, water leakage damaging your kitchen floor or cabinetry), those claims are not released by this settlement. Class members retain the right to pursue those claims separately.Other Active Product Defect Class Action Settlements
Refrigerator, appliance, and other product-defect class actions are common across the consumer goods, automotive, and home systems industries. Class members who have received notices about other product defect settlements may qualify for separate settlements; filing one claim does not affect eligibility for any others.Related Whirlpool and refrigerator cases on OCA:
• Whirlpool / KitchenAid / Maytag Refrigerator Frost Settlement (different defect, overlapping brands)
• Whirlpool Freezers Class Action
• Whirlpool Refrigerator Wire Harness News Coverage
• Whirlpool Leaky Dishwasher Settlement (Closed) — historical reference, claims closed
• Electrolux Refrigerator Class Action Settlement
Or check the full OCA database of open class action settlements for any other matching cases.
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Claim Form Website: RefrigeratorSettlement.com
Check Your Serial Number and File a Claim
Official Settlement Notice
Sources
• Official Settlement Website: RefrigeratorSettlement.com• Costa v. Whirlpool Corp., Case No. 1:24-cv-00188-MN, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Hon. Maryellen Noreika presiding
• Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement (PDF embedded above)
• Settlement Agreement on file with the District of Delaware (PACER)
• Class Counsel: Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Case Title
Costa v. Whirlpool Corp.
Case Number
No. 1:24-cv-00188-MN
Court
U.S. District Court, District of Delaware
Final Approval Hearing
July 9, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET before Judge Maryellen Noreika
J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building — 844 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Brands Covered
Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir
Models
Select side-by-side refrigerators manufactured 2018-2021 (check serial number at settlement website)
Defect
Wire harness failure causing ice maker, ice dispenser, water dispenser, and/or freezer-door control panel to stop working
Attorney Fees
Up to $2,810,000 (paid separately by Whirlpool; does not reduce class benefits)
Class Counsel
Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP
Official Website
Refrigerator Settlement.com
