Owners of specified Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Maytag three-door refrigerators may still seek documented repair or replacement reimbursement for qualifying frost-clog issues arising after January 31, 2025.
Current Status
The court granted final approval on May 13, 2025. The June 18, 2025 deadline for frost-clog problems that occurred before January 31, 2025 has passed, but the settlement remains open for qualifying post-notice problems.
A future-issue claim must be submitted within 90 days after completion of the repair service or purchase of a replacement refrigerator. The problem also must occur within eight years of manufacture or documented purchase or delivery, and the administrator will accept these claims no later than December 31, 2028.
What the Lawsuit Alleged
The lawsuit alleged that certain three-door refrigerators manufactured by Whirlpool could inadequately defrost the evaporator in the fresh-food compartment. According to the complaint, frost and ice could accumulate on the evaporator, restrict airflow, and prevent the refrigerator from cooling food properly. The settlement calls that condition a Frost Clog Issue.
The claims involved refrigerators sold under the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Maytag brands and included breach-of-warranty, negligence, and concealment theories. Whirlpool denied that the class refrigerators were defective, denied violating the law, and denied wrongdoing. The settlement was reached without the court deciding which side was right.
Who Is Included
The class generally covers people who bought a new listed refrigerator, acquired one as part of a home purchase or remodel, or received one new as a gift from Whirlpool or an authorized reseller in the United States or its territories. Covered refrigerators were manufactured from 2012 through 2019.
Brand name and door style alone do not establish eligibility. The model and serial number must appear on the settlement's qualifying list. The serial number is also used to determine manufacture date, which matters for the eight-year benefit window. A claimant who proves a later purchase or delivery date may have eligibility calculated from that documented date under the agreement.
Past and Future Claims Are Different
The filing period for a Frost Clog Issue occurring before January 31, 2025 ended June 18, 2025. Missing that deadline cannot be cured by relabeling an old repair as a future problem.
A Post-Notice Frost Clog Issue is one that occurred after January 31, 2025 and within eight years of the applicable manufacture, purchase, or delivery date. The claim must be filed within 90 days after the claimant completes service on the issue or buys a qualifying replacement. All future claims stop at the end of 2028 even if a later 90-day period otherwise would extend beyond that date.
Each covered refrigerator requires its own claim form and documentation. An owner may receive one settlement benefit for each qualifying class refrigerator.
Repair Reimbursement Schedule
For a qualifying repair paid during years one through three, reimbursement is the actual documented out-of-pocket expense up to $300. During years four through six, the cap is $225. During years seven through eight, the cap is $150.
The benefit concerns work responding to a Frost Clog Issue, not ordinary maintenance, cosmetic service, unrelated parts, spoiled food, or a different cooling problem. Prior compensation or a voluntary Whirlpool benefit for the same issue is deducted as the agreement provides.
Replacement Reimbursement Schedule
A replacement benefit generally requires two or more Frost Clog Issues and documented replacement expense. During years one through three, the cap is 75% of the original purchase price when the class member contacted Whirlpool to request replacement before paying out of pocket, or 50% without that prior contact.
During years four through six, the corresponding percentages are 45% with prior contact and 25% without it. The settlement does not provide a replacement percentage during years seven or eight. Actual recovery cannot exceed the qualifying documented amount or the applicable formula.
What Proof Is Required
A claimant must provide the model and serial number and establish that the refrigerator was acquired new in a qualifying way. The claim also must document or properly declare a Frost Clog Issue and show the out-of-pocket repair or replacement expense.
Invoices and service records should identify the refrigerator, date, work performed, diagnosis, and amount paid. Replacement claims should preserve proof of the required issue history, the original purchase price, the replacement transaction, and any pre-purchase contact with Whirlpool. Incomplete documentation can result in delay or denial.
Claims the Settlement Does Not Release
The agreement resolves defined economic claims related to Frost Clog Issues in covered refrigerators. It does not release personal-injury claims, damage to property other than the class refrigerator itself, or claims involving a different alleged defect.
That distinction does not guarantee that an excluded type of claim is valid. It means the release described by this settlement does not cover those categories. Anyone evaluating a separate claim should consider applicable legal deadlines and individual advice.
How to File Safely
Use the court-authorized site to review the eligible model and serial list and obtain the future-issue claim form. Do not rely on an advertisement that omits the 90-day rule or eight-year refrigerator limit. The settlement administrator, not Open Class Actions, reviews eligibility and documents.
There is no fee to submit a claim. Keep a copy of the completed form, uploaded files, confirmation, and all later correspondence until the claim and any payment are resolved.
