Whirlpool / KitchenAid / Maytag 3-Door Refrigerator Frost Clog Class Action Settlement

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.

Claims are reviewed and paid individually rather than in one distribution. How that review works, including deficiency notices and disputed denials, is covered in Whirlpool frost clog settlement payment status .

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.