Ever get the feeling that your refrigerator just doesn’t last as long as you thought it would? You aren’t alone. A class-action lawsuit filed against LG claims that some of the company’s fridges suffer from a defect that causes the appliances to fail within just a few years. The company is accused of misleading consumers about the appliances, leading to a considerable amount of time and money spent repairing or replacing them.
According to the class-action suit, the issues with LG’s refrigerators stem primarily from a problem with the linear compressor that the company uses. The compressor is a central part of the appliances’ cooling process. Some consumers have apparently run into issues with the compressors, including outright failures. The problem has affected refrigerators across different price categories ranging from $1,400 to $7,000 and has rendered the appliances in need of repair within just a few years of use.
Sure, these appliances aren’t exploding or anything, but the lawsuit alleges that LG should have disclosed the issue with the compressor, assuming it was known by the company. The plaintiffs involved in the case claim they would not have purchased an LG refrigerator if they knew that there were known issues with the compressors.
While issues flared up in a matter of just a few years with the refrigerators, one of the plaintiffs involved in the case said a repair person said compressors should last at least 10 years before failing or requiring repairs. The National Association of Home Builders claims the average lifespan of a refrigerator is approximately 13 years. LG reportedly claims that its refrigerators should have about a have a 20-year lifespan.
As part of the class-action suit, the affected customers are seeking to have costs associated with fixing the compressor compensated. That includes paying for necessary parts and repairs, as well as reimbursement for food that was spoiled by the malfunctioning appliances and time spent without a working refrigerator.
An LG spokeswoman told Digital Trends that the company stands behind their products.
“At LG, customer satisfaction is paramount. LG home appliances are enjoyed by millions of Americans every day, and we’re proud that our products are recognized by industry experts for their reliability and that LG has been awarded more JD Power Awards for customer satisfaction than any other appliance manufacturer,” the spokesperson said.
“Refrigerator service issues in the industry generally relate to cooling performance. When, on occasion, cooling system issues may arise, we take good care of LG customers. In fact, LG refrigerators are backed by five-year warranty on the cooling system. That means from five years from purchase date, LG fully covers both parts and labor related to servicing the sealed system or compressor. In addition to offering this service support at no cost to the consumer on all LG refrigerators, LG models featuring linear compressors come with an industry-leading 10-year parts warranty and five-year labor warranty.”
Anyone experiencing issues with their LG fridge should contact customer service at 1-800-243-0000 and visit www.lg.com/us/support.
Updated April 10, 2019 with a statement from LG.
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