Refrigerators You'll Want To Avoid, Based On Customer Reviews

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Refrigerators might seem like a one-time investment. You buy a unit from a reliable brand and shouldn't have to worry about it dying on you for at least a decade. Unfortunately, not all models are created equal. Even if you're prioritizing top American-made appliances brands, it's essential to scan customer reviews. Side note: Also, always read the fine print to ensure that your refrigerator's warranty is robust and at least covers the most important parts, like the motor and compressor, for a couple of years (five to 10 is a standard industry practice). 

Trawling through reviews takes time, so, to save you some legwork, we singled out the most problematic manufacturers and went through the reviews and ratings on each of their sites to weed out their worst-performing refrigerator models and pinpoint the recurring issues. Based on this data, these are the 10 refrigerators you'll want to strike off your wishlist in favor of more reliable models. The list has been arranged from worst to bad based on the percentage of 1-star reviews so you can make an informed decision. We have included a paragraph at the end of this article for a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

If you're thinking of purchasing an LG refrigerator for your home, give the 26 Cubic Feet Side-by-Side Stainless Steel model a miss. It was a part of the 2020 class action lawsuit against the brand and despite the manufacturers claiming they've updated the compressor's design, several customers still face cooling issues within a few years. You'd think the 10-year warranty on the compressor — first five years include labor and parts while the last only covers the linear compressor — would help. But repeated repairs and replacements, that can leave you without a functional refrigerator until things get sorted out, can feel like a nightmare. 

Reviews reveal that LG's customer support is often poor and you might have to wait a good while for an LG-approved technician to diagnose your refrigerator. Even if you're willing to shoulder the costs, it might be difficult to find techs in your area to work on these fridges, due to their checkered past. You likely also can't expect any sort of compensation from the brand for spoiled food. The ice maker is problematic, too, according to multiple reviewers.

A staggering 46% of the than 1,800 reviewers have given the model a 1-star rating. Explaining why homeowners should think twice before buying this LG fridge, one consumer wrote, "Absolute trash refrigerator. Compressor has failed twice since we've owned it. You don't buy this fridge. You rent it with repair costs. I'll never buy another LG fridge as long as I live."

Multiple reviews report that the Whirlpool's 31-inch Wide SideKicks All-Refrigerator experiences cooling issues around the two or three-year mark. Several customers observe that it's due to the refrigerant leaking out with time, cutting the appliance's life short. Contacting the customer support team and having the manufacturer honor the warranty (one year for labor and parts and two to five years for the sealed refrigeration system, including compressor and condenser) seems to be challenging, too. The extended warranty might not help, either, as multiple reviewers report it being not worth the money. To sum up, you may have to pay hundreds of dollars out of your own pocket to have the appliance repaired (possibly more than once). To make matters worse, reviews also reveal that it can be hard to source replacement parts.

Out of more than 650 reviewers, over 45% have given this Whirlpool unit a 1-star rating. Relaying their experience with it, a purchaser outlined, "Complete cooling failure. Just like the other posts after 2.5 years the refrigerator completely quits working. Appliance repair just advised it is not worth fixing because this set is trash. They wanted $1,399 to fix and said they would be back within a few months."

Although Kitchenaid's 24.2 Cubic Feet 42-inch Width Built-In Stainless French Door Refrigerator looks sleek and offers modern features like a trademarked food care system, don't fall for the marketing gimmicks. Otherwise, the number of service appointments you'll have to schedule for this device alone might empty your pockets. For instance, several people have pointed out that the LED lights stop working every three or six months. You'll have to contact a brand-approved repair company to come look at them.

While this will merely be a headache if the defect crops up within the first year of the warranty, you'll have to bear the labor costs post that. Other reported issues include sudden temperature drops (the panel only shows the temp the unit is supposed to be rather than the actual one), a non-functional freezer, and long lead times on replacement parts. One person even noted that the model isn't meant to be used by lefties and if you don't follow the right door opening (right door first, then left) and closing sequence (left first, then right), you'll be left with a torn gasket and a broken seal.

Around 200 people have reviewed the model on Kitchenaid's website, with over 36% giving it a 1-star rating. A disappointed user stated, "After 1.5 years and a price of almost $10,000, the refrigerator needed repairs and replacements totaling almost $1,000. The appliance company through which I bought the refrigerator contacted Kitchenaid to request that I be compensated for the expense. Kitchenaid would do nothing. 1.5 years after the replacements, the expensive LED lights have again failed."

Despite its stylish appearance, you might want to give the GE Profile 48-inch Smart Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Dispenser a miss. This is primarily because the hefty price tag (its retail price is over $11,500) doesn't match the quality of the product. Customers have criticized the poor materials used and the subpar workmanship. A few have warned that the shelves on the door feel flimsy and break easily. Plus, several components, like the ice maker, fan (reviewers say it starts emitting loud noises), compressor, and motor, seem likely to start showing signs of trouble within a few months of installation.

Worse, you might not receive much support from GE, even during the warranty period – one year limited — even if you spring for the extended version. You may have to wait for long periods to have a technician visit your home or for the company to ship replacement parts. If that weren't enough, many users have noted that the service people the company sends often aren't able to correctly diagnose the problem or implement a lasting fix for this problematic unit. 

With a little over 110 reviews, the appliance has over 27% 1-star ratings to its name. Detailing why you should avoid this model, one user said, "Our fridge has broken down 7 times since purchasing it ... it keeps breaking! Worst purchase ever!" Another shared, "I am on my second refrigerator of this model ... Both units had/have issues with not maintaining temperature."

Even though Whirlpool is one of the most trustworthy and reliable appliance brands the 24-inch Wide Small Space Top-Freezer Refrigerator seems to be a dud that suffers from multiple design flaws. For starters, the temp control in the freezer is reportedly quite loose and can turn in either direction with a small bump. Additionally, reviews state that the bottom veggie and fruit drawer is difficult to use. Further, consumers who have used earlier iterations of the model don't like the expanded door compartments in the new version because it reduces the shelf space inside. The too-large freezer door — it sticks out from the body — is another area of contention. Plus, installation instructions are poor, customer service appears bad, the fridge reportedly drips constantly, and you only get a limited warranty of one year.

After garnering about 460 reviews, this small space refrigerator has around 26% 1-star ratings. Lamenting the purchase, a user mentioned, "I bought this unit a few months back and wish I would have kept the packaging so I could return it. Whether it's a leveling foot screw hole that was never tapped, a defective door seal spoiling all your food, or some other trash product brought to you by Whirlpool, I can assure you that you do not want to buy THIS fridge."

Tempted to buy Kitchenaid's 25.8 cubic feet 36-inch Multi-Door Freestanding Refrigerator? One of the things to consider before buying a Kitchenaid appliance is the price tag — but you would assume that by opting for a more expensive brand, you'll be saved from frustrating refrigerator breakdowns. But while a majority of buyers appreciate the appearance of this fridge, not all of them are a fan of its performance. Several people have complained about the unit requiring expensive repairs and replacements after a few years of ownership. One reviewer had to go through six replacements within the warranty years. For a couple of reviewers, the unit started acting up rapidly and died an untimely death. Leaking water after two years is a also recurring complaint in reviews, with buyers dealing with pesky issues like a dripping ice maker from the get-go. This has warped more than one hardwood floor. According to reviews, the lights, fan, freezer, and ice maker are usually the first to go, then potentially following by compressor malfunctions.

This model has been reviewed by over 4,700 users, with about 24% of them giving it a 1-star rating. Sharing their experience with the model, a customer related how it progressively malfunctioned over the years. "We have had this model less than 5 years. In the first year, the ice-maker would not function with a filter in place. In the third year, the temperature control in the deli/drinks/thaw drawer would not function. In the fourth year, the refrigerator failed."

When it comes to refrigerators, Samsung has previously make it onto our ranking of unreliable appliance brand you should avoid at all costs. It's come into the line of fire again with the 28 cubic feet 4-Door French Door model which has become infamous for its non-functional ice maker. While some consumers faced issues from the get-go, others started noticing leaks and frozen trays after a few months. Even if they reported the issues within the one-year warranty period, they had to go through unsympathetic customer representatives to schedule an appointment with a company-approved technician. 

Given how common a defective ice maker is in Samsung's French door models, there was even a class action lawsuit against the brand. One customer also noted that the ice comes out crushed even when you pick the cube version while another mentioned you have to press the button twice or thrice to get your choice of ice. Another user resorted to using a hair dryer to melt the ice around the machine in the hopes it would work again.

Nearly 21% of 626 reviewers have given this refrigerator a 1-star rating due to the troublesome ice maker. Tired of the constant repairs, one consumer wrote, "My refrigerator's ice maker has already been repaired four times, and yet the issue continues. At this point, it's clear that this isn't an isolated case or user error — it's a design flaw that needs to be properly addressed."

While the Samsung 31 cubic feet Capacity 3-Door French Door units might look like a must-have for a big family, you'd be trading peace of mind for space and design. Reviews paint a pretty unsettling picture, reporting the unit to be problematic and prone to malfunctioning within a few months. A few even reported experiencing issues within weeks of installation. Uneven cooling seems to be the most common problem. Several reviewers have stated that the sensor doesn't do its job and even when they manually set the temperature a few degrees above normal (say, about 40 degrees), they still had to deal with frozen items on their shelves (the first two are the worst offenders). 

Some users had to throw out their groceries and medicines because they spoiled thanks to these cooling issues. As with the previous Samsung refrigerator in our list, reviews also report pernicious problems with the icemaker. Customer service seems to leave a lot to be desired, with multiple reviewers voicing deep frustration over the lack of help they have received over defective or malfunctioning models. 

This model has received over 330 reviews and has earned a 1-star rating from more than 20% consumers. A frustrated user shared, "This item has malfunctioned within 3 months of purchase. It is ridiculous what the buyer has to do to get a service technician scheduled. Customer service reps are doing the best they can BUT make you do the same thing (reset power, video call, pictures) over and over!!"

Want your new fridge to dispense ice and water at the touch of a button? Then, don't bring Maytag's 36-Inch Wide Side-by-Side Refrigerator home. Although its exterior ice and water dispenser looks gorgeous, the space is too small to fit in a regular-sized glass. You'll have to specifically get smaller glasses to fit in the chute. And after you go through all this trouble, there's seemingly no guarantee that the ice maker will work as desired. Even if it doesn't die on you completely, there's a good chance it'll continue dripping water into the tray for a time (some customers said it takes their dispenser an hour to quit). Replacing the freezer door might help, but you may have to pay hundreds of dollars even within the 10-year warranty period. Users have also faced issues with the compressor and have had trouble adjusting the temperature in the fridge and freezer. There are also multiple reports of the unit being quite loud compared to other refrigerators, with consumers comparing the noise to a dishwasher or garbage disposal's grinding action.

With over 980 reviews from buyers, the device has received over 18% 1-star ratings. Citing the problems they faced with the ice and water dispenser, a consumer stated, "Purchased this refer 18 months ago. The icemaker is poorly designed — if you want ice you have to carefully avoid the water button or you have water all over the floor. The dispenser is also nowhere near large enough for today's normal cups." Between reports from buyers of rapid cooling failures (plus instances where they were left for weeks without a functional fridge) and comments like "Worst appliance I ever purchased" and "Bought this month and it hasn't worked since the purchase" — it's pretty safe to say this Maytag model is likely a dud. 

Frigidaire is another refrigerator brand you might want to avoid because it often doesn't stand behind its claims. Case in point, the brand advertises that consumers will adore the 18 Cubic Feet Garage Ready Top Freezer unit due to its trademarked even cooling system. However, uneven temp control seems to be a big reason why many users have to get these fridges repaired. One buyer had "gallons of beverage and fresh produce" frozen within the refrigerator. Others all of a sudden found the unit not cooling, leading to spoiled food and milk. Multiple reviews also report issues with water continually dripping at the top of the freezer/the fridge leaking water onto frozen items. If these issues occur within the measly one-year warranty timeframe, you shouldn't have to foot the repair bill — but might have to wait a while for a technician visit. Moreover, reviewers also complain that replacement parts take too long to arrive, given the volume of backorders. Sadly, even after this convoluted song and dance, there's no guarantee your unit will work normally. Several consumers reported their fridges quitting after two to three years (some units gave up within six months). On top of all these issues, multiple users were unhappy with the refrigerator's loud operation.

Over 122 buyers have left a review for the fridge and more than 16% of them have given it a 1-star rating. Expressing dissatisfaction with the brand and this appliance, a user said, "Do not purchase this refrigerator, I had mine delivered from Lowe's in February and it stopped cooling, both fridge and freezer three weeks ago. Apparently this is a problem across this model and parts are back ordered. Frigidaire has been singularly unhelpful and refused any compensation or really, explanation. My technician didn't even look at the unit before knowing what is wrong because he has seen six with the same problem. At this point I could have bought a new/different refrigerator with money I've had to spend on food." 

To find the worst-performing refrigerators, we identified the brands with the highest number of customer complaints. We utilized consumer-focused sites, like Reddit, Consumer Affairs, and YouTube, to see what people were saying about different companies. We also factored in expert reviews to ensure only the most problematic manufacturers made the cut. From there, we checked their website to single out the worst-rated models. We only considered units with at least 100 reviews and over 15% 1-star reviews. Finally, we combed the reviews, especially from users who gave the model in question a 1-star rating, to figure out the worst offenders and zero in on the common, pernicious issues that put these models in the dud category.