Do You Own One of These 3 Fridge Brands? You Could Be Owed up to $300
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Thousands of Americans who own a refrigerator from one of three brands have just two days to claim $300 as part of a class action settlement following claims of a manufacturing defect.
The lawsuit—Paperno et al. v. Whirlpool Corporation—centers on French-door refrigerators made between 2012 and 2019.
What Is the Whirlpool Lawsuit?
The case alleged that a defect with certain Whirlpool, Maytag, or KitchenAid refrigerators.
While Whirlpool, listed as one of the most-trustworthy companies in America 2025 by Newsweek, has denied any wrongdoing and liability, it did agree to a financial settlement to resolve the litigation.
The evaporator, a key part of the refrigeration cycle, was allegedly prone to ice buildup in some models, reducing efficiency and triggering a range of problems including spoiled food, excessive noise, and pooling water. The lawsuit also alleged the company continued selling the defective units without warning consumers or initiating a recall.
File photo: A woman in a baggy striped shirt looks in her refrigerator.
File photo: A woman in a baggy striped shirt looks in her refrigerator.
Nikodash/Getty Images
Who Is Eligible for a Rebate?
Consumers who bought or received a Whirlpool-manufactured French-door refrigerator under the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, or Maytag brands between 2012 and 2019 may be eligible for compensation. This includes original buyers, people who received the appliances as a gift or who have the appliance through contractors of appliance bundles.
To qualify, claimants must have:
Experienced frost or ice-related issues within eight years of the appliance's original purchase date;
Documentation showing the issue and any repair or replacement efforts made no later than January 31, 2025;
Proof of ownership.
Depending on the malfunction and documentation provided, customers could receive up to $300 repair reimbursements. People with multiple impacted appliances can apply more than once, but a form must be completed for each appliance.
How To Submit a Claim
The deadline for claims is 11:59 p.m. (local time) June 18, 2025; and claims are only accepted through the official online portal.
Documents required to submit a claim include:
Proof of purchase or ownership (receipts, warranty cards, delivery records)
Repair or service receipts detailing the problem and work performed
The settlement also covers future refrigerator failures, provided they occur within eight years of the original purchase and before January 31, 2025. In such cases, consumers have 90 days from the date of the malfunction to file a claim. This provision ensures compensation for eligible owners whose appliances fail after the announcement.
It is easy to check if your refrigerator qualifies for a rebate by locating the model and serial number, typically found inside the unit near the crisper drawer or door frame, and entering it into the online lookup tool at coolingsettlement.com. Claims can also be submitted from this site.
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