Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturer of Kenmore refrigerators alleging that the appliances have defective compressors that fail prematurely, leading to food spoilage and safety concerns.
Consumers Affected: Owners of Kenmore refrigerators with defective compressors.
Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
No one wants a warm fridge. But that’s what one Texas consumer says he and thousands of other people got when they bought a Kenmare-branded refrigerator with a defective compressor.
Now, that Texas resident — James Grotte — has filed a class action lawsuit against companies Transform SR LLC and Transform SR Brands Management LLC, accusing them of selling Kenmore-branded refrigerators with defective compressors that fail prematurely, putting consumers at risk.
The lawsuit was filed by Grotte on Aug. 6 in an Illinois federal court.
Linear compressors in refrigerators are a critical component for cooling. Grotte alleges the ones used in certain Kenmore fridges are prone to failure within just a few years, despite being advertised as being reliable for at least a decade.
The compressors, described as the "heart" of a refrigerator, are responsible for circulating refrigerant and ensuring the appliance maintains safe temperatures for food and medicines.
However, according to the lawsuit, the compressors in the Kenmore refrigerators—designed by LG Electronics—frequently fail, causing the refrigerators to lose their cooling ability and leading to food spoilage.
Grotte claims that despite numerous reports of compressor failures and several lawsuits, Transform SR continued to market and sell the refrigerators without disclosing the defect to consumers.
Grotte purchased his Kenmore refrigerator in 2019 from a Sears store in Texas, unaware of the potential defect, he says.
The lawsuit highlights that many of these refrigerators were sold with a 10-year warranty on the compressors, a promise that, according to the complaint, Transform SR and its predecessor companies have failed to honor.
The defective compressors, introduced by LG Electronics in 2001, differ from traditional compressors by using a “linear track” for the piston. This design has proven to be problematic, Grotte states.
The lawsuit alleges that the compressors suffer from two major issues: corrosion in the evaporator tubing, leading to refrigerant leaks, and a weak discharge valve that cannot withstand normal usage. These defects cause the compressors to fail, often long before the industry-standard lifespan of 10 years.
As a result, the refrigerators stop cooling, running above the safe temperature for storing food, and posing a risk of foodborne illnesses to consumers, the lawsuit states. Even replacement compressors, provided by LG, are reported to fail prematurely, Grotte alleges.
The appliance industry is facing a wave of lawsuits regarding faulty refrigerators. In April, GE was hit with a class action over defective compressors in certain models, rendering them unable to properly chill food. Whirlpool is also facing legal action due to wiring failures in some of its refrigerators, leading to potential safety hazards.
Meanwhile, LG and Kenmore are facing a similar class action lawsuit filed earlier this year by over 100 consumers alleging their refrigerators' linear compressors fail prematurely, despite a 10-year warranty and advertised 20-year lifespan. The plaintiffs claim LG is aware of this issue and are demanding an extension of existing warranties to 20 years, along with refunds for those who believe they purchased a faulty fridge. This lawsuit targets LG and Kenmore refrigerators equipped with linear compressors bought between 2018 and the present.
In the recent Kenmore refrigerator faulty compressor class action lawsuit, Grotte is seeking to represent all U.S. residents who bought the Kenmore refrigerators within the past 10 years. He is suing for breach of warranty and violations of state consumer protection laws, and is seeking damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Case Details
Plaintiffs' Attorneys
Have you experienced problems with your Kenmore refrigerator compressor? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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