Whirlpool Corp. will pay as much as $300 per affected unit in a class action settlement to settle claims that some French-door refrigerators made between 2012 and 2019 have a defective evaporator system that results in excessive frost buildup. The lawsuit, Paperno et al. v. Whirlpool Corporation, was filed in federal court and conditionally approved December 20, 2024, and final approval was issued May 13, 2025.
The company resolved on claims that Whirlpool’s dual-evaporator refrigeration unit had an inferior defrost heater system that enabled frost and ice to occasionally develop on the evaporator of the refrigeration compartment, drastically hampering the refrigerators’ function of keeping food cooled. Whirlpool unequivocally refutes all claims and charges, but the company resolved to prevent costly protracted lawsuits.
Affected refrigerator models
The settlement involves approximately three-door French-door refrigerators manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation and sold under the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Maytag brand names. The recalled models are the ones with dual evaporator cooling systems and produced between 2012 and 2019.
Complete list of affected model numbers
The model numbers given below are included in the class action settlement according to the settlement documents:
- KFIS29BB (all suffix variations)
- KFIS29PBM (all suffix variations)
- KFIV29PCM (all suffix types)
- KRFF507E (all suffix types)
- KRFF707E (all suffix types)
- MFT2776DEE (all suffix types)
- MFT2776FEZ (all suffix types)
- MFT2778EE (all suffix types)
- MFT2976AE (all suffix types)
- MFT2977AE (all suffix types)
- WRF757SDE (all suffix types)
- WRF767SDEM (all suffix types)
- WRF989SDA (all suffix types)
- WRF990SLA (all suffix types)
Serial numbers affected by the refrigerators include week 12 of 2012 (K212xxx) through week 11 of 2019 (K911xxx).
Eligibility requirements
Shoppers are eligible to receive settlement payments if they bought, received as part of the purchase or renovation of a home, or were gifted an eligible Whirlpool, KitchenAid, or Maytag three-door refrigerator between 2012 and 2019. Eligible class members must have found frost or ice accumulation on their cooling component within eight years of the initial purchase of the appliance and must have documentation of the condition and the repair work done by no later than January 31, 2025.
To check eligibility, consumers may go to CoolingSettlement.com and enter the model number and serial number of their refrigerator, which can be found on the tag inside the refrigerator door frame. Original purchasers, gift recipients, and other consumers who bought refrigerators from contractors or appliance packages are included in the settlement.
Settlement compensation structure
The compensation will depend on how old the refrigerator was when it was time to repair or replace it:
- Repair reimbursements
- 1-3 years from date of manufacture: Up to $300 for supported repair expense
- 4-6 years from date of manufacture: Up to $225 for supported repair expense
- 7-8 years from date of manufacture: Up to $150 for supported repair expense
- Replacement refunds
- 1-3 years from date of manufacture: 75% original purchase price in the event Whirlpool was originally requested for replacement service; otherwise 50% original purchase price
- 4-6 years since manufacture: 45% of initial purchasing cost if Whirlpool was approached first; otherwise 25% of initial purchasing cost
- 7-8 years since manufacture: No replacement payment given
Critical filing deadline
The filing deadline for claims for earlier frost problems is June 18, 2025. The deadline is fast approaching and now has just one day, as of June 17, 2025. Claims should be submitted on the settlement website at CoolingSettlement.com, where consumers are required to post their model and serial numbers and receipts or repair records.
For issues of frost after January 31, 2025, clients have 90 days at the end of service when making a claim, as long as the issue arises within eight years from the date of purchase or delivery of the refrigerator. More than one claim is accepted for multiple-unit homes with defective appliances but a separate form for each appliance.
The settlement is an overall solution for thousands of impacted consumers that have gone through cooling failure through the clogged-up evaporator defect, with significant compensation received for repair cost and replacement fees over the last years.
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