Whirlpool refrigerator settlement: who qualifies, file by Nov 2

What the Whirlpool refrigerator settlement is about

The case is Costa v. Whirlpool Corp., No. 1:24-cv-00188-MN, in federal court in Delaware before Judge Maryellen Noreika. The plaintiffs say wires that run to the freezer door of certain side-by-side refrigerators can break, which knocks out the in-door ice maker, the ice and water dispensers and the control panel. Whirlpool denies the claims, denies the refrigerators are defective and admits no wrongdoing. The court never decided who was right.

This isn't a pot of cash split among everyone. Whirlpool provides benefits to people with valid claims and pays the administrator, Angeion Group, itself. On July 9, 2026 the judge granted final approval and awarded class counsel $2,750,000 in fees plus $60,000 in costs. Whirlpool pays those separately, so they don't reduce what class members get.

Who qualifies for the Whirlpool refrigerator settlement

Two things have to line up: the refrigerator and your connection to it.

• The refrigerator: a side-by-side Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid or JennAir model with an in-door ice maker, made in 2018–2021, whose model number is on the settlement's list and whose serial number matches. The court's order describes serial numbers from HR8180000 through HRA399999. Not every fridge with a listed model number is covered, so type your serial number into the checker on the official site. It's on a tag inside the door frame.
• You: you bought it new for home use, got it as part of buying or remodeling a home, or received it new as a gift. Anyone who bought it to resell is out.

Whirlpool's employees and affiliates, the lawyers on the case, insurers, extended-warranty providers and people who opted out by June 2, 2026 are excluded. A French-door or bottom-freezer model isn't covered, because the class is limited to the listed side-by-side models.

How much you could get from the Whirlpool settlement

The amount depends on what happened to the refrigerator and how many years after its In-Service Date it failed. That date is the day you bought it, if you can document it, and otherwise the manufacture date from the serial number. The tiers below cover failures in years 2 through 7; if your fridge is older and was already broken on May 5, 2026, the official benefits table has a separate "more than 7 years" row, so read it before assuming it's too late. The percentages run a little higher if you told Whirlpool or the store about the problem before you paid for a repair or replacement.

If your fridge is broken now and you can't show when it first failed, you're treated as a year 7 failure. As an illustration only, 75% of a $400 repair bill is $300.

What proof the Whirlpool settlement requires

This is a proof-required settlement, so gather your paperwork before you start. The claim form asks for:

• your refrigerator's model and serial number;
• proof you bought or received it new, such as receipts, card statements or a warranty registration, or, if you truly can't find any, a signed declaration under penalty of perjury;
• dated proof the wires failed, such as service tickets, estimates, receipts, messages with Whirlpool or the store, or original photos that carry file data, plus a declaration that the photos are authentic;
• proof of what you paid for any repair or replacement, such as the invoice plus a card or bank statement.

About 16,000 people were "Prequalified" from Whirlpool's own records and received a personal notice; they can skip the proof that the failure happened. Our guide to proof of purchase for class action claims shows where to look for old records.

How to file a Whirlpool refrigerator settlement claim

Filing is free and happens on the official site, refrigeratorsettlement.com, which Angeion Group runs. You can also mail a paper claim form postmarked by the deadline.

1. Check that your refrigerator is covered by entering its serial number in the checker on the official site.
2. Gather your records: receipts, repair invoices, payment statements, dated photos and any messages with Whirlpool or the store.
3. Open the claim page. If you got a personalized notice with a Notice ID and Confirmation Code, enter both. If not, click through to the regular claim form.
4. Enter the model and serial number, choose how you'll prove you're a class member, and pick your benefit: partial repair reimbursement, partial replacement reimbursement, a free repair, or cash for a fridge that's still broken.
5. Upload your documents, choose how to be paid (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal or check), sign the certification and submit before the portal closes on November 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
6. Save the confirmation. File a separate claim for each refrigerator.

Key dates for the Whirlpool refrigerator settlement

Only one deadline is close: claims for failures that happened on or before May 5, 2026 are due November 2, 2026. Because the June 2, 2026 opt-out window has passed, class members are bound by the settlement and its release of economic-loss claims about this wire problem. Personal injury claims and damage to other property aren't released.

Is the Whirlpool refrigerator settlement legit?

Yes. It's a federal class action with a signed final approval order, a court-approved administrator and an official website. You never pay to file, and the form doesn't ask for a Social Security number. If a message sends you to a different address or asks for a fee, ignore it. Our guide to spotting settlement scams has more red flags, and our explainer on Angeion Group emails helps you tell a real notice from a fake one.

Check the model list before you spend time on paperwork. If your Whirlpool is a French-door or bottom-freezer model, this isn't your settlement, but you can browse other open cases in the settlements directory.

What happens after you file

Angeion reviews each claim against the proof rules. If you chose the repair benefit, a Whirlpool representative contacts you after approval to schedule the work or the delivery of a new freezer door. Cash reimbursements go out by Venmo, Zelle, PayPal or check once any appeals are resolved. No payment date has been announced, so keep your records and confirmation handy. Our guide to how long settlement checks take covers the usual wait.

Owed finds the settlements you qualify for, explains them in plain English, opens the official claim form and reminds you before the deadline, then tracks each claim to payout. You submit the form yourself. Owed Pro is $2 for the first week, then $49 per year — one flat membership. Owed never takes a percentage of any payout. See which settlements match you.

This article is general information, not legal advice. The court and the administrator decide who qualifies and what each person gets.

Glossary

In-Service Date

The date your refrigerator is treated as starting service: the purchase or delivery date if you can document it, otherwise the manufacture date from the serial number.

Wire Harness Issue

The settlement's name for the broken wires to the freezer door that disable the in-door ice maker, dispensers or control panel.

Prequalified class member

Someone Whirlpool's own records show contacted the company about the problem. They got a personal notice and need less proof.

Final approval order

The judge's ruling that the settlement is fair and binding. Here it was signed on July 9, 2026.

Declaration under penalty of perjury

A signed statement that what you say is true. The form accepts one in place of receipts to show you bought the fridge new.

FAQ