65 replies to this topic

[dan]

I have the same Problem with my refrigerator and after six months of phone calls and e-mails they agreed to replace both doors. The repairman originaly blamed it on rough handling, do to a move we made, The fridge was one month out of warranty but since i complained only one month past. My doors were ordered last week. I'll keep you posted if they show up

[mdmroberts]

I have a very similar problem with a Kenmore Elite refrigerator (model #72202201) which is a top freezer model.  It's been installed 2 1/2 years.  I noticed a oily substance leaking from the door about a month ago, and then last week, it came off the bottom hinge.  There are bits of white plastic that have broken off as well.  My belief is that that there is something in the manufacturing process (blow in foam, perhaps?) that left some kind of a solvent in the door cavity which dissolved the plastic in the bottom of the door.

Cost of the door replacement $650 for the door, $150 for labor.  Sears Response to complaint?  Too bad, so sad.  Our of warranty, but because we "value you as a customer", we are prepared to offer you a $50 gift card...

MR

[Pegi]

WE cannot stress eough, BUY EXTENDED WARRANTYS on everything you buy these days...

[Pegi]

This model number was posted earlier in this thread for a Kenmore Elite, 106.54202300, these are made by Whirlpool.

[goazgo]

I had  similar issue with a 106 54602 Kenmore Elite model. Initially, we noticed a cracked bottom trim. Then, the door started to sag. (very similar to the previous pictures) After about a month or two, the door disengaged when it was open. (It has a cam that slightly lowers it to create a natural opening location, the problem is that this lowers the already sagging door to the point where the top shaft comes loose.)

A day or two later, the door completely fell off when it was opened. It went crashing to the ground and condiments and milk went everywhere. I am thankful that my toddler wasn't around. The bracket that used to be linked to the trim ripped out of the foam. There is no frame in the door, and the only structural support for the bracket is some medium grade vinyl. Once this cracks due to the shearing stress created by the use of a small bracket, the foam gives way pretty easily. 

Sears so far has not been very helpful. I have submitted a complaint to the CSPC as well as a one star review to a certain online review site.

Thankfully I have a 1977 GE refrigerator in the garage. It will be getting some use until this issue is resolved with Sears and potentially Whirlpool. (JD weld or metal brackets would damage the "evidence" :-) )

[Pegi]

This is one reason I tell everyone not to buy appliances with the Kenmore name on them, even tho they are not made by Sears, you are stuck going thru their warranty service department since the Kenmore name is on the unit....

[goazgo]

Finally got Sears to pay for the door. Had to get the approval of the local Store Manager. The Corporate OneSource department had to be by far the worst people I have dealt with in a long time. They did not offer to pay for the parts and were argumentative about weird things. (They were stating that my 1.5 year old refrigerator will actually be two years old in March. Apparently they didn't learn that tactic from Dale Carnegie.)

The local Sears people were great.

I got the door yesterday and installed it. The instructions in the owners manual were pretty good.

I will be keeping the old door and fixing it, because I believe it is a truly bad design and want a backup in case the new door fails before the eventual recall.

While I am happy with Sears, I am now going to be directing my attention to Whirlpool. They need to fix their mistakes, especially when safety is involved.

[gfschue]

We purchased a Kenmore Elite Side-by-Side, Model 106.54602300 in February 2004.  Like others posting on this topic, we discovered our refrigerator door is lower (by 1/2-inch) than the freezer door because the lower hinge has punched through the rugged, high-strength PLASTIC base that supports the full weight of the door and its contents.  I assumed the plastic at the base was DECORATIVE TRIM, not a structural element.  Wrong.  How anyone at Whirlpool thought a base made of 1/8-th inch thick plastic could support the torque and shear forces applied to it during normal use is beyond me.  Looking at the design, I'm beginning to wonder if the metal stop they designed into the hinge bracket actually makes it more likely the plastic would crack.

We now begin our merry journey through Sears Service Hell.

The irony of all this was thinking back to the installation.  The two guys from Sears who installed the new side-by-side moved our old refrigerator (25 year old Kenmore) to the garage.  They told us it would outlast our new one.  Boy were they right.

[Wheezer]

Same story.  we purchased the Kenmore 106.54602300 from a Great Indoors store around January of 2004.  Sometime later we noticed the door sagging.  Eventually the bracket broke and the door came completely off the top hinge (of course, out of warranty).  Before this happens you should rig some sort of brace at the bottom of the door (use a piece of metal or wood and duct tape, or someother short term safety fix).  If not, the door will sag enough to fall off the top pin.

We went through Sears customer service (or lack thereof).  I spoke to Sears legal, to Whirlpool, etc.  Sears was a pain to deal with on ever front.  Finally, I called the store where I bought it and they gave me a number for Great Indoors service, which is sending a repairman out to replace the door under the manufacturer's warranty (which I believe when it happens).  Total cost would be:  $65.  Emotional toll:  priceless.

[blagud]

I just removed the door to my Kenmore Elite (elite!) to find the same problem everyone has encountered.  This is really crappy engineering and Sears should do a recall.  the Bottome hinge on fridge side is totally cracked so doing metal support plate is not an option.  I will probably end up buying a new door.  I will never buy another appliance from Sears.

[blagud]

Oops forgot my model/s/n:

Kenmore Elire White 106.54202300

Purchased 3/11/04, out of warranty

s/n SR0646799

[Pegi]

Again, this is a Whirlpool Frig., Sears did not make it, just sold it with the Kenmore name on the front, would have the same problem is Whirlpool was on the front of the box, but since Sears bought it from Whirlpool you have to deal with Sears.  Call the store you bought it from to see what they might do, will depend on the personel at that store.

[Wheezer]

Just an update:  The Sears tech came out, said we needed a new door, then proceeded to say since it wasn't covered under any warranty, he couldn't order it.  So, in essence, Sears lied to us yet again.  If anyone is aware of a lawsuit surrounding the Kenmore/Whirlpool fridge design defect, please post, because I am out of patience with Sears.  Also, any links to alternative places to buy the door would be appreciated.  Someone has to sell it for less than $600.

[Pegi]

CLICK HERE
Wheezer, This is for the white door, what color is yours????