LG refrigerator warranty scandal - Revision history

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 1 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T05:49:23Z

Added archive URLs for 1 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:49, 23 February 2026
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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref name=":0">[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024]</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see due to them being on the delivery box which is thrown away before the fridge makes it into the customer's home or the instruction manual which is not a binding legal contract.<ref name=":0" />		LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref name=":0">[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251027021429/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ Archived])</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see due to them being on the delivery box which is thrown away before the fridge makes it into the customer's home or the instruction manual which is not a binding legal contract.<ref name=":0" />

	==The Linear Compressor Issue==		==The Linear Compressor Issue==

Bythmusters: Added cargo template

2026-01-13T11:52:27Z

Added cargo template

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:52, 13 January 2026
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			{{IncidentCargo
			\|Company=LG
			\|StartDate=2024-02-27
			\|EndDate=
			\|Status=Active
			\|ProductLine=Linear compression refrigerators
			\|Product=
			\|ArticleType=Service, Product
			\|Type=Broken Promise, Poor Quality, Terms of Service
			\|Description=LG refrigerators have failed much earlier than reasonably expected, but warranties are not being honored due to a forced arbitration clause.
			}}
	A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by '''[[LG\|LG Electronics]]''' to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.		A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by '''[[LG\|LG Electronics]]''' to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.

	==Overview==		==Overview==
	LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref>[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024]</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see due to them being on the delivery box which is thrown away before the fridge makes it into the customer's home or the instruction manual which is not a binding legal contract.~~[https~~:/~~/www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/]~~		LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref name=":0">[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024]</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see due to them being on the delivery box which is thrown away before the fridge makes it into the customer's home or the instruction manual which is not a binding legal contract.<ref name=":0" />

	==The Linear Compressor Issue==		==The Linear Compressor Issue==

Drakeula: remove redundant category

2025-09-22T04:49:17Z

remove redundant category

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:49, 22 September 2025
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	[[Category:Incidents]]		[[Category:Incidents]]
	~~[[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]]~~
	[[Category:Lawsuits]]		[[Category:Lawsuits]]
	[[Category:LG]]		[[Category:LG]]

Emanuele at 13:13, 14 March 2025

2025-03-14T13:13:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:13, 14 March 2025
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	A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.		A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by '''[[LG\|LG Electronics]]''' to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.

	==Overview==		==Overview==

Louis at 17:21, 8 February 2025

2025-02-08T17:21:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:21, 8 February 2025
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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref>[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024]</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see.		LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref>[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024]</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see due to them being on the delivery box which is thrown away before the fridge makes it into the customer's home or the instruction manual which is not a binding legal contract.[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/]

	==The Linear Compressor Issue==		==The Linear Compressor Issue==

Kostas: remove extra categories (not an organization, not aproduct article)

2025-02-01T14:17:32Z

remove extra categories (not an organization, not aproduct article)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 1 February 2025
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	[[Category:Incidents]]		[[Category:Incidents]]
	~~[[Category:Organizations]]~~
	~~[[Category:Products]]~~
	[[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]]		[[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]]
	[[Category:Lawsuits]]		[[Category:Lawsuits]]
	[[Category:LG]]		[[Category:LG]]

37.30.34.243: add LG category

2025-01-28T13:33:31Z

add LG category

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:33, 28 January 2025
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	[[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]]		[[Category:Anti-Consumer Practices]]
	[[Category:Lawsuits]]		[[Category:Lawsuits]]
			[[Category:LG]]

Keith: Tidied it up a bit

2025-01-27T23:57:35Z

Tidied it up a bit

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:57, 27 January 2025
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	~~=='''LG Linear Compressor Refrigerator Failures & Arbitration'''==~~		A pattern of early refrigerator failures saw attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits using forced arbitration practices, regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges.
	~~Here we'll go over a systematic~~ pattern of early refrigerator failures & attempts by LG Electronics to prevent consumer lawsuits regarding their lack of warranty coverage for failed fridges ~~through contested arbitration practices~~.

	==Overview==		==Overview==
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	===Cost to Consumers===		===Cost to Consumers===
	While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, consumers ~~report~~ large financial ~~impact~~:		While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, however consumers reported large financial impacts due to:

	*Labor costs averaging $1,000 per repair despite part coverage<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1b3d8yr/comment/ksrtouv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Reddit discussion r/technology, January 2024: "I've had two LG fridge compressors go bad. They cover the part but not the labor and I've spent more than $1000 installing new compressors into them"]</ref>		*Labor costs averaging $1,000 per repair despite part coverage<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1b3d8yr/comment/ksrtouv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Reddit discussion r/technology, January 2024: "I've had two LG fridge compressors go bad. They cover the part but not the labor and I've spent more than $1000 installing new compressors into them"]</ref>
	*Extended periods without functioning refrigeration while awaiting repairs<ref>NBC Bay Area interview with Frank Rodriguez, February 27, 2024</ref>		*Extended periods without functioning refrigeration while awaiting repairs<ref>NBC Bay Area interview with Frank Rodriguez, February 27, 2024</ref>
	*~~Some consumers forced to~~ purchase replacement units after multiple failed repairs		*The purchase of replacement units after multiple failed repairs

	==Arbitration Controversy==		==Arbitration Controversy==
	In 2024, LG ~~attempted~~ to prevent a class action lawsuit by citing arbitration notices that appeared in three locations:		In 2024, LG sought to prevent a class action lawsuit, citing arbitration notices that appeared in three locations:

	#On the product box		#On the product box
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	===Legal Issues with Notice===		===Legal Issues with Notice===
	~~Several~~ issues ~~make~~ LG's arbitration ~~notice strategy legally questionable~~:		Commentators highlighted several issues with LG's arbitration notices:

	*Delivery people routinely remove refrigerators from boxes before bringing them into homes so that they can fit through the door, preventing customers from seeing box notices<ref>NBC Bay Area investigation found that "nobody they talked to saw the box. The delivery guys typically took the box off before even bringing it inside."</ref>		*Delivery people routinely remove refrigerators from boxes before bringing them into homes so that they can fit through the door, preventing customers from seeing box notices<ref>NBC Bay Area investigation found that "nobody they talked to saw the box. The delivery guys typically took the box off before even bringing it inside."</ref>
	*Internal notices and manual contents are only accessible '''''after''''' purchase completion<ref>Attorney Azar Mouzari statement to NBC Bay Area: "Consumers don't have access to an owner's manual until after they've made the purchase."</ref>		*Internal notices and manual contents are only accessible '''''after''''' purchase completion<ref>Attorney Azar Mouzari statement to NBC Bay Area: "Consumers don't have access to an owner's manual until after they've made the purchase."</ref>
	*Legal precedent from similar cases (such as Samsung's smartphone box arbitration notices) ~~suggests~~ post-purchase notices may not be enforceable<ref>Professor Anna Han, Santa Clara University School of Law, NBC Bay Area interview, February 27, 2024</ref>		*Legal precedent from similar cases (such as Samsung's smartphone box arbitration notices) suggested that post-purchase notices may not be enforceable<ref>Professor Anna Han, Santa Clara University School of Law, NBC Bay Area interview, February 27, 2024</ref>

	Professor Anna Han of Santa Clara University School of Law notes that proper notice requires both sides to "knowingly agree not to sue," questioning whether notices unseen until after purchase can constitute valid agreement.		Professor Anna Han of Santa Clara University School of Law notes that proper notice requires both sides to "knowingly agree not to sue," questioning whether notices unseen until after purchase can constitute valid agreement.

Shingo: Shingo moved page Lg refrigerator warranty scandal to LG refrigerator warranty scandal without leaving a redirect: Misspelled title: LG needs to be capitalized.

2025-01-27T20:44:19Z

Shingo moved page Lg refrigerator warranty scandal to LG refrigerator warranty scandal without leaving a redirect: Misspelled title: LG needs to be capitalized.

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:44, 27 January 2025
(No difference)

Tpat90 at 19:34, 27 January 2025

2025-01-27T19:34:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:34, 27 January 2025
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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref>NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see.		LG Electronics faced widespread consumer complaints due to systematic failures of their linear compressor refrigerators, with many reports of units failing within 2-5 years in spite of being advertised with a 10-year warranty & 20-year lifespan.<ref>[https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/lg-refrigerators-failures-update/3465620/ NBC Bay Area, "Fridge failures: LG says angry owners can't sue, company points to cardboard box", February 27, 2024]</ref> The company's response to these failures has focused on attempting to force consumers into private arbitration rather than addressing the underlying product flaws, where LG cites arbitration notices that most consumers never had the opportunity to see.

	==The Linear Compressor Issue==		==The Linear Compressor Issue==
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	While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, consumers report large financial impact:		While LG's warranty covers the compressor part itself, consumers report large financial impact:

	*Labor costs averaging $1,000 per repair despite part coverage<ref>Reddit discussion r/technology, January 2024: "I've had two LG fridge compressors go bad. They cover the part but not the labor and I've spent more than $1000 installing new compressors into them"</ref>		*Labor costs averaging $1,000 per repair despite part coverage<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1b3d8yr/comment/ksrtouv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Reddit discussion r/technology, January 2024: "I've had two LG fridge compressors go bad. They cover the part but not the labor and I've spent more than $1000 installing new compressors into them"]</ref>
	*Extended periods without functioning refrigeration while awaiting repairs<ref>NBC Bay Area interview with Frank Rodriguez, February 27, 2024</ref>		*Extended periods without functioning refrigeration while awaiting repairs<ref>NBC Bay Area interview with Frank Rodriguez, February 27, 2024</ref>
	*Some consumers forced to purchase replacement units after multiple failed repairs		*Some consumers forced to purchase replacement units after multiple failed repairs