Homeowner says brand-new refrigerator is leaking and may need a fourth ice-maker fix

"I'm done dealing with this on a refrigerator that's only six months old."

A California homeowner said a KitchenAid refrigerator bought in April has already required three ice-maker repairs, and another service appointment is now on the calendar.

Here's what to know

In a Reddit post, the owner said the same ice-maker problem had happened four times. According to the post, a sensor kept freezing, sticking to the ice maker and eventually causing "the entire assembly" to drop out.

The issues were not limited to the ice maker, either. The owner said the water dispenser could get stuck in the "On" position and end up "flooding the floor."

The original poster said the warranty gave the manufacturer the choice of continuing repairs or replacing the refrigerator. After three calls to customer service, they said they received "different information every time, with no resolution."

"They keep offering another repair, but I'm done dealing with this on a refrigerator that's only six months old," the OP said.

In the comments, the owner said a technician told them the problem was common. They also said a new fix was tried in early October, but the ice maker failed again two weeks later.

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More background

"The good news is that California has a lemon law that covers refrigerators," one commenter wrote. "The bad news is that you have to have FOUR failed repairs for the same issue."

The OP replied that the upcoming appointment would count as the fourth documented failure.

"I don't have high hopes Kitchenaid will honor it, though," they said.

Other users weighed in with their own appliance troubles.

"I bought a new GE Cafe. Three repairs, and they sent a new one from the factory," one person said, while another said a family member had already needed two repairs in two years for a refrigerator that was not making ice.

Another commenter offered a mechanical explanation, saying cold airflow near the valve assembly was freezing the lines. That suggested the repeated breakdowns could point to a design flaw or a repair-process issue.

What can be done?

Because the next appointment would address the same defect for a fourth time, the OP may be in a position to push for a replacement.

Some advice went beyond regular customer service channels. One user suggested finding a KitchenAid executive's email address and contacting a company leader directly in hopes the complaint would reach someone with the power to act.

The OP said they had consulted an attorney, but were told most firms would not take the case unless someone had been injured. That left warranty pressure, repair records and a possible lemon-law claim as the main options discussed in the thread.

"It's just so frustrating," the OP said. "We've had the same cheap Frigidaire for nine years and we FINALLY upgraded and got a 'fancy' refrigerator. Just for it to fail constantly."

Where can I learn more?

These stories examine similar refrigerator problems, from leaks and breakdowns to the question of when repeated repairs are no longer worth it.

• A homeowner traced a foul, fishy leak to a refrigerator with a sealed drip pan.

• A customer said two compressor failures turned a $3,000 refrigerator into a money pit.

• In South Korea, owners' smart fridges failed after an update before Chuseok.

• A collector said a 72-year-old Westinghouse refrigerator could outlive us all after decades of service.