Class Action Says Electrolux, Frigidaire Gallery Refrigerators Made with Flimsy Shelves, Drawers

A new proposed class action alleges certain Electrolux and Frigidaire Gallery side-by-side refrigerators are equipped with flimsy drawers and shelves that repeatedly crack, break and fall apart.

The 40-page case out of New York argues that the defect plaguing the shelves and drawers prevents the Electrolux and Frigidaire refrigerators from performing their essential function of storing food at an appropriate temperature.  

Per the suit, the problem is bad enough to require numerous service calls, repairs and replacement parts, which, according to the lawsuit, “only break again shortly thereafter.” The repairs recommended by Electrolux do nothing to address the underlying defect, the lawsuit asserts.

Moreover, the repeated cracking and breakage of the flimsy Electrolux and Frigidaire shelves and drawers can damage food, causing otherwise fresh, unblemished produce to go to waste, the complaint says.

“Because of the Defect, the Refrigerators are deficient; do not meet advertised standards and fail of their essential purpose,” the case bluntly alleges.

According to the lawsuit, defendant Electrolux Home Products “knew, or was reckless in not knowing” that the fridges had shelves and drawers that would fail prematurely. The manufacturer nevertheless concealed this information from regular consumers and “everyone in the chain of distribution,” the suit says.

Electrolux, the complaint says, has failed to remove the defective Gallery fridges from the marketplace or take “adequate remedial action” to address the shelving and drawer problem. As a result, the plaintiff and other consumers have incurred expenses and inconvenience amid attempts to fix the problem on their own.

The plaintiff’s alleged experience

The plaintiff, a Seaford, New York resident, bought a new Frigidaire Gallery side-by-side refrigerator in late November 2019 for around $1,000, the case states. Within a year of purchase, the three shelves with drawers underneath them began to break, the suit claims.

The plaintiff says that since he bought his fridge, all three of the bottom shelves, made from “brittle plastic and glass,” have broken. Per the case, the shelves should be able to support the fridge’s plastic drawers but cannot.

The complaint says that although the plaintiff could have bought replacement frames for the shelves for $60 each, it was clear that the shelves and frames would merely break again. The man even tried to superglue the frames, but this remedy lasted for only a few weeks, the filing says.

“Plaintiff tried resting the drawer on top of the glass shelve [sic] below it but that caused the frames to break more and the glass would collapse,” the lawsuit elaborates. “In exasperation, Plaintiff has now added wood to the frames to make them functional but the inside of the Refrigerator is quite unsightly.”

The filing relays that the plaintiff and other Electrolux/Frigidaire fridge buyers reasonably expected that their appliances would function properly for at least 10 years and have not received what they paid for.

Which Electrolux and Frigidaire model numbers are mentioned in the lawsuit?

According to the complaint, Electrolux and Frigidaire Gallery side-by-side fridges with the following model numbers are equipped with shoddy shelving and drawers:

• DGHK2355TF;
• FGHC2355PF;
• FGHC2331PF;
• LGHK2336TF;
• LGHK2336TD;
• FGSC2335TD;
• FGSC2335TF;
• FGSS2335TF;
• GRSS2652AF;
• GRSS2352AF;
• GRSC2352AD; and
• GRSC2352AF.

Who’s covered by the lawsuit?

The case looks to cover all consumers and entities in the United States who own, or have owned, an Electrolux refrigerator with any of the model numbers listed on this page and/or any other model of Electrolux fridge containing a defect that causes the product’s shelves, drawers or associated parts to break prematurely and continuously.

I own one of these Electrolux/Frigidaire fridges. What should I do?

When a new class action case is initially filed, there’s usually nothing a consumer needs to do right away to join or make sure they’re included in the lawsuit. Really, it’s only if and when a suit settles (not a guarantee!) that a consumer might need to act, typically by filling out and submitting a claim form online or by mail.

If this case were to settle and you’re one of the people “covered,” you might receive a notice by mail and/or email. The notice will most likely contain information on how, where and by when to file a claim; your legal rights; any proof you might need to submit with your claim; and more details for “class members.”

For now, however, Electrolux and Frigidaire refrigerator owners need only sit tight. Most proposed class action cases take some time to work through the legal process toward a settlement, dismissal or arbitration.

If you own one of the Electrolux or Frigidaire fridges listed on this page, or just want to stay in the loop on class action lawsuit and settlement news, sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.