If you own a Samsung French door refrigerator, this one’s worth reading.

Samsung has issued a recall and service bulletin covering a range of their French door models manufactured between 2014 and 2021 due to persistent ice maker failures. If you’ve been dealing with ice buildup in your freezer, leaking water, or an ice maker that just stopped working entirely, your model may be on the list.

Which Models Are Affected?

The recall covers Samsung French door refrigerators with these model number prefixes:

  • RF23J9011 (all suffixes)
  • RF28HMEDBSR
  • RF263BEAESR
  • RF28HDEDBSR
  • RF28JBEDBSG
  • RF23HCEDBSR
  • RF261BEAESR
  • RF28HFEDTSR
  • RF25HMEDBSR
  • RF23M8070 (all suffixes)
  • RF28R7351 (all suffixes)

You can find your model number on a label inside the refrigerator compartment, usually on the left wall near the top. If you’re not sure, pull up your purchase receipt or check Samsung’s recall page.

What to Watch For

The core issue is a design flaw in the ice maker assembly that causes excess frost buildup. Here’s what it looks like in practice:

  • Ice chunks or frost clogging the ice chute
  • Water pooling under the deli drawer or at the bottom of the fridge
  • Ice maker stopping production entirely after a few months of use
  • Unusual clicking or humming sounds from the freezer compartment
  • Ice with an off taste or unusual odor

I’ve personally worked on dozens of these units across Anaheim and Orange County. The problem tends to show up about 18 to 24 months after purchase, though I’ve seen it happen as early as eight months.

What Samsung Is Offering

Samsung is providing a free repair kit for affected models that includes a revised ice maker assembly, new drain components, and updated firmware for models with digital controls. In some cases, they’re offering partial reimbursements for owners who already paid for repairs out of pocket.

Here’s the thing, though — Samsung’s own repair pipeline is backed up. Homeowners in our area have been waiting three to six weeks for a Samsung-authorized technician. Some have been told parts are backordered with no ETA.

What I’d Recommend

If your Samsung fridge is showing any of the symptoms above, here’s what to do:

  1. Check your model number against the recall list. If it’s on there, register with Samsung’s recall portal to get in the queue.

  2. Don’t ignore water pooling. What starts as a small puddle under the crisper drawer can lead to water damage on your flooring. I’ve seen hardwood floors warped from refrigerators that leaked for weeks before the homeowner noticed.

  3. Call us for an inspection. We can diagnose whether your ice maker issue is the recalled defect or a separate problem. If it’s the recall defect, we can often source the updated kit and install it faster than Samsung’s own timeline.

  4. Don’t unplug the ice maker as a “fix.” Some online forums suggest just turning off the ice maker and forgetting about it. That doesn’t address the drainage issue, and you could still end up with water damage.

We’re Here to Help

If you’re in Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange, Buena Park, or anywhere in Orange County and you’re dealing with a Samsung refrigerator issue, give us a call at (714) 243-8415. We’ll come out, diagnose the problem, and give you a straight answer on what it’ll take to fix it.

Our diagnostic fee is $89, and it’s waived if you go ahead with the repair. Same-day appointments are usually available.

— Andrew Heimer, Anaheim Appliance Repair