The Most & Least Reliable Refrigerator Brands in 2024

Are you shopping for a new refrigerator and wondering which brand is the most reliable?

Refrigerators are the most repaired appliance in the home, but you can limit issues by picking the right brand.

In this guide, I reveal the most reliable refrigerator brands. I also share the least reliable brands, so you know what to avoid.

I interviewed seven appliance repair professionals, analyzed service rates, and reviewed thousands of customer testimonials to pick the best brands.

So, if you’re ready to buy a new fridge but need help deciding which brands to buy (and which to avoid), keep reading.

What Refrigerator Repair Professionals Say

Nobody knows which refrigerator brands are the most and least reliable better than the professionals servicing them every day.

So, I reached out to several companies to get an expert opinion. When I connected each company, I asked two simple questions:

• Which refrigerator brands are the most reliable?
• Which refrigerator brands are the least reliable?

The chart below summarizes the responses. As you can see, almost all appliance repair experts said LG and Samsung are the least reliable refrigerator brands. While there isn’t a consensus on the most reliable brands, Whirlpool, GE, KitchenAid, Bosch, and Maytag were mentioned most often.

Brand	Votes for Most Reliable Refrigerator	Votes for Least Reliable Refrigerator
Whirlpool	4	1
GE	3	1
KitchenAid	3	1
Bosch	2	0
Maytag	2	0
Jenn Air	1	0
LG	0	6
Samsung	0	7
Frigidaire	0	2
Electrolux	0	1
Blomberg	0	1
Beko	0	1

The appliance service team at Hunter Appliance in Littleton, Massachusetts, said, “We tend to see the lowest service call rates on Bosch, GE and KitchenAid French door fridges, and the highest on Samsung, LG, and Frigidaire. A through-the-door ice-and-water dispenser is certainly a common point of failure across all brands. Even so, we sell a majority of fridges with this feature.”

Appliance Services, LLC in Epping, New Hampshire, gave me the following advice:

• Stay away from LG and Samsung. Few companies service these brands.
• Paying more doesn’t get you a better refrigerator. They all have a 7-10 year lifespan nowadays.
• We suggest Whirlpool. Not because they’re better but because everyone will service them, including us.
• As a rule of thumb: the fewer bells and whistles, the better.
• Try to keep the ice maker in the freezer, not in the fridge door. It might mean foregoing a door dispenser, but it will save you headaches and money in the long run.

The service technician at Another Cycle Appliance Repair, Inc. in Londonderry, New Hampshire, said, “We recommend Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid refrigerators — those brands are the most reliable. Samsung and LG Refrigerators are the least reliable.”

Harrison Refrigeration & Appliances in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, said, “GE, GE Profile, and Bosch are the most reliable refrigerator brands. These brands are built more sturdy, the parts are generally in stock, and they offer better customer service. KitchenAid, Jenn Air, Maytag, and Whirlpool are also reliable, but their customer service has declined lately, and parts are often on backorder.”

They went on to say, “Electrolux, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG, Blomberg, and Beko are the least reliable refrigerator brands. These brands have frequent service issues and poor customer service, and their parts are frequently on backorder or no longer available. They’re also more susceptible to premature failures.”

Ray’s Appliance in Taunton, Massachusetts, said, “In general, I don’t see a great difference in reliability between the brands today. The availability of replacement parts and local factory service companies are the most important considerations in selecting the brand. The brand we recommend above all others is GE. They have the best service and parts availability of all of the brands we carry. Samsung lacks parts availability and local service companies, and as a result, we elect not to sell the brand.”

The expert at United Appliance Parts in Schenectady, New York, said, “Most refrigerators are about the same right now. The only brands I don’t recommend are Samsung and LG because they are more expensive on parts and harder to get parts for. Also, most service companies won’t work on Samsung and LG. When shopping for a new refrigerator, find one that has the space you need inside and try to spend as little money as possible. Most new refrigerators only last about 8-10 years, so it’s not worth spending a lot of money on the new ones.”

Hub Appliance in Boston, Massachusetts, put it simply. They said, “Stay away from LG, Samsung, and GE. Whirlpool refrigerators are the most reliable. Fancy models have fancy (and expensive) problems.”

Results From Yale Appliance’s Annual Refrigerator Reliability Report

Before sharing the results of recent Yale Appliance reports, I want to provide a quick background on why this data is trustworthy.

If an appliance retailer also provides repair services, it’s in its best interest to sell reliable brands. The business must pay the service team, maintain a parts warehouse or budget, manage a fleet of service vehicles, and pay multiple insurance premiums for workers.

Selling reliable refrigerators and having access to affordable parts keeps retailers’ costs down.

The following data from the report comes from Yale’s actual service calls, not anecdotal or predictive data.

The chart below shows three years of data from tens of thousands of service calls in recent years:

Note: Service Ratio is calculated by dividing the number of refrigerators Yale Appliance serviced in the first year by the number sold.

Refrigerator Brand	Service Rate 2024	Service Rate 2023	Service Rate 2022	Service Rate 2021
LG	8.8%	6.9%	4.5%	27.8%
Bosch	11.6%	10.7%	14.9%	16.9%
GE Appliances	11.6%	19.6%	16.5%	12.21%
GE Profile	16.8%	16.5%	10.2%	22.8%
Fisher & Paykel	18.9%	5.0%	N/A	N/A
Café Appliances	20.1%	9.9%	12.6%	21.9%
Beko	32.8%	25.9%	32.6%	18.1%
KitchenAid	N/A	25.5%	17.0%	21.6%
Samsung	N/A	N/A	8.4%	20.9%
JennAir	N/A	N/A	15.8%	36.7%

Many factors can impact these numbers, most notably supply-chain issues and low inventory.

After all, service calls can drop significantly if a brand isn’t selling as much of a particular appliance.

For example, according to Yale’s latest report:

• LG improved the design on its linear compressor after settling a 2019 class-action lawsuit about the part not properly cooling.
• Samsung’s service call rate dropped sharply in 2021 — lack of availability was a factor. Plus, the report is limited to counter-depth, French door refrigerators. Yale didn’t sell enough Samsung refrigerators to include them in recent reports.
• One of Bosch’s most popular models doesn’t have an ice dispenser. Theoretically, this cuts down on service calls since ice dispensers are one of the most common sources of problems.

Because of these factors, you’ll notice that percentages of service rates fluctuate.

To get a more in-depth understanding, you’ll have to read more about report parameters and specific circumstances. Use these results as one of many resources to base your decision.

Caveats aside, the raw data shows that LG, Bosch, and GE are the most reliable refrigerator brands in recent years. Beko and Café are the least reliable.

Yet, as noted in the previous section, most repair pros advise against buying LG and Samsung refrigerators. That is why you should always consult several sources before making a decision.

Most Reliable Refrigerator Brands: GE, Bosch, Whirlpool, KitchenAid

Based on my interviews with appliance service professionals, Yale’s annual reliability report, and consumer reviews, GE, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Bosch are the most reliable refrigerator brands right now.

In this section, I highlight key features of each brand and further explain what makes them so reliable.

GE

GE (General Electric) Appliances, a Haier company, has been in existence for over 100 years. It has several manufacturing plants in the United States.

GE sells appliances under several brand names, including GE Appliances, GE Profile, Café, Monogram, and Hotpoint. Products include refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers, just to name a few.

Yale’s most recent data shows that GE Profile’s service rate has decreased from 16.5% in 2023 to 16.8% in 2024. Meanwhile, GE Appliances’ service rate has decreased significantly from 19.6% in 2023 to 11.6% in 2024.

The service professionals I interviewed had mixed reviews about GE. Some had high praise for GE’s durability and performance, while others said it was a brand to avoid.

Still, the brand is known for making stylish and sleek refrigerators that last:

• The Spruce called GE “one of the best in terms of durability” in a recent top refrigerator brands review.
• Good Housekeeping named the GE Profile French Door refrigerator the best overall refrigerator.
• Designer Appliances also weighed in, naming the GE Profile PFE28KYNFS the most reliable refrigerator.

However, consumers complain that the parts wear out quickly after one year. There are also long-term challenges with the temperature control  — it’s either too cold or not cold enough. Still, the reviews are mostly positive.

GE Quick Facts:

Founded	1892
Where It’s Made	GE has manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Number of Refrigerator Models	60+
Yale Service Rate 2021	GE Profile: 22.8% GE Appliances: 21.9%
Yale Service Rate 2022	GE Profile: 10.2% GE Appliances: 12.6%
Yale Service Rate 2023	GE Profile: 16.5% GE Appliances: 19.6%
Yale Service Rate 2024	GE Profile: 16.8% GE Appliances: 11.6%
Warranty Information	Varies by model. Most have a one-year warranty on parts, five-year warranty on the sealed refrigerator system, and lifetime limited warranty on drawer slides.
Common Issues	Poor temperature regulation, longevity concerns, and noisy operation.
Price	$$$$ (HomeDepot.com)

Bosch

Bosch was founded over 135 years ago in Stuttgart, Germany, by industrialist Robert Bosch. For Bosch, customer relationships were paramount; making money was secondary.

Today, the global company maintains the innovative spirit of its founder. It manufactures a variety of appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and ranges. The company also makes kitchen electrics like coffee machines and food processors.

Recent Yale annual reports show that Bosch counter-depth refrigerators have a relatively low service rate. In 2021, the service rate was 16.9%, in 2022 it was 14.9%, in 2023 it was 10.7%, and in 2024 it was 11.6%.

The service professionals I polled rated Bosch as a top brand.

In the marketplace, the praise for Bosch refrigerators is echoed:

• Designer Appliances called the Bosch B36CL80ENS the best for temperature control, as it uses two air compressors to separate airflow to the fridge and freezer.
• In 2020, Bosch was named one of the most reliable refrigerators by Puls. Whirlpool took the top spot, followed by Maytag.
• Reviewed.com described the Bosch B36CD50SNS as an editor’s choice pick, delivering near-perfect performance in terms of temperature control in the fridge and freezer.

Consumers are also enamored with Bosch refrigerators. They have highly-rated reviews on HomeDepot.com, BestBuy.com, and Lowes.com.

The overall sentiment is that Bosch refrigerators are stylish and have innovative design features. Yet, the temperature regulation is not always spot on, the panels are easy to dent, and interior spacing could be better.

Bosch Quick Facts:

Founded	1886
Where It’s Made	Bosch manufactures refrigerators in Germany, Greece, Spain, and China.
Number of Refrigerator Models	9
Yale Service Rate 2021	16.9%
Yale Service Rate 2022	14.9%
Yale Service Rate 2023	10.7%
Yale Service Rate 2024	11.6%
Warranty Information	Bosch offers a one-year limited warranty on the appliance, parts, and labor. The warranty covers non-electronic components for two years and electronic components for five years.
Common Issues	Dents easily, design flaws with spacing and door closure, and performance issues with temperature regulation.
Price	$$$$ (HomeDepot.com)

Whirlpool

Whirlpool was founded in 1911 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It’s an award-winning company credited for debuting the first automatic washing machine in the late 1940s. It owns several brands, including KitchenAid, Maytag, JennAir, and Amana.

Whirlpool manufactures refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ranges, and microwaves. Some newer Whirlpool appliances are compatible with Google and Amazon voice assistants and apps like Yummly.

Yale Appliance doesn’t include Whirlpool refrigerators in their rankings because they are primarily sold to builders rather than consumers. However, Jenn-Air, a brand owned by Whirlpool, was previously rated as reliable by Yale. In 2022, Jenn-Air ranked as the sixth most reliable refrigerator brand with a service rate of 15.8%. Due to insufficient sales of Jenn-Air refrigerators at Yale Appliance in the past two years, the brand did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the most recent rankings.

The service professionals I spoke with described Whirlpool as a reliable brand. A representative from HUB Appliance Co. in Massachusetts called the Whirlpool line the “best bet.”

Home improvement sites like HomeDepot.com and Lowes.com revealed mostly favorable Whirlpool reviews from consumers. But a recurring complaint involves areas in the refrigerator where food gets too cold, speaking to issues with temperature control.

Here’s what others had to say:

• Wirecutter called Whirlpool French-door refrigerators “totally solid” in its roundup of the best refrigerators. The review gave Whirlpool high marks for reliability, noting that there were no major complaints about cooling. The overall consensus: it delivers solid performance but could use some design tweaks.
• Whirlpool was the top winner for reliability based on ratings from Puls technicians.
• According to CNET, Whirlpool and its label, Maytag, make the most reliable appliances. One central theme stood out in the article — Whirlpool makes simpler machines than most appliance brands; this simplicity translates into reliability.
• The Spruce named Whirlpool one of the nine best refrigerator brands. The article pointed out that Whirlpool fridges require fewer repairs than comparable brands. It mentioned that Whirlpool refrigerators are known for energy efficiency, durability, and quality.

Whirlpool Quick Facts:

Founded	1911
Where It’s Made	There are multiple manufacturing locations in the United States, including Ohio, Iowa, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Number of Refrigerator Models	50+
Yale Service Rate 2021	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2022	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2023	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2024	N/A
Warranty Information	Varies by model. Most have a one-year warranty covering parts and labor for defects in material and workmanship.
Common Issues	Inefficient use of space, missing freezer shelves, issues with water/ice dispensers, freezing spots in the fridge, noisy operation.
Price	$$$ (HomeDepot.com)

KitchenAid

KitchenAid launched in 1919 and was acquired by Whirlpool in 1986. While its most famous product is the KitchenAid stand mixer, the brand makes appliances like refrigerators and ranges and a variety of countertop electrics.

Yale Appliance lists KitchenAid as a top-10 reliable appliance in its 2023 annual report. The service rate went from 21.6% in 2021 to 17% in 2022 to 25.5 in 2023. Yale Appliance refers to KitchenAid as a stylish and affordable luxury brand. Due to insufficient sales, the brand wasn’t included in Yale’s most recent report.

Several service professionals I spoke to said KitchenAid is an excellent, reliable refrigerator brand.

The brand also gets praised by the following outlets:

• Puls polled repair professionals in an article about reliable appliance brands. KitchenAid was the second most recommended; Whirlpool was number one.
• The Spruce listed KitchenAid as one of the top nine refrigerator brands. Reviewers called the refrigerators “striking” with high performance and durable features.

Verified purchasers on HomeDepot.com and BestBuy.com love the style of KitchenAid refrigerators. However, some point out quality issues with the ice maker and cooling system.

Another con is the water filter placement on some models. It’s near the floor, making it inconvenient to change and easy to bump when mopping. 

KitchenAid Quick Facts:

Founded	1919
Where It’s Made	Manufactured in various US-based Whirlpool factory locations: Ohio, Iowa, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Number of Refrigerator Models	20+
Yale Service Rate 2021	21.6%
Yale Service Rate 2022	17%
Yale Service Rate 2023	25.5%
Yale Service Rate 2024	N/A
Warranty Information	Varies by model. Details are on the last page of the owner’s manual for each product.
Common Issues	Water filter at the base is easy to hit and inconvenient to access, temperature control, and ice maker breaking frequently.
Price	$$$$ (HomeDepot.com)

Least Reliable Refrigerator Brands: LG, Samsung, Frigidaire

According to service professionals and consumer reviews, LG, Samsung, and Frigidaire are the least reliable refrigerator brands.

Here’s what you need to know about each brand.

LG

LG Corporation was founded in 1947 in Busan, South Korea. It’s a multi-generational family business specializing in innovative products to make life easier. Today the brand creates everything from TVs and wireless headphones to washers and dryers.

Almost all the service pros I spoke to said LG is one of the least reliable refrigerator brands. They cited frequent service issues, expensive or hard-to-get parts, and complex repairs for upscale features. In fact, some service pros refuse to sell or repair them.

LG faced a class-action lawsuit in recent years. The issue was a linear compressor causing a cooling defect. LG has since addressed the problem, which could account for Yale Appliance ranking them as the number one reliable refrigerator brand in 2022, number two in 2023, and number one in 2024. The service call rate dropped from 27.8% in 2020 to 4.5% in 2022. In 2023, the service rate increased slightly to 6.9% but has remained relatively low. In the most recent report, LG had the lowest service rate of all brands at 8.8%.

Although you might be swayed by seeing LG refrigerators on some “best of” lists, online consumer forums are filled with chatter about LG’s lack of reliability. While the brand has made strides to improve, the pros recommend avoiding it for now.

People who buy LG refrigerators note that they like the quiet operation, sleek modern style, and loads of features. But there are also complaints of longevity issues, poor customer service, and problems with doors aligning and closing properly.

This thread on BestBuy.com gives a revealing look at the questions people are asking about LG compressors. The overall sentiment is that people still have issues and don’t recommend buying an LG refrigerator.

LG Quick Facts:

Founded	1947
Where It’s Made	South Korea or China
Number of Refrigerator Models	30+
Yale Service Rate 2021	27.8%
Yale Service Rate 2022	4.5%
Yale Service Rate 2023	6.9%
Yale Service Rate 2024	8.8%
Warranty Information	Varies by model. Most have a one year for parts and labor and five years for parts and labor of the sealed system or compressor. Some models have a 10-year warranty on the compressor.
Common Issues	Longevity issues, poor customer service, door misalignment.
Price	$$$$ (HomeDepot.com)

Samsung

Samsung was founded in 1938 in Daegu, South Korea. It has several subsidiaries, including Samsung Electronics, which makes smartphones, TVs, audio equipment, and home appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers.

Samsung fridges had the second-lowest service rate in Yale’s 2022 report. But there’s a catch — Yale sold fewer Samsung fridges that year because they were hard to get, and that made the service rate look better than it really was. Yale didn’t sell enough Samsungs in 2022 for the brand to even make it into their 2023 reports. And in 2023, Yale stopped selling Samsung completely, so don’t expect to see any Samsung data from them going forward.

Of all the service professionals I interviewed, Samsung was mentioned every time as a refrigerator brand to avoid. The consensus was that they require repeated service, and it’s hard to get the parts to fix the issues.

Consumers offered favorable reviews online. Many verified purchasers say Samsung refrigerators are spacious, elegantly designed, and full of useful features like a chime when the door is not fully closed. But some cited downsides like issues with temperature control, leaking, and faulty parts.

Wirecutter called Samsung refrigerators “good-looking…with some flashy features at lower prices than other brands.” But, its readers were twice as dissatisfied with Samsung refrigerators than Whirlpool, LG, and GE models.

Samsung Quick Facts:

Founded	1938
Where It’s Made	Multiple locations: South Korea, Germany, China, Hungary, India, Sweden, Luxembourg, and South Carolina.
Number of Refrigerator Models	40+
Yale Service Rate 2021	20.9%
Yale Service Rate 2022	8.4%
Yale Service Rate 2023	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2024	N/A
Warranty Information	The warranty for all Samsung fridges includes one year parts and labor, two years for parts and labor on Ice Max, five-year sealed system coverage, and 10 years for compressor coverage.
Common Issues	Temperature control issues, leaking, faulty parts, and unavailable replacement parts.
Price	$$$$$ (HomeDepot.com)

Frigidaire

Frigidaire’s roots go back to 1913 with the creation of the electric refrigerator invented by Fred W. Wolf. But the company officially became Frigidaire in 1918.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company offers a variety of products, including refrigerators, ranges, ovens, dishwashers, and cooktops.

Yale doesn’t include Frigidaire on its reliable refrigerator list because it doesn’t sell or service the brand. Some service professionals I talked to were split on the issue, but most said the brand required frequent service calls.

Verified purchasers also gave mixed reviews. Some love the affordability, fingerprint-proof finish, and spaciousness of the counter-depth models. Others complained about the noisy operation, lack of longevity, and problems with the ice maker.

Wirecutter surveyed its readers about the best refrigerator brands, and Frigidaire had the lowest owner satisfaction rating. The review site noted that the brand doesn’t rank high among professional product reviewers or consumers.

Frigidaire Quick Facts:

Founded	1918
Where It’s Made	United States
Number of Refrigerator Models	20+
Yale Service Rate 2021	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2022	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2023	N/A
Yale Service Rate 2024	N/A
Warranty Information	Each model has warranty information in the user manual, but the general warranty is one year for parts and labor.
Common Issues	Noisy operation, frequent ice maker issues.
Price	$$ (HomeDepot.com)

Common Refrigerator Issues

Refrigerators are complex machines, especially today with all the built-in technology. Simply put, there’s a lot that can go wrong.

These are the most common issues that require a service call:

• Ice maker failure: This is the most common issue for refrigerators. It impacts newer models more than older ones. They usually leak, stop working, or have low ice output.
• Temperature control: Thermostats malfunction, and sometimes, the elements behind or underneath your refrigerator can become clogged and stop working. This leads to cold spots that cause food in the fridge to freeze.
• Leaking water: A few issues can cause leaks, but the most likely culprits are a faulty water line, defrost drain, or ice maker.
• Ice build-up in freezers: The freezer can get a thick build-up of ice on its walls, or the freezer drawer can freeze shut. In most cases, this is triggered by an over-packed freezer working too hard to keep everything cold.
• Technology failures: The more advanced the technology — like touchscreen refrigerators — the more that could potentially go wrong. Smart refrigerators are relatively new, so they haven’t been time-tested.

The most reliable brands in this guide (GE, Bosch, Whirlpool, and KitchenAid) are not immune to these issues, but they should occur at a lower rate.

Bottom Line: Which Refrigerator Brand Is the Best?

While there are a variety of innovative, durable refrigerator brands on the market, GE, Bosch, Whirlpool, and KitchenAid are the most reliable.

GE is a longtime manufacturer of durable refrigerators with high style and performance. Appliance repair professionals praise GE’s sturdy construction and excellent customer service.

Bosch has been in business since the later 1800s and is known for constantly innovating. The brand manufactures refrigerators that employ cutting-edge technology such as the FarmFresh System — a complex, fourfold system that keeps food fresher for longer.

Whirlpool refrigerators aren’t flashy, but since they keep features minimal, they also have fewer issues.

KitchenAid refrigerators have stunning and thoughtful designs. They come with fingerprint-free finishes, bright LED lighting, and maximum space for food and beverages. According to Yale Appliance’s reports and service professionals, it’s one of the most reliable brands.

Bottom Line — all refrigerators encounter issues, but GE, Bosch, Whirlpool, and KitchenAid are the most reliable brands with the best reputation. They won’t need service often, but when they do, parts are usually available, and most companies service them.

LG, Samsung, and Frigidaire are popular brands but are the least reliable and most likely to need repairs. However, recent data from Yale Appliance shows LG’s newer fridges are much more reliable than the ones made years ago.

Learn more about each brand at HomeDepot.com:

• Most reliable: GE, Bosch, Whirlpool, KitchenAid
• Least reliable: LG, Samsung, Frigidaire