Samsung RS21 and RS60 fridge freezers safety notice
Samsung has issued a fire risk safety notice covering RS21 and RS60 range fridge freezers, later extended to all models in this range regardless of purchase date, plus additional related models listed below. The Electrical Safety Council advised anyone with an unmodified affected appliance to stop using it immediately and contact Samsung. A free home-visit repair programme is available.
As of March 2014 Samsung extended this notice to cover ALL RS21 and RS60 fridge freezers regardless of manufacture date, plus additional models using a similar defrost system. If you have one of the affected models that has not already been modified by Samsung, stop using it and call Samsung on 0800 988 0123 to arrange the free repair. Check the model number on the label inside the fridge compartment – see our guide on where to find the model number on a fridge or freezer.
Affected Models
Samsung’s notice covers all appliances in the following ranges, plus units using a similar defrost system:
RS60 (all models)
RSE8
RSH1
RSJ1
SN62
As of March 2014 the scope was extended to include all RS21 and RS60 models regardless of when the appliance was manufactured or purchased. If you have an RS21 or RS60 that has not already been modified by Samsung, it is covered by this notice.
Registering an appliance is supposed to ensure owners are contacted directly when a safety notice is issued. In practice, some registered owners of these Samsung fridge freezers were not notified. If you have a registered RS21 or RS60 and have not received confirmation that the modification has been carried out, contact Samsung directly – do not assume the modification has happened because you registered the appliance.
What to Do
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Check your model number. The model number is on a label inside the fridge compartment. Confirm whether your appliance is one of the models listed above. See our guide on how to find the model or serial number on a fridge freezer.
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If your model is affected and has not been modified, stop using it immediately. This is the specific advice from the Electrical Safety Council. Do not continue using the appliance until Samsung has confirmed the modification has been carried out.
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Contact Samsung. Call 0800 988 0123 to arrange the free home-visit repair. Samsung’s dedicated safety notice pages for this recall have been removed – if this number is no longer active, contact Samsung customer services through their current website and reference the RS21/RS60 safety notice.
Fridge freezers cannot simply be switched off while awaiting repair without spoiling the contents. If you cannot immediately get confirmation of when the repair will be carried out, consider whether contents can be temporarily transferred to other cold storage. The internal sparking fault is described as rare – Samsung’s own language at the time was “in very rare cases, there is the potential for internal sparking to occur.” However, the Electrical Safety Council’s advice to stop using unmodified appliances immediately should be given significant weight.
Related Safety Notices
Beko Fridge Freezer Safety Notice
Serious fire risk for Beko frost-free fridge freezers from 2000 to 2006 – 20 fires and one death reported.
Hotpoint Fridge Freezer Safety Notice
A separate safety notice affecting certain Hotpoint fridge freezer models.
Hoover Frost-Free Fridge Freezer Safety Notice
Defrost heater fault affecting Hoover frost-free fridge freezers from a specific production period.
LEC TF2304W Fridge Freezer Safety Notice
Defrost timer fire risk for LEC TF2304W frost-free fridge freezers from 2004 to 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Samsung RS21 and RS60 fridge freezers affected?
Yes – as of March 2014 Samsung extended the safety notice to cover all RS21 and RS60 models regardless of manufacture date or purchase date. The notice was initially limited to a specific production date range but was subsequently expanded. If you have an RS21 or RS60 that has not had the Samsung modification carried out, it is covered by this notice.
I registered my Samsung fridge freezer but was never contacted – what should I do?
Contact Samsung directly. Some registered owners were not notified despite the appliance being registered. Do not assume the modification has been carried out simply because you registered the appliance. Call 0800 988 0123 or contact Samsung through their current customer service channels and specifically reference the RS21/RS60 safety notice.
Should I stop using the fridge freezer immediately?
If your appliance is an affected model and has not been modified, the Electrical Safety Council’s advice was to stop using it immediately and contact Samsung. Given that fridge freezers cannot be switched off without spoiling contents, contact Samsung as a matter of urgency to arrange the free repair visit. If you cannot reach Samsung quickly, consider whether the most perishable contents can be temporarily moved to other cold storage while the repair is arranged.
Stuart, I would use the telephone number in my article to see if yours is affected. If it is they need to come and look at it. Your fault may or may not be related. If it isn’t affected by this safety notice then it’s a question of getting someone to look at it anyway.
Hi looking for help. Can down the stairs to find RS21 fridge freezer not working. Tryed the fuse in the plug (blown) replaced the fuse and when switched on it made anoise for about 2 seconds and blew the fuse in the plug again. Can anyone help ???? Thanks
had my RS21 repaired due to same probs as everyone else 2 years ago by samsung, now its happening again, sounds like the bloody fridge is going to explode !!! my side by side is now approx 6 years old and im wondering what my chances of them fixing their design fault again? No chance im footing the bill…where do i stand on this
We bought a Samsung RSH1FRBS side by side unit exactly three years ago. Basically the same as all other RSH1 units but has the ‘bar door’ in the fridge door. Makes it easy to just get out the milk or orange juice.
Cooling stopped working in the fridge overnight, called SAmsung, man here in 1 hour, removed and replaced defunct sensor, unit, back up and working in 2 hours from callto Samsung, can’t be bad.
Apparently although out of warranty, Samsung have extended this to 5 years for about 6 parts that have been known to fail. Fixed free of charge. Good service from the call centre, and the engineer who called knew exactly what he was doing.
No complaints.
Apart from that one fault it works as decribed on the box, really nice unit. Bought from Boots on line so we even got umpteen extra Boots points.
OK Andy, it might not be related to this safety issue but let us know if it is.
I have a RSH1DTMH and this week the fridge fan stopped circulating air so the bottom is freezing and the top warm. I called Samsung 10 mins agi as it 2 months out of warranty (2 years, 2 months old) and they are sending someone to look at it for free. Will Update when they diagnose / fix!
well got the letter today and my stainless steel RSH1DBRS less that 4 yrs old = £320 compensation !!. i don`t know how to take it,i mean should i be glad i can move on or refuse and chase the retailer and let this go on for months i would`nt say i was happy or sad,but do feel £320 is not enough would rather get no money and replacement.
Maybe they’ve accepted that the problem of ice building up around the fan is a design issue but it is a separate issue to this particular safety notice and not related to the fire risk as far as I’m aware.
They are coming out to it today. Sending subcontractors. The lady on the phone said that mine was a product recall visit. They bring 6 parts as part of the recall (fire issue). The parts also include replacement fan cover and other bits which should stop the ice build up. So I suppose it’s wait and see.
The fan icing up is a long known issue but not related to the fire risk. The chances are yours is a model with this fire risk and needs modifying but there are no symptoms regarding the fire risk. Either that or your model has now been included as they appear to have extended the models they want/need to modify –
“As a precautionary measure, Samsung will also include the following fridge freezers with a similar deforost system as part of the programme. The following extended models include RS21 and RS60 (outside the above dates of manufacture) SN62, RSE8, RSH1 and RSJ1”
Yes you’re right. The guy has been, nice bloke too. The reason why they turned up was to fix the products recall issue (fire hazzard) as they hadn’t been out previously. Samsung also have a policy now to fix the fan freezing up issue in the same visit for free. So all was a nice bonus. Thanks.
Hi folks,
Try this number 01932 454358. I called here It’s Samsungs landline. They answered it straight away. I gave them my model num RS21NCSV and they said an engineer will call within 24 hours to arrnage to fix. Same thing is happening to my fridge. The fan is catching on a build up of ice and once the ice builds up so far, it stops the fridge from chilliing. easy to fix by taking the parts off the back of the fridge and defrosting with hairdryer but a pain in the ass.
They said the fix was free of charge and with an 8 isg yr old fridge I’m happy with that. Just hoping the call out is not just to fix the fire issue. And if he even thinks of making a hole in the back of my fridge I’ll sue him for criminal damage.
Thanks for the update smythe and I hope it proves acceptable for you. If not, remember you still have the option to pursue the retailer under the sale of goods act. Please keep us informed. Experience like yours is valuable to us all.
HI,i might be sucker for punisment but if samsung send me a money off voucher ,to used against there products only how are there new range of american fridge/freezers ??? i still like the styling would i be out my mind to have one of there cuurent modals and do they still suffer from the same problems.
many thanks
smythe
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