Samsung RS21 and RS60 fridge freezers safety notice
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.
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.
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.
All Appliance Safety Notices
Related Safety Notices
Beko Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeSerious fire risk for Beko frost-free fridge freezers from 2000 to 2006 – 20 fires and one death reported.
Hotpoint Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeA separate safety notice affecting certain Hotpoint fridge freezer models.
Hoover Frost-Free Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeDefrost heater fault affecting Hoover frost-free fridge freezers from a specific production period.
LEC TF2304W Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeDefrost 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.
Safety notice on Gorenje fridge-freezers
The affected models are the Gorenje RKI ORA E and RK ORA E fridge freezers bought in 2007 and 2008. Owners were advised to check the serial number and article number against the affected batch. The nature of the hazard is described only as “a potential fault on one of the components” – Gorenje did not publish more specific details. Contact Gorenje customer services with your model and serial number to confirm whether your appliance is affected.
Gorenje issued a safety notice for RKI ORA E and RK ORA E fridge freezer models bought in 2007 and 2008. A potential component fault could in certain circumstances cause a hazardous failure. Gorenje’s own safety notice page has since been removed. If you own one of these models, contact Gorenje directly to check whether your specific appliance is affected and whether the fault has been addressed.
The Official Notice
“Gorenje ensure the highest degree of safety to the functioning of its appliances. As a result, the company Gorenje invites the owners of fridge-freezer models RKI ORA E and RK ORA E, bought in 2007 and 2008, to check the serial number and article number. Under certain circumstances a potential fault may occur on one of the components of the affected models that may cause a hazardous failure.”
Gorenje – original safety notice
Affected Models
Gorenje RK ORA E
Both models were produced and sold in 2007 and 2008. Whether your specific unit is affected requires checking the serial number and article number against the batch covered by the notice. As Gorenje’s own safety page has been removed, this check must now be done directly with Gorenje customer services.
What to Do
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Find the model and serial number. This is usually on a label inside the fridge compartment – on the interior side wall or at the rear. Note both the model name and the serial number before contacting Gorenje.
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Contact Gorenje directly. Gorenje’s original safety notice page has been removed from their website. Contact Gorenje customer services through their current website or telephone number, provide your model and serial number, and ask specifically about the RKI ORA E / RK ORA E safety notice issued for 2007 and 2008 models.
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Do not leave the appliance unattended for long periods until you have confirmed whether it is affected and what action is required. As with all fridge freezers subject to safety notices, this appliance runs continuously and cannot simply be switched off without spoiling the contents – arrange the confirmation contact with Gorenje as quickly as possible.
This is a recurring issue with manufacturer safety notices – pages are removed after the initial publicity period even though affected appliances may still be in use and unmodified owners may still be discovering the notice for the first time. If you cannot reach Gorenje via their current website, the Trading Standards product safety notices list at tradingstandards.uk may hold archived information on this recall.
All Appliance Safety Notices
Related Safety Notices
Beko Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeSerious fire risk for Beko frost-free fridge freezers from 2000 to 2006 – 20 fires and one death reported.
Hotpoint Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeA separate safety notice affecting certain Hotpoint fridge freezer models.
Samsung RS21 and RS60 Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeInternal sparking fire risk affecting all Samsung RS21 and RS60 fridge freezers regardless of purchase date.
Hoover Frost-Free Fridge Freezer Safety NoticeDefrost heater fault affecting Hoover frost-free fridge freezers from a specific production period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Gorenje fridge freezer models are affected?
The affected models are the Gorenje RKI ORA E and RK ORA E, bought in 2007 and 2008. Whether your specific unit is in the affected batch requires checking the serial number and article number with Gorenje directly, as their original safety notice page has been removed.
What is the danger with the affected Gorenje fridge freezers?
Gorenje described the risk as “a potential fault on one of the components that may under certain circumstances cause a hazardous failure.” The notice does not specify what the component is or the precise nature of the hazard. This vagueness is unhelpful but the use of the word “hazardous” means the notice should be treated seriously and confirmed with Gorenje directly.
How do I contact Gorenje about this safety notice?
Contact Gorenje through their current customer service website or telephone number. Their original safety notice page has been removed. Provide the model name (RKI ORA E or RK ORA E) and your serial number. If Gorenje cannot be reached directly, check the Trading Standards product recalls and safety notices list at tradingstandards.uk for any archived information on this notice.