Washing Machine Class Action Lawsuits: Samsung, LG, Whirlpool

Washing machine class action lawsuits have targeted Samsung, Whirlpool, LG, Electrolux, and Bosch over the past two decades, with claims covering mold and mildew in front-loaders, exploding lids and imbalanced drums in top-loaders, and premature metal corrosion. Most of these cases have settled and their claim deadlines have passed. One is still active: a 2024 Samsung corrosion case in New Jersey federal court.

Samsung Top-Load “Exploding Lid” Settlement

In November 2016, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled about 2.8 million Samsung top-load washers after the drum could lose balance during high-speed spin cycles and cause the top of the machine to detach from the chassis. The agency documented 733 reports of excessive vibration or top detachment and nine injuries, including a broken jaw and shoulder injuries.¹ The recall covered machines made between March 2011 and October 2016 across 34 model numbers.²

Lawsuits were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, In re: Samsung Top-Load Washing Machine Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2792, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.³ The settlement, signed in May 2018, made more than $200 million available to class members.⁴ The court granted final approval on May 22, 2020, and the Tenth Circuit affirmed in May 2021.

The settlement paid out on a tiered basis:

Consumers whose earlier recall rebate came in below 15.5 percent of the washer’s estimated purchase price could claim the difference.
Owners who kept the washer and had the recall repair done were eligible for up to $85 toward a new Samsung appliance.
Owners whose washer top actually detached could receive a full refund plus up to $100 in related expenses.
Drain-pump failure claims qualified for up to $150 in repair reimbursement and up to $400 for additional costs such as dry cleaning.⁴⁵

This claim window is closed. The recall remedies — in-home repair with warranty extension, rebate toward a new washer, or full refund for buyers within 30 days of the recall announcement — were offered directly by Samsung at the time of the recall.¹

Samsung Tub Flange Corrosion: An Active Case

In March 2024, Susan Zabransky filed a proposed class action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that certain Samsung top-loaders contain an aluminum spider arm shaft flange that corrodes prematurely, sometimes within a year of purchase.⁶ The complaint, Zabransky v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Case No. 2:24-cv-02133), alleges the corrosion releases metal particles that clog hoses, prevent proper drainage, and cause mold buildup that transfers onto clothing.⁷

The suit asserts violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and other state consumer protection statutes, claiming Samsung has known about the defect since at least 2013 but characterized it as a cosmetic issue, charged consumers for service visits, and sold replacement flanges prone to the same problem.⁷ Samsung moved to dismiss in July 2024, the court ruled in March 2025, and an amended complaint followed in February 2026. As of mid-2026 the case is still in the pleading and discovery stage, with no class certification ruling and no settlement.⁸ If you own a Samsung top-loader showing rust at the drum spider or metal particles in the wash, this is the case to watch; there is nothing to claim yet.

Samsung’s 2022 Fire-Hazard Recall

Separate from the lid and corrosion matters, Samsung recalled roughly 663,500 top-load washers in December 2022 after 51 reports of smoking, melting, overheating, or fire. The recall covered machines with a “super speed wash” feature sold between June 2021 and December 2022 for $900 to $1,500.⁹ The fix was a free software update delivered over Wi-Fi or by dongle. No class action lawsuit had been filed over this recall as of late 2022.¹⁰

Whirlpool, LG, Electrolux, and Bosch Front-Loader Mold Settlements

Four major manufacturers settled nearly identical class actions over mold, mildew, and odor in front-loading washers. Plaintiffs argued the horizontal-axis drum design trapped moisture, detergent residue, and organic matter in places consumers couldn’t easily clean, particularly the rubber door gasket and internal drainage parts.¹¹ All four claim windows are closed.

Whirlpool

The Whirlpool settlement covered roughly 5.6 million front-loading units made between 2001 and 2010 under the Whirlpool, Maytag, and Kenmore brands, including the Duet, Duet HT, Duet Sport, and Duet Sport HT lines. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio granted preliminary approval on May 11, 2016, and final approval on September 23, 2016.¹²¹³ Owners who experienced mold or odor could claim a $50 cash payment, a 20 percent rebate toward a new washer or dryer, or up to $500 in reimbursement for documented repair or replacement costs. Owners with no reported problems could claim a 5 percent rebate. Whirlpool denied wrongdoing and said fewer than 4 percent of consumers had complaints about the affected washers.

LG

LG’s settlement, in In re LG Front Loading Washing Machine Class Action Litigation (Case No. 2:08-cv-00051) in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, covered U.S. residents who originally bought an LG-brand front-loader for home use between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006, an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 units.¹⁴¹⁵ Eligible owners could receive a $35 cash payment or a $105 rebate certificate toward a new washer. Final approval came on October 24, 2016, and the claims deadline was October 10, 2016.¹⁶

Electrolux

The Electrolux settlement covered approximately 2.88 million front-loaders made between January 2004 and December 2011 under seven brand names: Crosley, Electrolux, Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Kenmore, Kenmore Elite, and White-Westinghouse.¹⁷ Qualifying owners could choose a $50 cash payment, a 20 percent rebate on select Electrolux-made appliances, or up to $500 in reimbursement for documented repair or replacement expenses. The claims deadline was April 19, 2018, and the case is closed.¹⁸

Bosch/BSH

BSH Home Appliances Corporation, which makes Bosch and Siemens washers, settled Diana Tait, et al. v. BSH Home Appliances Corp. (Case No. 8:10-cv-00711) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The certified class covered residents of California, Illinois, Maryland, and New York who bought a 27-inch Bosch Nexxt, Bosch Vision, or Siemens ultraSense front-loader. The court approved the settlement on July 27, 2015, and eligible class members received a $55 cash payment.¹⁹²⁰

LG Top-Loader Imbalanced-Load Case

LG had a second, separate class action involving top-loaders. About 457,000 LG and Kenmore Elite top-load washers sold between April 2010 and December 2012 were recalled by the CPSC on December 18, 2012, after at least 343 reports of excessive vibration, 187 reports of property damage, and one injury. Unbalanced loads caused the internal drum to come loose and shake violently.²¹

The class action, Smith v. LG Electronics, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiff alleged that LG’s recall fix — a software upgrade capping spin speeds at 700 RPMs rather than the advertised 1,050 to 1,100 RPMs — did not address the underlying design defect and left clothes soaking wet at the end of cycles. The affected models included the LG WT5001CW, WT5101HV, and WT5101HW, along with the Kenmore Elite 29002, 29272, and 29278.²¹

How to Check Whether Your Machine Is Covered

Find the model number and serial number, usually on a sticker inside the door or under the lid. Cross-check it against the manufacturer’s recall page and the court documents linked above. For the closed mold settlements (Whirlpool, LG front-loader, Electrolux, Bosch), the claim deadlines have passed and no further payments are available, though the underlying recalls or manufacturer service remedies may still apply in some circumstances. For the Samsung 2016 top-load recall, the direct remedies from Samsung — repair, rebate, or refund within the 30-day window — were tied to the recall itself. For the Samsung flange corrosion case, there is no settlement yet; the Zabransky docket is where any future notice would originate.⁸

1
CPSC. Samsung Recalls Top-Load Washing Machines
2
Samsung. Samsung Top Load Washer Recall Information
3
Findlaw. In Re Samsung Top-Load Washing Machine Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation
4
Lieff Cabraser. Samsung Exploding Washers Class Action Settlement to Make More Than $200 Million Available to Class Members
5
Consumer Reports. Samsung Settles Washer Lawsuit
6
ClassAction.org. Samsung Top-Load Washing Machine Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Corroding Problem
7
Top Class Actions. Samsung Class Action Claims Top-Loader Washing Machines Corrode Prematurely
8
CourtListener. Zabransky v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
9
CPSC. Samsung Recalls Top-Load Washing Machines Due to Fire Hazard
10
Top Class Actions. Samsung Recalls Top-Load Washing Machines Due to Fire Hazard
11
Findlaw. In Re Whirlpool Corporation Front-Loading Washer Products Liability Litigation
12
WRTV. Class Action Settlement Reached in Stinky, Moldy Washers Case
13
Lieff Cabraser. Whirlpool Duet Washers
14
Top Class Actions. LG Front-Loading Washer Class Action Settlement
15
Consumer Reports. Settlement in Front-Loader Mold Case
16
Lieff Cabraser. LG Washers
17
Consumer Reports. Electrolux Front-Loaders With Mold Lawsuit Settlement
18
Consumer-Action.org. Electrolux Front Loading Washing Machine
19
Top Class Actions. BSH Nears Moldy Washer Class Action Settlement
20
Lieff Cabraser. Bosch Washers
21
ClassAction.org. Smith v. LG Electronics