Westinghouse 619L Side by Side WSE6640BA

Inferior quality - Black material discharging from gasket in 12 months – I purchased the Westinghouse 619L Side by Side Fridge WSE6640BA from Appliances Online on 26/10/22. Upon delivery, I noticed a black substance on the gasket, which I initially dismissed as cosmetic. However, over time, this substance has spread to both the fridge and freezer, leading to the gasket on the freezer side being ripped. Despite contacting Electrolux two weeks ago and scheduling a service agent to replace the gasket on 11/3, I recently received a text message stating that the part is on backorder with no estimated date for availability.

I have become increasingly concerned as I noticed the section between the fridge and freezer gets exceptionally warm. This, combined with my research, has revealed that the black substance issue is common in the 7000 series and 6000 series of Westinghouse fridges, possibly due to faulty sealant. This poses a serious safety risk, with incidents of burns and potential fire hazards reported. Consumers have noted that replacing the seals with new ones only temporarily solves the issue, as the black substance reappears over time. Many have also reported difficulty in properly closing the door due to the faulty seals.

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/westinghouse-wse7000-series

I am deeply concerned about the toxicity of the black material and do not feel comfortable continuing to use the fridge, especially without an ETA on the new seal and knowing that it is not a permanent solution.

Additionally, the metal buckle on the twist-and-serve ice maker has broken within a year while twisting to release the ice cubes. Despite purchasing a replacement, the new ice maker is also faulty, as I am unable to dispense any ice from it. While this may not be a safety issue, it illustrates the poor manufacturing quality of this fridge. I had never encountered such an issue with any other fridge.

I contacted Appliances Online for a refund on 11/3, but have not received a response. I have reported WSE6640BA as an unsafe product to the ACCC.

I purchased this fridge based on my positive experience with the last Westinghouse fridge, which I gave to my friend when I updated the kitchen. It was 17 years old and still going strong. If I had known of these issues, I would never have purchased another Westinghouse fridge. My family has owned fridges from Fisher & Paykel, Beko, and Mitsubishi, and never had any issues with the ice maker or faulty gasket.

Update I received two phone calls from Electrolux the next day. I was advised an escalation manager will be in contact within 24 hours. However, I was later advised of a technician visit scheduled for 22/3. Despite emphasising safety concerns regarding the black material, my refund request was rejected.

I will never purchase another Electrolux / Westinghouse product and will not recommend any of their products to anyone.

April 2024 I received a full refund from the retailer. The ice maker was returned to Electrolux and a refund was issued after approx. 3 weeks. Despite receiving a refund, I still stand by my decision and will not support this brand anymore. I ended up buying the Mitsubishi 700L fridge from Harvey Norman which is the only one that is made in Japan from this brand. Pleased with it so far.