San Antonio mom of eight Hollie Rodriguez says the slim metal divider inside her two-year-old Samsung side-by-side refrigerator got so hot it felt like it could burn skin. She says a technician’s gauge later clocked the temperature at 111 degrees. While Samsung inspected the appliance and told her to unplug it, Rodriguez says she spent weeks without a safe, working fridge and has been leaning on her father’s identical model next door while pushing the company for a full replacement.
What the family says happened
Rodriguez told Problem Solver reporter Darian Trotter that three different technicians, all sent out under the family’s extended warranty, looked the refrigerator over but could not fix the problem. According to Rodriguez, the first technician blamed dirty coils, the second suggested the fridge had been affected by running on a generator, and the third said it simply had not been plugged in long enough after a recent move, per FOX San Antonio. She described the metal divider as “burning hot” and told the station she worried it could eventually spark a fire.
Samsung's response
In a statement to FOX San Antonio, Samsung said that “customer safety remains our top priority.” The company said trained technicians carried out three inspections and found the panel temperatures to be within normal operating specifications. Samsung added that even though it did not identify a defect, it would still provide the family with an exchange to help restore their confidence in the product.
Why this matters beyond one fridge
As Consumer Reports has reported, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been reviewing hundreds of consumer complaints involving Samsung refrigerators, including allegations of temperature and cooling problems. That national review has highlighted a growing frustration among some owners who describe inconsistent repairs and long waits for service. The Rodriguez family’s ordeal sits squarely in that larger pattern of concern around high-priced appliances that sometimes fail to live up to expectations. When a household depends on a single refrigerator, the fallout can include spoiled food, potential safety worries and repeated disruptions while waiting for someone to show up with tools and answers.
What to do if your refrigerator feels unsafe
If any appliance seems like it could cause burns or start a fire, the first step is to unplug it, then document what is happening. Take photos or video of the problem, keep copies of repair invoices and notes from technicians, and contact both the manufacturer and the store where you bought the unit. Consumers can also file a report with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission through SaferProducts.gov, which passes those complaints along to manufacturers and uses them to spot trends that might lead to formal investigations. Hang on to warranty paperwork and technician write-ups. In Rodriguez’s case, those records were key to pressing for an exchange, and they can be just as important if you ever need to push for a repair, a replacement or another remedy.
