GE Refrigerators Sold at Home Depot, Lowe's, and Best Buy Recalled Due to 71 Reports of Detaching Handles

Person opening freezer drawer
Person opening freezer drawer

CatLane / Getty Images

GE Appliances announced that they are recalling six models of free-standing French door refrigerators due to over 70 reports of handles detaching from the freezer doors. On Thursday, the company issued a statement to alert consumers about this problem. They noted that the recall includes models with bottom freezers in fingerprint resistant stainless steel, which were manufactured from February 2020 through August 2021.

The Louisville, Kentucky-based brand has sold about 155,000 of the recalled freezers at various home improvement and appliance stores nationwide, including Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe's. According to the statement, the detaching handles have resulted in 37 reported injuries, including three serious falls thus far.

Related: Six Signs It May Be Time to Replace Your Refrigerator

If you're unsure if you have one of the affected items in your home, check the brand name, model, and serial number on your refrigerator, which can be found on the top of the left side of the interior of the refrigerator compartment. The recalled models include: GFE26JYMKFFS, GFE26JYMNFFS, GNE27EYMKFFS, GNE27EYMNFFS, GNE27JYMKFFS, and GNE27JYMNFFS.

Consumers who have purchased a recalled refrigerator should contact GE Appliances to schedule a free in-home service call to have the freezer's handle mounting fasteners replaced and installed correctly and for instructions for safe use following a repair. The company is contacting all known purchasers directly. According to GE Appliances, consumers can still continue using their refrigerators. If the handle is loose, open the freezer by gripping the edge of the freezer door where the rubber sealing gasket meets the metal freezer door.