Complain about a product or service

GE Refrigerators: Contaminated Ice

Monique of Hemet CA (04/14/09)
The other day I found a piece of plastic in the disposer and couldn't figure out where it came from-sharp piece-so I dismissed it until today when I was finishing my soda in ice I almost swallowed a sharp piece of plastic and then I put 2 and 2 together. I checked the ice machine in the refrigerator and emptied the ice and the auger has come apart.

I called GE and they never heard of such a thing happening and wanted to send out a service man but, I would have to pay for the parts. I was then offered the part as a discount so I just ordered myself. Why would they say they never heard of this problem and now I see after coming to this site I am not the only one. I am so glad I didn't swallow this or especially my children. There has to be a better design as now afraid this will happen again.

Lori of Buckeye, AZ February 23, 2009

Lori of Buckeye AZ (02/23/09)
I started finding Shares of plastic in our ice water that came from our side by side GE refrigerator. The sharp plastic pieces looked very similar to the ice so they blended right in with our ice water. My 5 year old daughter asked me what was in her drink so I looked and saw a large, sharp piece of plastic that easily could have cut her throat and/or choked her.

I emptied my ice bin and found more broken plastic pieces but could not see any obvious place that they may have come from. I called GE and was eventually transferred to a customer care agent. The agent really didn't seem concerned about the plastic and I was upset that she was not concerned about such a potentially serious problem; that made me angry because she didn't seem interested that some innocent person could be killed and especially since this could be happening with other people's ice bins all over the country.

GE did agree to send a tech out at no cost but that I would have to pay for any parts. Give me a break, they almost harmed my daughter and they wanted me to pay to replace a very dangerous, defective part. When I voiced my objections to having to pay for the part, the rep still wouldn't budge so I said maybe I need to get a lawyer and that is when she said she could no longer talk to me and that I would need to speak to their legal department. I then talked her back into having someone come out to look at it.

The repair tech said it must have been the plastic cover that goes over the ice bin because that was missing. He said I really didn't need the cover anyway and that it would be expensive because I would have to replace the entire ice bin. So I took his advice and didn't order a new one.

This incident actually happed in the Spring of '08 but it has always bothered me to think of this happening to someone else. As I have stated, it is especially alarming because the broken plastic looks like part of the ice....

I am not looking for money but I would like GE to be more concerned with such a deadly defect. I am sure if this happened to my family, then it must be happening to others!

Denise of Diamondhead, MS February 18, 2009

Denise of Diamondhead MS (02/18/09)
I also have large and small pieces of sharp plastic breaking from the ice dispenser. They enter the glass and are invisible due to the fact they blend in with ice. I have experience with the manufacturing of this type of plastic. I have an idea of what went wrong during the manufacturing. It still does not cure the problem of human injesting shards of indigestable materials. They do not have the right to sell dangerous appliances. I retained the evidence.

I need to purchase a new refrigerator? Or, I should risk my life by accidently drinking shards of plastic that my puncture something I would like intact. Ex: esophagus, stomach, large and small intestines, bowel, rectum.

Kenneth of Raytown, MO February 7, 2009

Kenneth of Raytown MO (02/07/09)
Model No. PSS25MGNA WW Refrigerator, Serial No. MD413912. The clear plastic Auger in the Ice Dispenser breaks releasing clear sharp plastics pieces into drinking glass. You cannot see the plastic because it looks like the ice, until you feel it in your mouth. The auger should have been made of metal. Replaced original under warranty, then the replacement broke recently.

I ordered the Auger for 36.00 on 30 Jan 2009. The third auger dispenses sharp needle like plastic from the injection molding on the auger. There should have been a product recall of this part. When I called a GE representative about this, his only reply was to sell me a another replacement part.

Could cause serious injury if clear plastic were swallowed.

Janet of Edgewater, FL June 2, 2008

Janet of Edgewater FL (06/02/08)
G.E. Hotpoint Refrigerator Ice maker - pieces of plastic are being dispensed along with the ice and so much plastic has been broken off by the revolving arm that the ice now falls right out of the fridge onto the floor and we will have to buy a new ice maker.

Lynda of El Paso, TX November 6, 2007

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