Samsung refrigerator randomly stops cooling, needs power cycling to function

Refrigerator & Freezer Repair
1

Hello APP community -

You’ve been a great help before, and I come to you again.

I have a ~2 year old Samsung french door fridge, model # RF23R6201SR/AA (version 52, if that’s relevant).

The temperatures in the fridge and freezer have been rising randomly this past week, though the digital temperature display refuses to react. I.e., the fridge/freezer will be set at 36/0 degrees, the interior temps will actually be 55/20 degrees, yet the digital display will only display what the temps are set at (36/0). No blinking numbers, no real-time temperature.

I’ve had to power cycle the unit twice daily now, which seems to temporarily reset the system. Upon power cycling, the display suddenly reacts to the “actual” temps in the compartments, and the unit starts to cool off. Things will then work normally for ~12 hours.

Notes:

  1. Evaporator coils in each compartment are clean and defrosted
  2. Evaporator fans are all confirmed operational
  3. Compressor is working (when it wants to)
  4. Condenser unit is clean
  5. Unit is in a cabinet with 2+" of space all around
  6. Temp sensors are operational (they react to actual temps when power-cycled)
  7. Household ambient temp is currently 80 degrees

Any ideas? I beg for help on this, because it’s only 2 years old, cost over 2 grand, and Samsung customer service is infuriatingly USELESS. And I won’t throw another dollar at this that benefits them as a company.

Thank you all in advance!

2

My Samsung is an RF28R7201SR/AA that is a little over 2 months old and is doing the same thing. Samsung just replaced the motherboard but it didn’t solve the problem.

3

My RF323TEDBSR/AA has recently started doing the same thing. Samsung replaced the evaporator cover with the temperature sensor twice but no change. I replaced the PCB board myself but no change. Does anyone know where the thermostat function is actually controlled? I bought a copy of their service manual but it was of no use for this problem.

4

Did you guys ever get this resolved? My fridge is doing the exact same thing.