Which fridge freezer brand is the most reliable?

We've investigated the performance and reliability of some of the most popular fridge freezer brands including Bosch, LG and Samsung.

In our unique large-appliance survey, we ask more than 10,200 Which? members and members of the public if they’re happy with their fridge freezer and if they’ve experienced problems, so you can see which brands are worth the money. 

Head to our round-up of the best fridge freezers to help you decide what type of fridge freezer you need

Which fridge freezer brands develop the fewest faults?

This table summarises what we found about how quickly fridge freezer brands develop faults or break down, based on fridge freezers bought in the past seven years.

As you can see, fridge freezer brands differ when it comes to chances of developing faults – and it might surprise you to see where popular brands Hotpoint and Liebherr are placed.

Only logged-in Which? members can see the full results of our brand reliability survey. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Looking for a fridge freezer with low running costs? See our guide to the best energy efficient fridge freezers

Which fridge freezer brands do owners recommend?

As well as faults, our survey also revealed which fridge freezer brands owners feel happy with, and which they’d recommend to a friend.

These results are shown as each brand’s customer score, and is based on fridge freezers bought in the past seven years.

Already decided on a fridge freezer brand? Head to our fridge freezer reviews to find the model that suits your needs and budget

The three most common fridge freezer faults

Taking good care of your fridge freezer, including cleaning and defrosting it, can help keep it in good working order. Nevertheless, faults do sometimes occur for no obvious reason.

Our survey of nearly 4,604 fridge freezer owners revealed the three most common faults.

1. Build-up of ice in the frost-free freezer (11% of all faults)

This issue can sometimes be caused by a torn or warped door seal, which lets warm air into the fridge or freezer. This creates condensation, which then leads to a build-up of frost. Replacement seals are widely available and it's a relatively simple problem to fix yourself.

Another simple check is to see if your thermostat is set too low. This can sometimes cause ice inside your fridge to build up.

Ice build-up can also be caused by a more complex issue, such as a problem with the thermostat. If this is the case, you'll need the help of a professional.

3. Broke down for no obvious reason (9%)

Perhaps the most frustrating problem of all. If you have no idea what's going on with your fridge freezer, our guide to common fridge freezer faults may be able to help.

3. Fridge not maintaining the correct temperature (9%)

This can be a pain to fix as there are several reasons why a fridge or freezer might not be maintaining the correct temperature, with some issues more easily addressed than others. 

If your fridge or freezer isn't staying cold, first check that the thermostat hasn't accidentally been changed to a warmer setting (depending on the type of controls you have, this can happen when loading food inside). 

Check for any obstructions or damage around the hinges or seals, which could be letting in warm air. 

Another place to check is the condenser coils at the back of the appliance. You may need someone to help you move the fridge freezer to access them. A build-up of dust can prevent a fridge or freezer from cooling properly, and a good clean might help them to work more efficiently. 

Always check your instructions for any other troubleshooting tips. But if these simple checks don't solve the problem, then it might be something more complex. Issues with the compressor, thermostats or refrigerant gas will likely require a professional repair.

You can contact the manufacturer to help you diagnose and hopefully resolve the problem. Or use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reliable tradesperson in your area. 

How easy is it to repair a fridge freezer?

Some issues can be rectified fairly easily. Read our guide to common fridge freezer faults and how to deal with them or, if in doubt, check your appliance's instruction manual for a troubleshooting guide.

For more catastrophic faults, such as a broken compressor – which isn't as easily or as cheaply fixed – you may need to speak to the experts, check your warranty or make a call on whether it's actually worth repairing or not. If it's really broken, you may be better off investing in a newer, more energy efficient fridge freezer.

If yours is beyond repair, find out how to dispose of or recycle a fridge freezer

Which fridge freezer brands offer the best guarantees?

Most fridge freezer brands offer product guarantees of one to two years as standard, but Ikea offers a five-year guarantee as standard.

Faulty product? Find out how to get a refund, repair or replacement

How we discover the most reliable brands

Which? has a wealth of information on the UK's favourite appliance brands. Every year, we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home.

This year, more than 4,514 Which? Connect Panel members and more than 5,735 members of the public told us about more than 39,750 individual products – including fridge freezers, washing machines and dishwashers. We calculate each brand's customer score, fault rate and reliability rating using the results of our annual survey.

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best fridge freezers you should buy.

For more on what it takes to be a Best Buy, head to how we test fridge freezers