Decision tree
Refrigerator cooling or defrost troubleshooting
Food-safety-first checks for refrigerator cooling, fan, defrost, freezer temperature, and cooling warnings.
Safe first
- Move perishable food to safe cold storage if temperatures are unsafe.
- Do not remove internal fan or defrost covers while powered.
- Avoid chipping ice from internal fan or evaporator areas with sharp tools.
Stop and call service when
- Refrigerator or freezer temperature is unsafe.
- The same fan or defrost code returns after a safe reset.
- Internal covers, wiring, or sealed-system access would be required.
Decision sequence
Check food-safety risk
Temperature and power warnings should start with whether food has warmed or thawed beyond safe limits.
Check visible airflow and doors
Confirm doors close fully and interior vents are not blocked before assuming a sealed-system or fan failure.
Use service boundaries early
Fan, defrost sensor, compressor, and sealed-system concerns should move to service when the code returns.
Matching safety checklist
Use the refrigerator food-safety checklist when cooling loss, power loss, or unknown temperatures affect perishable food.
Open refrigerator food safety checklistRelated symptom hubs
Related code records
rFError code
Most LG sources describe rF as an abnormality with the refrigerator compartment fan motor.
FFError code
LG documents FF as an abnormality with the freezer compartment fan motor.
dHError code
This code commonly appears when the refrigerator spent too long trying to complete defrost.
dSError code
Manufacturer guidance usually ties dS to a short or disconnection in a refrigerator defrost sensor.
5EError code
Samsung documents 5E as a fridge defrost-sensor alert that may accompany a cooling or defrost problem.
FFError code
GE documents FF as a warning that frozen food should be checked because freezer temperature is rising too high.
PFError code
Commonly logged when power to the refrigerator has been interrupted.