All fridges are far less reliable since 1992 with the introduction of Energy Star.
Appliance companies are in effect required to use much smaller compressors than they otherwise would use. And use integrated circuit boards(computers) to better regulate energy use. That cost $600 plus to replace when they go bust.
If you have an old trusty freestanding fridge better to repair than replace from durability POV.
I remodeled my kitchen and gave away my old trusty GE fridge (26 years old) purchased a very fancy new built-in one. Had to replace one of the computers after five years. Built-in fridges are very expensive to replace.
“All fridges are far less reliable since 1992 with the introduction of Energy Star.”
Yep. And no matter how much extra you pay for fancy cosmetic outsides like brushed stainless steel, etc., the insides of home fridges are all pretty much the same and none will last much longer than 14 years because the little bitty compressors required for energy “savings” run themselves to death. That plus aluminum coils instead of copper means that if you lose the gas or compressor, no matter how new your fridge is, it’s cheaper to buy a new one than repair.
If the total lifetime cost of a fridge were included in energy calculations, considering not just the lifetime operational energy consumed, but also the energy costs to make a new fridge and recycle the old one, fridges would be built to last.
But that’s not the case and fridges are deliberately mandated to fail prematurely, which of course is highly desirable for the fridge companies. What you have here is the quintessential example of collusion between a leftist, fascist, non-free market government and their big business enablers. It’s a win-win for them and a lose-lose for we peasants. As usual.