Wanted to know if anyone else has had this problem. This side by side refrigerator is from 2003 and 2 times now I have had to replace the auger/ice bucket assembly. The 1st time a piece of plastic broke off the auger and got pushed forward into the where it gets dispensed. It literally got wedged in there but ice was still falling. Over time the metal mechanism at the end where the ice falls was creating a groove in the piece that was wedged in. As I went to get ice it would run over that piece and deposit fiberlike pieces of plastic in my drink that the naked eye could barely see. I was coughing for over 2 weeks not knowing what was going on. My wife told me to go to the Dr but I could tell it was not from me being sick. I finally figured out it was only when I was getting ice out of the fridge that it happened later on. I then proceeded to check the ice bucket and lo and behold there it was wedged in there. I called the company and after complaining that this was a very serious safety issue, they offered to send me a new one. Well this happened again just last week but luckily I caught the problem in time. I called GE about this same problem and again they offered me a new assembly unit. Got it today and it is the same one, no difference at all. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured and who knows, my stomach may have some issued from this after all. Any info or if a class action suit has been filed, please let me know thank you!

No class action
Just junk made in a different country than the USA.
All the manufactures have similar problems with various equiptment.
I have replaced many of these and they still send the same one for replacement.

No class action
Just junk made in a different country than the USA.
All the manufactures have similar problems with various equiptment.
I have replaced many of these and they still send the same one for replacement.

Didn't they make these with metal augers at one time? I can't believe all the companies are resorting to this with so much emphasis placed on safety these days lol.

I think you might be looking in the wrong place for a solution to your problem. The thing that has been a big deal with the side-by-sides especially around that time frame was temperature control.

If the ice in your bucket is melting and refreezing it can easily damage the plastic attachment on the metal shaft, second if left undetected, the weight of a larger chunk of ice can easily bend that shaft. This would misalign it and possibly allow it to bore into the plastic.

[QUOTE=Meredith1978;1686611]I think you might be looking in the wrong place for a solution to your problem. The thing that has been a big deal with the side-by-sides especially around that time frame was temperature control.

If the ice in your bucket is melting and refreezing it can easily damage the plastic attachment on the metal shaft, second if left undetected, the weight of a larger chunk of ice can easily bend that shaft. This would misalign it and possibly allow it to bore into the plastic.[/QUOTE

I can totally agree with that answer but my point is that this fridge and any other for that matter should be able to withstand that type of abuse without any problems. It is a serious defect that need to be addressed before someone else is seriously injured.

No class action and I have seen this problem before. The auger itself is a twisted metall rod that freely floats inside a plastic tube. There really isn't much to this auger assembly and I was not surprised when mine finally broke. My replacement now has a cracked back side to the bucket. It is just a poor design and I too am a little POd.