Samsung halted the distribution of a SmartThings firmware update after it caused widespread failures in refrigerator units. The issue, which began on September 22 in South Korea, primarily affects Bespoke AI 4-Door models released since 2024.
Affected appliances experience unresponsive touch panels, disabled internal lighting, and complete cooling system failure. Some units became stuck during the installation process. Standard power cycling failed to resolve the malfunctions, rendering the devices inoperable.
According to ZDNet Korea, the error stemmed from the accidental release of an internal test software version to public users. Samsung has stopped the update rollout but stated that remote restoration is not possible, requiring physical intervention by service engineers.
The incident coincides with the Chuseok holiday, leading to concerns over food spoilage as users struggle to keep items cold. Samsung has apologized for the situation but has not disclosed the number of impacted units or confirmed plans for compensation regarding spoiled food.
Service centers are currently experiencing high demand, causing delays in repair scheduling. While some users were told to wait until after the holiday, Samsung Electronics Service has committed to keeping a portion of its staff on duty to handle emergency cooling failure cases.
