The compressor will likely run $600-$1000 to replace. The evaporator would be another high ticket item along with the main control board.

then you've got the hinge safety issue.

Personally I would not spend the money on that unit. I find it curious that they are the only ones that use aluminum piping while others use copper.

I paid $500 to have the Freon replaced in mine last year. The door hinges have been replaced twice. The controller board, which got fried when the electrical line to our house broke in 07 (no fault of the fridge) cost $1200 to replace then.

Viking has been sold. The new owners are very nice and are responsive in a way that the former owners were not. They stood behind the recall of the door and sent a competent repairman.

But my lower crisper drawer is cracking and no longer rolls properly. That costs about $350 to replace.

After the freon replacement a year ago, the repairman told me the fridge would last another 10 years. So that's 20 (it came from the Amana factory so I expect 20-25). I certainly hope so. I shopped around for a replacement last year before I found out the freon could be replaced. The options for a built-in were the Liebherr French Door 36" (problemmatic reports) $6K or or one of the SZs. My first choice SZ is $12K.

The math made the choice obvious to me (but we've replaced both our septic and our furnace in the last 2 years so I freely admit I'm still suffering from 'money pit' sticker shock.)

Thanks for the input and info rococogurl and xedos. We decided to go ahead and repair our existing (will put a surge protector on the frig - thanks rococogurl). I have to say out if I were going to replace I would probably go with the new Viking freestanding ($3200).

Hey, Rococogurl.
We were remodeling kitchens about the same time 10 years ago.

Our 36" built-in Viking refrigerator with custom panels has been nothing but problems from literally Day 1. We bought it in 2003, the year before we ripped out the kitchen. Repairman had to come repair something faulty before it could even be installed originally. Besides the hinge repair, we have needed several other repairs to replace the pull out tray and drawers. Repair service has been out twice in last week because the temp alarm kept going off. Now the coil, the condenser and evaporator seem to be going out, as we cannot make ice and the ice cream is melted in the freezer. The handles on the meat and crisper compartments have fallen off. The freezer rollers bent, making smooth sliding impossible, so those were replaced. The paint has worn completely off the rails in the freezer. Did I mention the pull out catering tray has been replaced and its hinged door has broken twice?

Viking Warranty service is now telling us it will be a minimum of $1,500 to work on evaporator and condenser, with the parts being covered by a 12 year warranty. Another service company estimated $1,500 to $2,400, parts included.

What is left to go bad are the compressor and the main control board, with one year left on warranty. We discovered the coils really need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to support operation, rather than my casual attempts to climb up on a ladder with a vacuum hose once in a while.

We are asking ourselves how much to invest in an 11 year old appliance, but now the cost of replacement for a built-in panel ready model is so much higher. I too would prefer a SZ at this point but we also have a number of money pits we've been supporting. A Maytag, Kitchen Aid or a GE would give us fewer problems, I suspect, if they would fit the space. I like the Viking's layout, but the design of the freezer ice basket is not my favorite, with ice falling overboard through the open basket when it works.

We too would not buy another Viking product, even to try to save and re-use our cabinet panel fronts. Thankful we did not buy the Viking range or hood, only the BBQ grill, which also had issues.

We are discussing whether to repair or move-on, but we will probably continue to repair since less expensive mainstream friges do not fit the space.

Repair man was out today for our Viking and after a few hours covered the hinge replacement. He diagnosed a complete failure of the sealed air system, which now has to be totally rebuilt. It just squeaks by under warranty, so we would paid only labor charges of $1,500. We are at odds over whether to invest any more in almost 12 year old equipment which the serviceman estimates has a life expectancy of 15 to 18 years or to buy new now. Hubby wants to repair it and get another few years out of it. Since it is a built-in professional series, looks like only SZ or Viking would fit 84" opening. Viking man said current style is changed so we cannot reuse custom cabinet panels, but could go for a color instead of SS.

Pay now or pay later, looks like the cabinet overlay investment is lost.

"paid only labor charges of $1,500. "

uh, no you don't .

Is the guy going to spend 15 hours at your house working on that POS ? Or two guys for 7.5 hours?

That's pretty much a service call for parts and labor on a sealed system all rolled up into a a nice "package" by a sales weasel making you think you're getting "warranty" coverage.

I'd have this viking set sail.

^Yup.

$1500 MAY have been worth it if the refrigerator being fixed were actually GOOD and there was no way to get an affordable replacement for the space. Viking took over that line of built in fridges from Amana back in the late 90s and then butchered it completely. Kind of like Maytag did with the Amana washers (anyone remember the "Legacy Series"?).

Poor Amana.

This post was edited by hvtech42 on Wed, Jul 23, 14 at 0:59

Labor charges in the Northeast are typically through the roof on everything. This is a owner/operator of small family business who works only on Viking says it will take one full day for him and his helper. He has overhead to operate his business, but parts come under warranty. Viking keeps him very busy and it will take about 4 weeks for the repair. He did a temporary fix so we could get some cold back into the box for now. However, we did lose several hundred dollars worth of food when it failed.

We did get a second quote from a non-authorized Viking repair service and they want $2,500 including parts.

We should live in Texas where the cost of living is more affordable.

The Viking refrigerators (compressors) have a 12 year warranty on them. Years 1-6 Parts and Labor. Years 7-12 Parts. Not a bad deal. Just call up Viking customer service at 800-488-9868 for assistance in getting your part. They can also give you an area authorized company to provide your repair.

Hmmmm,

Pam aren't you a bit late to the party ?

You dug this thread up for ????????? Arch's issue was taken care of a year ago and the first thing (s)he did was call cust. svc !

Hmmmm,

I say better late than never! I just had this problem today and am grateful that Pamela took the time to write down the information. The compressor (or something) just decided to go today, on the day of my closing! Because she provided that info I was able to quickly call the 800 number provided and determine that my Viking fridge is still covered for parts and warranty.

On a side note: To anyone considereing buying this....don't! This is my second Viking fridge (VCBB5361RSS) and has been a problem from the get go. The only reason it is my second is that the first one was recalled. I would never buy this brand again as it is very poorly made.

Just FYI there were several fridges that would fit the opening of a built in Viking when I checked last year. Each needed its own modification but those included Bosch, Thermador, GE, Liebherr (with fake top grill), SZ and Miele.

The issue is a 24" deep box. The door will protrude in all likelihood. Specs change so recheck but anyone facing this might want the list of prospects. Brace yourselves. Prices are a shock across the board.

A few years later, another thank you for Pamela, informing that the compressor has 12 year warranty, and making the phone number easy to find. Found out my dead freezer compressor is still under warranty!