rFLG · Refrigerator · Fridge

LG Refrigerator error code rF

Refrigerator fan fault

Needs attention soon

Also written as Er rF, ER(E) rF

Quick answer

On LG Refrigerator (2010s onward), rF is a fault. It means refrigerator fan fault. A first thing to check: Fan motor bearing seized.

Applies to: LG Refrigerator; LG refrigerator codes · Refrigerator · 2010s onward
Type of code: Fault; Urgency: Needs attention soon
First safe check: Open both doors and look for frost on the air duct cover or the rear wall of the compartment.

Checked 2026-09-26

What rF means on this model

The fan serving the fresh food compartment is not operating normally, and frost on the blade is the usual explanation. The compartment can still feel cold from the cabinet walls, so the symptom is one warm side rather than no cooling at all.

Symptoms you will notice

One compartment is warm while the other is cold
No air movement when the doors are open
A humming or scraping noise from inside the cabinet
Code appears after a defrost cycle or on start-up

Common causes

The code tells you what the control detected, not which part failed. These are the causes we see most often, roughly in order of likelihood:

Fan motor bearing seized
Ice or a food item blocking the fan
Fan motor or its connector failed
Ice buildup caused by a defrost cycle that is not completing
Main board losing the fan signal

What you can safely check

These are homeowner-level checks. None of them need you to open a live electrical compartment or work on gas.

Open both doors and look for frost on the air duct cover or the rear wall of the compartment.
With the power off, check whether a door bin, bottle, or tray is touching the fan area.
Listen for a motor that runs but sounds rough, which points at the bearing rather than the control.

Do not do these

×Do not use a hair dryer or any heat source to clear a fan area, because plastic ducting softens and warps quickly with heat.
×Do not work on a fan with the power connected.

When to call a technician

Book a technician, do not keep resetting it

This fault will not clear on its own. Every power cycle gives the control one more failed attempt, and repeated attempts are what turn a cheap part replacement into a seized or contaminated system.

If the appliance has stopped mid-cycle, is making a noise you have not heard before, or smells burnt, stop reading here and call. Those are symptoms of something the fault code does not describe well enough.

Access varies a lot. A removable rear cover on a freestanding model is moderate work; a French door or built-in unit is a technician job.

What it costs to fix

Parts

Fresh food fan motor $40 to $120. Defrost heater and thermostat $30 to $90. Air duct foam parts $20 to $60.

Labor

One to two and a half hours depending on model.

DIY or technician