Refrigerator RR39M Door handle failing - poor design for normal use

[Putney]

The door handle of our Samsung RR39M refrigerator has failed, from normal use, after a single year (just outside of warranty, of course).
When you open the door, pivoting the handle on the spring-loaded hinges, pushes plastic "pins' which releases the door seal.
These pins are cambered forward to release the door from the plastic housing of the handle. This part of the plastic housing is quite thin, and is clearly not designed to withstand the repeated openings of the refrigerator door.
The plastic hinge covers have now split & failed, making it impossible to open the door. 
See the picture of the split where it has failed. We've tried glueing the split, but it is clearly going to fail again.
You can purchase an entire replacement handle from Samsung (not just the hinge ends of course, but pay for the whole handle, which is quite expensive - circa £65 for this simple part).
Why this was not designed as a metal part that could withstand normal use is beyond me. It a simple yet extremely frustrating design fault. 
Samsung - do you provide a replacement handle that has been correctly designed to last longer than a few months?

[robbo67]

I have a similar issue on the door handle on my RL4362FBASL. It is just over 2 years old, so also just out of warranty and the thin plastic hinge cover has broken at the bottom and fallen off along with the pin inside the handle so it is now useless. Feels a bit rubbish for a £700 product with just normal use. I too am not keen on shelling out for a replacement handle that has been badly designed and will just break again.  

 

[Ad972]

Had the same problem with both the door handles of the RR39M fridge and the freezer unit. Right out of warrantee (1 year and 2 months in use) and these broke exactly the same way. This is clearly a faulty design having the thin plastic handle repeat forced push and friction. Had to go and buy a new handle.

Samsung - be honest and issue a recall!!! 

[jimach]

I have the same problem with the same model. We can't be the only people reporting this to Samsung but still no word from them regards a solution. There's little point in purchasing an expensive replacement as we'll be in the same position with a faulty door handle in a year or so.

What next Samsung?

[colinplastics]

My  RR39M has gone the same way, has anyone got a response from Samsung?

[SuiteF8]

Mine too...just out of warranty. Poorly designed as the plastic is much too fragile....Cracked at the hinge.......top and bottom. :9

[Putney]

So well over a year since I posted this issue. No reply from Samsung, not a peep. Clearly we are shouting into a void. So that's fine... you are making it my personal business, and probably many others, to avoid your products in the future right across the range. Goodbye Samsung...

[Madelvic]

Same issue with an RR35 fridge and freezer, one has failed, the other cracked.  I agree it is a poorly (under) engineered design.   I have a 3D printer and notwithstanding the design time I could make one for 19p.  I'm in dialogue with Samsung and not optimistic of a good outcome

[SteveJohnson]

I have a similar problem with my fridge door handle. I have an extended 5 year warranty and have had the fridge 3 years, so still under warranty. However, Samsung Customer care said the door handle issue is due to misuse and is cosmetic, which does not affect the use of the handle. Having read other comments, it is clear this is a design fault and in time our freezer handle will go the same way.  A replacement handle is at our own expense.

[NJD40]

This is exactly what happened to mine, did you ever get a reply?