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Samsung Refrigerator Error Code 42E

Reviewed by the ApplianceErrors Editorial Team · Verified against manufacturer service documentation · Last verified: June 11, 2026
⚠ Medium Severity 🔧🔧🔧 Advanced DIY

Ice room damper/sensor error — ice compartment not maintaining temperature

The most common cause of the 42E error on a Samsung refrigerator is ice room damper frozen or failed (~40% of cases); start with: defrost the ice room.

💰 DIY cost: $0–$70 👨‍🔧 Pro cost: $170–$330 Save $170+ by doing it yourself
Samsung Refrigerator error code 42E on the display panel
How the 42E code appears on a Samsung refrigerator display

What Does Error Code 42E Mean on a Samsung Refrigerator?

Ice room damper/sensor error — ice compartment not maintaining temperature.

42E fires when the control board loses valid feedback from the ice room circuit — the damper that regulates cold airflow into the door ice compartment fails to move as commanded, or its sensor reads outside the expected range. The board flags that the ice compartment can't hold its target temperature, so ice clumps and production falls. Unlike 41E or 34E, which point at other cooling zones or defrost circuits, 42E is specific to the door-mounted ice room's damper and sensor.

Models affected: Samsung French-door and side-by-side refrigerators with an in-door ice room (models such as RF28R7351SG, RF263BEAESR, RF23M8070SR, RS27T5200SR, and RF27T5201SR), plus similar models using a door-mounted ice compartment fed by a metered air damper.
What owners report: Owners commonly report this code after noticing clumped or slushy ice, and it often follows heavy frost buildup in the ice compartment duct. A forced or manual defrost frequently clears it as a quick win, though a code that returns soon after usually points to a stuck damper or a drifting sensor.

What Causes Error Code 42E?

Here are the most common causes in order of frequency. Start with the most likely cause before moving to the next:

  1. 1
    Ice room damper frozen or failed 40% of cases
  2. 2
    Ice room sensor out of range 30% of cases
  3. 3
    Frost accumulation in the air duct 20% of cases
  4. 4
    Harness/board fault 10% of cases

How to Fix Samsung Refrigerator Error Code 42E

🔧🔧🔧 Advanced DIY Est. time: 1–3 hours
⚡ Safety first: Unplug the appliance before opening any panels or touching internal components.
  1. 1

    Defrost the ice room

    Run forced defrost or thaw manually to free the damper and clear duct frost.

  2. 2

    Test damper operation

    In diagnostic mode, command the damper and listen for movement; a silent damper after thawing has failed.

    🔩 Samsung ice room damper ($30–$70)
    ⚠️ Unplug the refrigerator before removing door/ice room panels.
  3. 3

    Replace the ice room sensor

    If the damper works, test the sensor's resistance and replace if open or shorted.

    🔩 Samsung ice room sensor ($15–$35)

How to Reset Error Code 42E

Unplug for 2 minutes after repair to reset the control board.

Note: If the error returns after resetting, the underlying issue has not been resolved. Work through the fix steps above.

Full Samsung refrigerator reset guide → Enter diagnostic mode → Symptom guide: Ice maker not working →

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When to Call a Professional

Door-mounted ice room disassembly is fiddly and parts are model-specific — call a pro if you're unsure of your exact model's layout.

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $170–$330

Related Error Codes

41E
Ice maker (ice room) fan error — ice compartment fan not rotating
⚠ Medium Severity
34E
Ice maker temperature sensor error
⚠ Medium Severity

Find Replacement Parts

Use these links to find the exact replacement parts for your Samsung Refrigerator:

🔩
Search PartSelect
Samsung Refrigerator repair parts
🔧
Search RepairClinic
Step-by-step video guides

External links — ApplianceErrors.com is not affiliated with these retailers.

More Samsung Refrigerator Error Codes

22E Refrigerator fan error — fresh-food compartment fan not running 21E Freezer fan error — freezer evaporator fan not running 24E Evaporator sensor error — freezer temperature sensor fault 25E Freezer defrost sensor error 88-88 Display test mode active — not a fault code 39E Ice maker function error — ice maker not cycling

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep using my Samsung Refrigerator when error 42E appears? +
You often can for a cycle or two, but the ice-maker issue behind 42E will keep interrupting normal operation until it is fixed. Plan the repair rather than ignoring the code.
What most commonly causes 42E on a Samsung Refrigerator? +
Across reported Samsung refrigerator repairs, the most frequent is ice room damper frozen or failed (40% of cases), ice room sensor out of range (30%), then frost accumulation in the air duct (20%). Check them in that order before replacing any parts.
42E keeps coming back after a reset — what should I check next? +
A reset only clears the stored 42E fault; if it returns, the ice-maker problem is still present. Move on to the physical checks — defrost the ice room, then test damper operation — since the code will reappear until the root cause is resolved. This is an advanced repair involving deeper disassembly or electrical testing.
How much does it cost to fix Samsung Refrigerator error 42E? +
A DIY repair typically runs $0–$70 in parts, versus $170–$330 for a professional service call, so handling it yourself saves around $170. Expect the work to take 1–3 hours.
Which Samsung Refrigerator models show error 42E? +
42E is documented on Samsung French-door and side-by-side refrigerators with an in-door ice room (models such as RF28R7351SG, RF263BEAESR, RF23M8070SR, RS27T5200SR, and RF27T5201SR), plus similar models using a door-mounted ice compartment fed by a metered air damper.. Other units sharing the same control platform can display it too, so the fixes here generally transfer across the series.

Sources & References

Content verified against manufacturer service documentation. Last verified: June 11, 2026.

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