What these models are
The Criterion CUF refrigerator family is an upright freezer cabinet, where the first thing to establish is whether your variant is manual-defrost or frost-free, because that decides what can fail. What these models are actually brought in for is not cooling, then water leaks. This profile generalises over the twelve codes below.
What goes wrong here, and which page covers it
- The cabinet runs but does not hold temperature — Warm cabinet, compressor audible, frost on the shelf coils, or the rear panel if this variant is frost-free. See: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Not Cooling or Not Freezing. — Slug: criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-cooling-failure — Title: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Not Cooling or Not Freezing
- Water inside the cabinet or on the floor — Melt water off its path, which here is a trough under the evaporator draining to a pan at the compressor on the frost-free variants. See: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Water Leak. — Slug: criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-water-leak — Title: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Water Leak
- Ice not being made, or ice forming where it should not — Which of the two you have is the question, because a freezer cabinet of this type is not normally supplied with a factory icemaker. See: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Ice Maker Fault. — Slug: criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-ice-production — Title: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Ice Maker Fault
- A noise or vibration that is new for the cabinet — Noise from the evaporator fan, the condenser fan or the compressor, or drumming through the floor. See: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Abnormal Noise or Vibration. — Slug: criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-abnormal-noise — Title: Criterion CUF Refrigerator: Abnormal Noise or Vibration
In frequency order on these models
- Not cooling — Placed first because on this platform a tall narrow cabinet stratifies badly, so the top shelf and the bottom shelf do not read the same temperature.
- Water leaks — Placed here because the melt path on this cabinet is a trough under the evaporator draining to a pan at the compressor on the frost-free variants, and it closes gradually rather than all at once.
- Ice faults — Placed here because a freezer cabinet of this type is not normally supplied with a factory icemaker, so it is usually a question about stray ice.
Models in the CUF family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| CUF14M2* | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF14P1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF154*** | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF179*** | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF17P1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF208*** | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF20P1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF21C1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF21M2* | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF30M1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF36C1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
| CUF66C1W | criterion:refrigerator:cuf |
Problem classes on this family, in order — No measured denominator exists for this family, so no share figures are given: the standing column orders the classes by how the platform is built, not by a count of reports.
General guidance| Problem class | Standing on this platform | Where it is covered |
|---|---|---|
| The cabinet runs but does not hold temperature | most often brought in | criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-cooling-failure |
| Water inside the cabinet or on the floor | second | criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-water-leak |
| Ice not being made, or ice forming where it should not | third | criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-ice-production |
| A noise or vibration that is new for the cabinet | less often | criterion-criterion-refrigerator-cuf-refrigerator-abnormal-noise |
What is owner work on these models
Checks that need nothing dismantled are owner work here: airflow, seals, loading, filters and settings. The cabinet has to come away from the wall before most work can start, which is a two-person job on a loaded cabinet.
Neighbouring families
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Sarah Chen
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
EPA 608 UniversalNASTeC Certified
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
