Kenmore Refrigerator Serial Number & Model ID Guide

Quick Answer

You will usually find your Kenmore model and serial number on a sticker inside the refrigerator section, either on the side wall or the ceiling. The first three digits of the model number, like 795 or 106, tell you which manufacturer actually built the unit so you can find the right parts.

Here's the deal: without your full model number, you're basically throwing darts at a parts catalog. Kenmore doesn't make their own fridges, so that three-digit prefix is the only thing telling you whether you've got an LG, Whirlpool, or Frigidaire under the hood. Order the wrong door gasket or control board and you're out $80 and two weeks of waiting. Takes two minutes to find the sticker.

KenmoreRefrigeratorSeverity: low

Time to Fix

5–10 min

Difficulty

beginner

Parts Cost

—

Tools Needed

Flashlight or phone flashlight, Phone camera

What Does the KENMORE-REF-ID Code Mean?

OK so most Kenmore refrigerators are either LG-built (795 prefix), Whirlpool-built (106 or 596), or Frigidaire-built (253). Sears just slapped their name on whoever built it cheapest that year. I've shown up to jobs where the homeowner ordered three wrong filters before calling me. Knowing your exact prefix saves you that headache and usually unlocks a ton more compatible parts listed under the original manufacturer's name.

Symptoms You May Notice

You ordered a water filter that looks identical to your old one but won't click into the housing no matter what you try
The parts website shows six different door gaskets all listed as 'fits Kenmore French door' and you genuinely have no idea which one is yours
Your ice maker died and you need a replacement module but the search results are giving you three different part numbers with no clear answer
A repair tech called to confirm the appointment and asked for your model number and you had absolutely nothing to tell them

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Flashlight or phone flashlightPhone cameraReading glasses if neededPen and paper as backup

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the model number on a Kenmore side-by-side refrigerator?

Start on the upper right wall of the refrigerator compartment, right up near the top shelf. That's where I find it on probably 70% of side-by-sides. Not there? Check the ceiling next, then the front edge of the floor behind the base grille, which just snaps off with a firm pull forward. In rare cases I've found it on the inner liner of the freezer door, usually on the left side near the top. Work through those spots in that order and you'll find it. The whole search takes maybe two minutes if you've got a flashlight handy.

What does the first three digits of a Kenmore model number mean?

Those three digits before the period are basically a secret manufacturer code. Sears sold Kenmore appliances for decades but never manufactured a single one themselves. They contracted out to whoever offered the best deal. So: 106, 596, and 665 mean Whirlpool built it, which is actually good news because Whirlpool parts are everywhere. 795 means LG. 253 means Frigidaire or Electrolux. 363 is GE. This matters because if you're searching for a water filter or door gasket using your Kenmore number and getting no results, searching the original manufacturer's equivalent part number will usually turn up way more options, often at a lower price.

Can I find the serial number on the back of the fridge?

Probably not where you want it. There's sometimes a wiring diagram or tech sheet taped to the back panel, but the actual model and serial number plate is almost always inside the refrigerator. Manufacturers put it there because it stays clean, doesn't get scratched up by the wall, and you can actually read it without pulling a 200-pound appliance away from the wall. The only time I go to the back is when the interior sticker is completely gone, and even then I'm looking for the tech sheet, not the main label. Don't start yanking your fridge out before you check inside first.

Why is the model number on my manual different from the fridge?

This trips people up constantly. Manuals are printed to cover an entire family of models, sometimes 15 or 20 variations that are basically the same refrigerator in different colors or with slightly different trim packages. Your manual might say 795.7205 while your sticker says 795.72053.110. Those extra digits matter, they specify the color, the production run, sometimes the regional market the unit was built for. When you're ordering parts, always use the complete number from the sticker on the appliance itself. Not the manual, not your receipt, not whatever number you find on an appliance forum. Your sticker is the only source of truth.

What if the model number sticker has been rubbed off?

It happens, especially on older units that've been wiped down a thousand times. First thing I do is check behind the refrigerator for a small folded paper or a document in a little plastic sleeve taped to the back of the cabinet. That's the tech sheet and it usually has the model series printed on it. If that's gone too, check for a white sticker on the main control board inside the back panel. Sometimes the part number stamped right on the ice maker or the compressor can help narrow down the manufacturer. And honestly, if you take a bunch of photos and bring them to a local appliance parts store, they can usually identify the unit pretty quickly.

Does the serial number tell me how old my Kenmore refrigerator is?

Yes, and it's actually pretty useful to know. On LG-built units the serial number format encodes the manufacture date. The first letter typically represents the year and the second letter represents the month of production. On Whirlpool-built units the format is a little different but the first two characters of the serial number also contain date info. If you tell a repair tech your serial number, we can usually figure out the age within a few months. This matters because some parts like sealed system components have age-based warranty coverage, and it also helps us know whether the repair is worth doing or if the machine is just too old.

Models Known to Experience KENMORE-REF-ID Errors

This repair applies to most Kenmore refrigerators with this error code. Common model numbers include:

795.72053.110, 795.51833.410, 106.51133.210, 106.56829.400, 596.76523.500, 253.70313.211, 363.9557411, 111.73025.710

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on May 20, 2024