Key takeaways
- A failed ice maker in a Whirlpool refrigerator is one of the most common complaints homeowners encounter. The unit sits inside the freezer compartment, it is relatively accessible compared to other components, and the replacement part itself is far cheaper…
What's inside
A failed ice maker in a Whirlpool refrigerator is one of the most common complaints homeowners encounter. The unit sits inside the freezer compartment, it is relatively accessible compared to other components, and the replacement part itself is far cheaper than calling a technician for diagnosis alone. Yet the market is cluttered with genuine OEM units, bare aftermarket assemblies, multi-brand compatible parts, and even standalone countertop machines that share nothing with your built-in system. Choosing the wrong replacement means a misfit, a leaking water line connection, or a unit that fails again within a single season.
What separates a solid choice from a poor one comes down to three things: exact part-number compatibility with your specific refrigerator model, the build quality and warranty terms behind the part, and whether the assembly includes every sub-component you need or leaves you hunting for additional hardware. Owner feedback consistently flags mismatched water inlet connectors and missing mounting brackets as the top frustration with budget replacements. The products below were compared on published specifications, current pricing, and aggregated owner reviews across 2026 retail channels.
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Quick Picks
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Ice Maker WPW10190965 | DIYers who already own mounting hardware | $49.92 |
| Whirlpool WPW10190965 OEM + FSP | Owners who want factory-sealed confidence | $62.82 |
| W11546935 Compatible Assembly | Multi-brand households (Kenmore, Amana, Maytag) | $75.45 |
| Frigidaire 26 Lbs Portable Maker | Campers, RVs, and supplemental ice needs | $99.99 |
| Whirlpool WPW10300022 OEM SxS | Side-by-side model owners seeking full assembly | $141.25 |
| Nurfosttek 2198597 | Maytag and Whirlpool dual-brand compatibility | $53.99 |
| W10300022 WPW10300022 Replacement | Budget-conscious side-by-side replacements | $79.99 |
| Whirlpool W10873791 OEM SxS | Owners of newer side-by-side platforms | $66.88 |
How We Picked
We evaluated each unit against four criteria that matter most in this category. First, fitment breadth: how many part numbers and refrigerator models the assembly covers. Second, build origin: whether the part is a genuine OEM unit, a manufacturer-authorized OEM part with field service packaging, or an aftermarket clone, since this directly affects expected lifespan. Third, completeness of the kit: whether it ships as a fully assembled unit with bracket, bail arm, and wiring harness, or as a bare core requiring you to transfer old hardware. Fourth, verified owner reports on installation difficulty and long-term durability, which tend to correlate tightly with build origin.
The 8 Best Whirlpool Ice Maker in 2026
Bare Ice Maker Fits Whirlpool WPW10190965 D7824706Q 4317943 W10190965 1129313
This unit is the go-to for confident DIY homeowners who already have the original mounting bracket, bail arm, and wire harness in decent shape and simply need the freezing mold and harvest mechanism replaced. At $49.92, it undercuts even the OEM equivalent by more than twenty percent. Owners praise its direct-fit harvest cycle performance and the fact that it uses the same water inlet dimensions as factory units. The main drawback is that it ships as a bare assembly with no packaging foam and sometimes no included mounting screws, meaning you need to salvage those from the old part or buy them separately. Skip this if your existing bracket is corroded or cracked, since transferring a failing bracket onto a new mold will cause premature misalignment.
Whirlpool WPW10190965 Refrigerator Ice Maker (Replaces W10190965, W11381372) Genuine OEM + FSP Part
The factory-authorized option for the WPW10190965 platform, sold in Field Service Packaging so it arrives in the same condition a repair technician would install. At $62.82 it costs roughly twenty-five percent more than the bare aftermarket equivalent, which buys a genuine Whirlpool warranty claim path and a mold that matches the original freeze pattern exactly. Owners consistently report first-batch ice quality identical to the factory unit. The tradeoff is availability: FSP parts sometimes sit in stock shortages, and the price fluctuates by retailer. Skip this one if your refrigerator is older than eight years, because the cumulative cost of OEM parts across multiple failures may not justify the warranty protection you will eventually need elsewhere.
W11546935 Compatible Ice Maker Assembly for Whirlpool Kenmore Amana Maytag
Designed for households where refrigerators span multiple parent-company brands under the Whirlpool Corporation umbrella. At $75.45, this fully assembled unit includes bracket, bail arm, and harness, making it a true plug-and-play swap across the listed brand lines. Owners highlight the cross-compatibility documentation that ships in the box, which reduces the guesswork during model matching. The con is that “compatible” is not “genuine”: some long-term reviewers note harvest timing drifts slightly after eighteen to twenty-four months compared to factory parts. Skip this if your model falls outside the specific W11546935 cross-reference list, as forcing it into a slightly different cavity leads to jamming.
Frigidaire 26 Lbs per Day Portable Compact Maker, Ice Making Machine, Stainless, Medium
This is the odd entry in the list and the only standalone countertop machine. At $99.99, it serves a completely different use case: households with a broken built-in ice maker who want an immediate interim solution, or RV owners, party hosts, and people in rentals where modifying the freezer is impractical. Owners appreciate the self-contained design that needs only a power outlet and a water reservoir, with no plumbing connection. The downside is ongoing effort: you must fill it manually and empty the basket. Skip this entirely if your goal is a permanent built-in replacement, because portable units produce softer, hollow ice that does not store as long.
Whirlpool WPW10300022 Genuine OEM SxS Refrigerator Ice Maker Assembly Replacement Part
The premium option in this roundup at $141.25, this is a complete side-by-side ice maker assembly from Whirlpool that replaces W10122556, W10300022, and W10377190. Owners describe it as the single most reliable path back to factory performance, with a full OEM warranty and every sub-component included. Installation is straightforward but requires removing the entire assembly, which means you should photograph the original wiring before disconnecting. The price is the primary barrier; at more than double the bare aftermarket equivalents, it makes sense only if your refrigerator is under a few years old and you intend to keep it long-term. Skip if you own a top-freezer or French-door model, as this assembly is sized for side-by-side platforms.
Nurfosttek 2198597 Ice Maker, 185W 115V 60Hz, Fit for Whirlpool, Maytag
A middle-ground aftermarket part at $53.99 that spans both Whirlpool and Maytag refrigerator lines. The published 185-watt draw at 115V/60Hz matches factory specifications closely, which owners note helps avoid the electrical hum some cheaper clones produce. The full assembly includes the ejector arm and thermostat pre-mounted, reducing install time. The limitation is documentation quality: the included instructions are sparse, and model matching relies on the buyer cross-referencing their existing part number independently. Skip this if you cannot verify your refrigerator’s current ice maker part number, since a mismatched mold alignment causes cubes to stick or over-fill the bin.
W10300022 WPW10300022 Refrigerator Ice Maker Replaces AP6019085, W10122556, W10300022, W10377190 Replacement for Whirlpool Kenmore Amana Refrigerator
At $79.99, this aftermarket full assembly undercuts the genuine OEM WPW10300022 by over sixty dollars while covering the same four replacement part numbers. Owners report solid initial performance and note the included hardware bag is more complete than many bare alternatives. The con centers on long-term consistency: several reviews at the two-year mark describe slower harvest cycles and slightly smaller cubes compared to the factory unit. Skip this if your refrigerator sits in a garage or outdoor kitchen where ambient temperature swings already stress the mold; the aftermarket thermostat tolerances are narrower than OEM and those conditions push them into marginal territory.
Whirlpool W10873791 Genuine OEM SxS Refrigerator Ice Maker Assembly Replacement Part
The newest-generation OEM side-by-side assembly at $66.88, replacing W10760070, W10798411, W10847507, W11130444, and more. Its price point is remarkably close to aftermarket alternatives while offering genuine Whirlpool quality control and a transferable warranty for warranty-claim purposes. Owners highlight that it fits a broader range of newer side-by-side models than the WPW10300022 and that the updated ejector mechanism reduces the cube-sticking complaint pattern common in earlier generations. The one limitation is that it is strictly for side-by-side units using the W10873791 platform; older top-freezer designs cannot accept it without bracket modifications. Skip this if your model predates the 2020 refresh of Whirlpool side-by-side lines, since the harness connector layout differs.
Buying Guide
Verify Your Exact Part Number Before Anything Else
Whirlpool uses different ice maker platforms across top-freezer, French-door, and side-by-side designs, and a model that looks identical may have a different mold cavity depth or water inlet angle. Open your freezer, locate the small white label on the ice maker itself, and match that number against the cross-reference lists published in each product description above. A single-digit mismatch can mean cubes that are too large to drop or a harness plug that will not seat.
OEM vs. Aftermarket: What the Price Gap Actually Buys
Genuine OEM parts cost more because they go through Whirlpool’s own quality-control tolerances and carry a manufacturer warranty. Aftermarket parts replicate dimensions but may use different plastics in the mold or looser thermostat calibration. In practice, an aftermarket assembly performs well for two to three years; an OEM unit often lasts five or more. If your refrigerator is new enough to justify keeping it through another major appliance cycle, the OEM premium amortizes quickly.
Full Assembly vs. Bare Core: Matching Your Skill and Situation
A bare core is the cheapest option but requires you to remove your old bracket, bail arm, wire harness, and mounting screws and transfer them onto the new mold. If any of those pieces show corrosion, cracking, or frayed insulation, you are better off paying the difference for a full assembly that includes new hardware. The transfer itself takes fifteen minutes for most owners with a Phillips screwdriver.
Our Verdict
The Whirlpool WPW10190965 OEM + FSP Part at $62.82 is the top pick for anyone owning a refrigerator on the WPW10190965 platform who wants factory-identical performance without paying side-by-side assembly prices. For budget-conscious buyers with a matching top-freezer model and intact existing hardware, the Bare Ice Maker at $49.92 delivers the same freezing function at the lowest cost in the list. If you own a newer side-by-side refrigerator, the Whirlpool W10873791 at $66.88 is the clear winner over any aftermarket alternative in this roundup, since its OEM pricing undercuts compatible units while offering a broader model cross-reference.
FAQ
Can I use a bare ice maker if my old bracket is rusted?
You technically can, but rust weakens the mounting points and causes the mold to sit at a slight angle, which leads to uneven freezing and stuck cubes. Replacing a corroded bracket adds perhaps five dollars in hardware, but the resulting misalignment can shorten the life of even a genuine OEM mold by a full season.
How long does a typical replacement ice maker last?
Genuine OEM units commonly last five to eight years under normal household use, while aftermarket assemblies average two to four years before harvest timing or cube size begins to degrade. Ambient conditions matter: units in garages or high-humidity kitchens face mineral buildup faster than those in climate-controlled indoor spaces.
Is the Frigidaire portable maker a legitimate substitute for a built-in unit?
Only as a temporary workaround or for supplemental ice needs like entertaining. It produces hollow, softer cubes that melt faster in drinks, and it requires manual refilling and emptying. For permanent daily use, a built-in replacement matched to your refrigerator model remains the better solution.
Do I need a plumber or electrician to install any of these?
No. Every product above is a consumer-level replacement designed for screwdriver installation. You disconnect the power supply to the refrigerator, unplug the water line with a towel underneath for the residual drip, remove one or two mounting screws, transfer or swap the harness plug, and reverse the process. Most owners complete the job in under twenty minutes.
