Why did the plastic tab holding my refrigerator's center door flap break?

On many French door refrigerators, the vertical center flap (called a mullion) hinges onto the door through a pair of small plastic tabs that are molded directly into the door itself, not a separate part. Those tabs take the full mechanical stress every time either door opens or closes, so on most refrigerators they're the first thing to fail, often well before the hinge pin or the flap itself gives out. Because they're molded into the door rather than a discrete component, there's no way to simply reattach or replace just the tab once it snaps off. Full writeup and a fix that doesn't rely on the tabs at all: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

I bought the replacement Frigidaire mullion hinge pin (part 241779401) but my flap is still broken. Why didn't that fix it?

Because the hinge pin was probably never what broke. On the FGHG2368TF6 and similar Frigidaire/Electrolux/Kenmore French door refrigerators, the common failure is the pair of small plastic tabs molded into the door that the hinge pin snaps into, not the pin itself. Buying a new hinge pin doesn't help if the tabs it needs to mount into are gone. The fix is a replacement hinge that mounts with tape instead of relying on those tabs at all: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Is there a replacement part for broken mullion hinge tabs on a Frigidaire, Electrolux, or Kenmore refrigerator?

No, and there structurally can't be one in the usual sense. On Frigidaire, Electrolux, and Kenmore-built French door refrigerators that share this door design, the mounting tabs aren't a separate component at all, they're molded as part of the door casting, so there's nothing with a part number to order and no supported way to reattach one once it breaks off. The mullion hinge pin itself (part 241779401) is sold separately, but that's not the piece that usually fails. Contacting Frigidaire directly about broken tabs typically gets one answer: replace the entire door. A 3D printed replacement hinge that mounts independently of the door's original tabs, using tape instead, is a real, working alternative to that. Full guide and free STL download: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Frigidaire told me the only fix for my broken mullion tabs is a whole new door. Is there a cheaper option?

Yes. Since the broken tabs themselves can't be repaired or replaced, the workaround is a redesigned hinge that mounts to the door with double-sided tape instead of relying on the tabs at all, solving the same problem for a fraction of the cost of a new door. A local library can often print one for under $10 in the right filament, or a pre-printed, pre-taped pair can be arranged for under $40 CAD. Free STL file and full instructions: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

What is a mullion on a refrigerator?

The mullion is the vertical flap in the middle of a French door refrigerator that both doors seal against. It hinges out of the way of the left door and back into place so the right door's magnetic gasket has something to seal on. On many refrigerators, including Frigidaire's, it mounts to the door through small plastic tabs molded into the door itself; when those tabs break, the flap hangs loose or falls off, and because the tabs aren't a separate part, there's no straightforward way to reattach or replace just them. Full explanation and a fix that mounts without needing the tabs: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

My refrigerator's center door flap is hanging loose or has fallen off. Is the fridge still safe to use?

It won't damage the refrigerator to keep using it short-term, but the doors won't seal against each other properly, which lets warm, humid air in every time either door opens and makes the compressor work harder to keep temperature steady. It's worth fixing rather than ignoring, and it doesn't require a full door replacement. Fix and free 3D model: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Which refrigerator models will this 3D printed mullion hinge fit?

It was designed and tested for the Frigidaire Gallery French Door Refrigerator FGHG2368TF6, replacing part 241779401. Electrolux builds Frigidaire, Kenmore, and some Electrolux-branded French door refrigerators on shared door platforms, so other models from the same era may use an identical mullion and hinge, but hinge geometry does vary by model and door casting. Check the hinge base size given on the page (about 3 1/4 x 1 9/32 inches) against your own before ordering, or get in touch to confirm fit for your specific model. Details: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Can you make a custom 3D printed hinge for a refrigerator model other than the FGHG2368TF6?

Yes. The same approach, measuring the broken original part and modeling a stronger replacement in Blender, can be adapted to other refrigerator models with the same kind of broken mullion tab or hinge problem. Get in touch through the contact page with your model number and, ideally, a photo of the broken part: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Can I just epoxy the broken refrigerator hinge pin back onto the door instead of replacing it?

You can try, but it's not a reliable fix, and it's not really reattaching the same thing either: the tab that broke off was molded as part of the door, not a discrete piece with a clean mating surface to glue back on. Even a good glue joint there takes real mechanical stress every time the door opens and closes, and tends to fail again, sometimes quickly. A redesigned hinge that mounts independently of the door's original tabs entirely, using tape rather than trying to rebuild the broken mounting point, holds up much better. Details: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

What's the best filament to 3D print a refrigerator hinge replacement with?

PCTG, PETG, or ABS at high infill. PLA was tested for this specific part and found too weak and brittle for a load-bearing hinge that gets flexed daily; regular PET is not durable enough either. PCTG in particular has held up well in production use. Full details including print orientation and infill: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

How much does it cost to get a broken refrigerator hinge 3D printed?

A local library with a 3D printer can often print the part for well under $10 in the right filament (PCTG, PETG, or ABS). If you don't have access to a printer, a pre-printed, pre-taped pair can be arranged for under $40 CAD in the colour of your choice. Free STL file for anyone who wants to print it themselves: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Does my Samsung refrigerator have the same broken center flap problem as Frigidaire refrigerators?

Samsung French door refrigerators use a similar hinged center flap (Samsung calls it a flap or flipper), and it does fail in a comparable way, but unlike Frigidaire's mullion tabs, Samsung sells the whole flap/hinge assembly as a genuine replacement part (for example DA61-08305A), swappable with two screws and a wiring connector. Check SamsungParts.com for your exact part number first. If it's the small top hinge nub on the flap specifically that's broken rather than the whole assembly, or the OEM part is unavailable, a 3D printed fix may still be worth it: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

My Whirlpool or Kenmore refrigerator's flipper mullion is loose, not heating, or feels broken. Is this the same issue?

On Whirlpool-built French door refrigerators, this part is usually called a flipper mullion or mullion rail, and it includes the heater wire that keeps condensation off the seal. It's designed as a fully serviceable, replaceable part (testable with a multimeter, typically 20-30 ohms across the heater circuit), so in most cases ordering the OEM flipper mullion assembly solves it without needing a custom print. Details on the Frigidaire version of this problem, where no such replacement part exists: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

My LG refrigerator's center flap sags, won't stay up, or feels loose. What's broken and can it be fixed?

On most LG French door refrigerators, a flap sagging or not staying in position is usually a broken internal torsion spring inside the mullion, not the hinge tabs themselves, and LG sells that spring as a genuine replacement part (for example MHY62044103), which is a straightforward DIY swap. If it's specifically the hinge or mounting point that's broken rather than the spring, the underlying problem is closer to what this page addresses: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

My GE refrigerator's mullion striker or hinge is broken. Can I get a genuine replacement part?

Usually yes. GE sells a genuine Mullion Striker (WR01X31733) and a full Articulating Mullion Assembly (WR17X25027) as separate OEM parts, so check those part numbers before looking at a 3D printed alternative. That said, both parts are popular enough to 3D print that free models exist for them too, mainly for people dealing with backorders, discontinued parts, or cost. The Frigidaire/Electrolux version of this problem, which has no OEM part at all for the broken piece, is covered here: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Why would a refrigerator manufacturer design a part with no way to replace just the broken piece?

It's most likely a cost and manufacturing decision rather than anything deliberate: molding the mounting tabs as part of the door itself is cheaper than engineering, stocking, and selling a separate small part for a failure point most manufacturers probably didn't expect to be this common. Whatever the reason, the practical result for the owner is the same, the manufacturer's only answer is a full replacement door, which is why a 3D printed alternative exists: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Do I need an appliance repair technician to install a replacement mullion hinge, or can I do it myself?

This is a DIY-friendly repair. It involves removing the mullion with a screwdriver, unplugging its wire connector, mounting the new hinge with double-sided tape in the position marked beforehand, and reconnecting the wires, no soldering, wiring changes, or specialized tools required. Full step-by-step instructions: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Will double-sided tape actually hold a refrigerator door hinge long-term, or will it fail again?

Brand-name double-sided tape, applied properly to both the hinge back and the fridge door, adheres very well and is the mounting method used in production for this fix, rather than relying on the original broken plastic tabs or an epoxy joint. Full details on tape choice and mounting: https://www.jasoncousineau.com/free-tools/fridge-hinge

Fridge Mullion Hinge Retrofit | Jason Cousineau Solutions Inc.

Home / Free Tools And Solutions / Fridge Mullion Hinge Retrofit

3D Printed Refrigerator Hinge Pin replacement/upgrade for Frigidaire Gallery French Door Refrigerator (FGHG2368TF6)

(Written May 11, 2025 by Jason Cousineau. Last update July 30, 2025)

This is a downloadable and printable model to replace part #241779401.

These are the hinge pins that align the upper and lower parts of the mullion (center flap) in a variety of French Door refrigerators. Usually the hinges themselves do not break, but instead the tabs holding the hinges to the door break off or rip out. There is no replacement part for the tabs and no foolproof way to re-attach tabs. The choices are: live with the problem, try to epoxy the hinge pin back on, replace the door, or replace the fridge.

This upgraded replacement part is a better choice; it solves the problem of broken or detached tabs.

(The original hinge pin and tab)

This is the 3D model created in Blender: the length of the base of the hinge is extended, and some bulk is added where possible to increase strength.

Below is the model printed by a local business in orange PCTG. The PCTG hinge was printed with 100% fill. If possible, printing the model rotated 90° so that the pin points up will result in a rounder pin and eliminate the need to sand the pin later.

Local libraries may be able to print these for you at a very low cost (under $10), but make sure they are using a filament such as PCTG, PETG, or ABS. PET will not be durable enough.

Brand-name double-sided tape is used to mount the new hinges; it adheres very well to the hinge back and the fridge door.

Installation

With the mullion (center flap) in place, determine where to mount the hinges and mark with an erasable (whiteboard) marker.

Try to match the alignment of the original pieces as closely as possible, even if they don't look perfectly straight.

Not matching the original alignment will put stress on the weak parts of the new hinge pins and could result in premature failure.

Remove any tabs or remaining pieces of tabs if necessary using pliers and a twisting motion.

Remove the mullion by using a screwdriver, lifting up, and unplugging the wire connector.

Mount the new hinge(s), clean off the marker, and reattach the wires and the mullion.

Tips

PLA filament was tried and found to be too weak and brittle. Go with PCTG or PETG instead.
Whomever is printing it may need the expected physical size: the base is approximately 3 1/4" x 1 9/32".

If you have no way of getting these printed yourself and wish to order a pair of printed, pre-taped hinges, an introduction to a business that can prepare those can be arranged. The cost will be under $40 CAD for a pair and they can be in any colour you'd like.

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3D models for other fridges can be built as well.

Download the latest STL file here. It's 14KB.

[Hinge 3D Model STL File]

This writeup is free to use, modify, and share.
If it saved you time, solved a problem, or helped you avoid buying a new fridge door, consider making a voluntary payment of any amount to support more work like this.

Questions, comments, complaints, and improvements are welcome.

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