XPARTCO DA31-00334C Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor
The XPARTCO DA31-00334C is an aftermarket replacement evaporator fan motor for Samsung bottom-mount and side-by-side refrigerators. This small brushless DC (BLDC) motor sits behind the freezer's rear panel, directly in front of the evaporator coil, and its job is to pull cold air off that coil and push it through the duct system into both the freezer and fresh food compartments. Without it circulating air, the coil itself keeps getting cold, but that cold air never reaches your food — the freezer may still work reasonably well since it sits closer to the coil, while the fresh food side drifts warmer and warmer since it depends entirely on ducted airflow from the back.
Rated at 12V DC, 2.5W, 0.12A, running at approximately 1,870 RPM. As a brushless design, this motor has no physical brushes to wear out, so failure typically comes from a worn bearing that lets the blade wobble or bind, a winding that has burned out electrically, or a blade that has become jammed by a chunk of built-up frost or freezer debris. It directly replaces DA31-00287B, DA31-00334A, DA31-00305A, DA96-00968A, AP6803162, 3954921, AP5948644, PS9494284, EAP9494284, PS12590897, and EAP12590897. Also compatible with select Kenmore refrigerators built on the Samsung platform.
Quick Answer
The XPARTCO DA31-00334C Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor fixes Samsung bottom-mount and side-by-side refrigerators with uneven cooling, a fresh food compartment that's warmer than it should be, frost or ice buildup at the back or bottom of the freezer, or a grinding/buzzing noise from inside the cabinet. Brushless DC (BLDC) motor, 12V DC, 2.5W, 0.12A, ~1,870 RPM. Replaces DA31-00287B, DA31-00334A, DA31-00305A, DA96-00968A, AP6803162, 3954921, AP5948644, PS9494284, EAP9494284, PS12590897, EAP12590897. Verify your model number before ordering — Samsung uses several different evaporator fan motors, and this is not the same part as our DA81-06013A listing.
Common Problems This Part Fixes
- Fresh food compartment running warmer than the freezer, or warmer than it used to
- Uneven temperatures between shelves or between the fresh food and freezer sides
- Frost or ice buildup accumulating at the back panel or bottom of the freezer
- Grinding, buzzing, or rattling noise coming from inside the refrigerator cabinet
- Noise that stops when the freezer door is opened and starts again once it's closed
- Freezer holding temperature reasonably well while the fresh food side drifts warm
- Fan blade that doesn't spin freely, or spins with noticeable wobble, when checked by hand
- Refrigerator running constantly as the compressor tries to compensate for poor air circulation
Cross Reference Information
Part numbers can change over a product's lifecycle as manufacturers update designs or release new appliance models. For your convenience, we've included any known superseded, alternate, or cross-reference part numbers that match this item.
Replaces Part Numbers
This refrigerator evaporator fan motor directly replaces the following OEM and cross-reference part numbers:
DA31-00334C, DA31-00287B, DA96-00968A, 12035GE-12M-YT, 12V DC 0.26A, ARES2120RA, Model # 12035GE-12M-YT, AP6803162, ASM1061854, EAP12590897, PD00075168, PS12590897.
If your part number is not listed above, contact our support team before ordering and we will verify compatibility.
Compatibility
This evaporator fan motor is compatible with select Samsung bottom-mount and side-by-side refrigerators, and also fits select Kenmore refrigerators built on the Samsung platform.
Note — not the same motor as DA81-06013A: Samsung uses several different evaporator fan motor designs across its refrigerator lineup. The DA31-00334C is a distinct part from our DA81-06013A listing, which is built for a different model family and has its own connector and mounting configuration. Fitting the wrong motor can result in a connector that won't mate with your wiring harness or a fan blade that doesn't clear the housing correctly. Always verify your full model number before ordering. Contact our support team with your model number if you're unsure which motor fits your refrigerator.
Key Features
- Brushless DC (BLDC) evaporator fan motor — no brushes to wear out over time
- Circulates cold air from the evaporator coil throughout the freezer and fresh food compartments
- Resolves "fresh food too warm," "uneven cooling," "frost buildup," and "grinding or buzzing noise" symptoms caused by fan motor failure
- Rated 12V DC, 2.5W, 0.12A, approximately 1,870 RPM
- Direct drop-in replacement matching the original mounting bracket and blade fitment
- Replaces DA31-00287B, DA31-00334A, DA31-00305A, DA96-00968A, AP6803162, 3954921, AP5948644, PS9494284, EAP9494284, PS12590897, and EAP12590897
- Compatible with select Samsung and Kenmore (Samsung-platform) refrigerators
- Aftermarket replacement built to OEM-equivalent quality standards
Product Specifications
| Part Number |
XPDA31-00334C |
| OEM Part Number |
DA31-00334C |
| Part Type |
Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor |
| Condition |
Aftermarket Replacement |
| Brand |
Samsung |
| Motor Type |
Brushless DC (BLDC) |
| Voltage |
12V DC |
| Wattage |
2.5 W |
| Amperage |
0.12 A |
| Speed |
~1,870 RPM |
| Application |
Bottom-Mount and Side-by-Side Refrigerators |
| Quantity |
1 fan motor |
| Compatible Brands |
Samsung, select Kenmore |
Installation Notes
⚠️ Unplug Refrigerator Before Starting — Let The Freezer Thaw If Iced Over Disconnect power at the outlet before beginning, and remove all food from the freezer to a cooler for the duration of the repair. Wear work gloves. Access is through the freezer's rear interior panel: remove the shelving and bins as needed, then remove the screws securing the back panel and set it aside to expose the evaporator coil and fan assembly. If you see significant frost or ice buildup around the fan or coil, let the unit sit unplugged with the door open for a few hours (or run a manual defrost) before continuing, since ice can be masking the actual point of failure and can also make the old motor difficult to remove cleanly. Photograph the wiring harness connector and the fan blade's orientation before disconnecting anything. Unplug the motor's wiring harness connector, remove the mounting screws or clips holding the motor bracket in place, and carefully pull the motor and fan blade assembly free — on many models the blade is a separate piece that pulls off the motor shaft. Transfer the fan blade to the new motor if it isn't included, or install the new blade supplied with this motor, matching the original orientation. Mount the new DA31-00334C in the same position, reconnect the wiring harness connector fully, and confirm the blade spins freely by hand without contacting the housing before reassembling the back panel. Restore power and monitor both compartments over the next 24 hours to confirm even cooling has returned. Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, nut driver, work gloves.
Frequently Asked Questions
My freezer seems fine but the fresh food section is warm. Is this really the fan motor?
Yes, this is a very common and telling symptom pattern. The freezer compartment sits right next to the evaporator coil and can stay reasonably cold through simple proximity even with poor air circulation, but the fresh food compartment depends entirely on the fan pushing cold air through the ducting to reach it. When the fan motor fails or slows down, the fresh food side is usually the first and most noticeably affected area, while the freezer may seem to lag only slightly behind.
I hear a grinding or buzzing noise that stops when I open the freezer door. What does that mean?
This is a classic symptom of a worn fan motor bearing or a blade that's catching on built-up frost. Opening the door often triggers the refrigerator's internal light switch or door sensor, which can cut power to the fan momentarily — the noise stops because the fan stops spinning, then resumes once the door closes and the fan restarts. If you can see or reach the fan blade with the freezer open, check whether it spins freely and smoothly by hand; a blade that wobbles, binds, or contacts the housing points to the motor as the cause.
There's a lot of frost around the back panel of my freezer. Should I fix that before replacing the fan?
It's worth understanding which came first. Excess frost can be a cause of fan failure — a jammed blade can burn out the motor over time — or a result of it, since poor air circulation lets moisture condense and freeze unevenly around the coil area. Either way, thawing the ice out fully before you install the new motor makes the repair easier and lets you confirm the blade spins freely once everything is defrosted, rather than immediately jamming again on refrozen ice.
Do I need to transfer the fan blade from my old motor?
It depends on what's included with your specific order — check whether a blade came with your new motor before removing the old one. If a blade is not included, the blade from your original motor typically pulls off the shaft and can be transferred over. Photograph the blade's orientation on the shaft before removing it so you can reinstall it the same way; an improperly oriented blade can affect airflow or contact the housing.
Is this an OEM or aftermarket part?
This is an aftermarket replacement part built to OEM-equivalent quality standards. It is not a genuine Samsung OEM part, but is manufactured to match the electrical specifications (12V DC, 2.5W, 0.12A, ~1,870 RPM), brushless motor design, and mounting configuration of the original DA31-00334C evaporator fan motor used in compatible Samsung and Kenmore refrigerators.
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