Maytag Ice Maker Not Working? (Here’s what’s wrong!)

Once you’ve gotten the taste of ice on-demand, there’s no turning back. It’s a small luxury we never thought we needed until we started doing dinner parties with fancy schmancy homemade cocktails.

Like you, we were pretty upset when our ice maker suddenly stopped working. Over time, we learned that there are simpler solutions to common problems on our ice makers.

Before you make a service call, we will get into why your Maytag ice maker isn’t working. Then, we’ll walk you through all the steps to troubleshoot it.

Why is my Maytag ice maker not working?

A Maytag ice maker won’t work if its shutoff arm is stuck in the up position. Whether due to jammed ice, frost build-up, or a damaged arm, ice production can’t resume until the arm goes down.

Even if your ice maker has no issues, water can’t freeze in the tray if your freezer is too warm.

Here are a few simple ways to troubleshoot a Maytag ice maker that won’t work. 

• Check if the ice maker is on. Just flip the switch on the machine or lower the shutoff arm to turn it on and start the ice production process.

• Set the freezer to 0°F(-18°C). If the compartment is too warm, adjust its settings or clean the door seals to prevent cool air from escaping.

After performing these fixes, give your ice maker enough time to cool down. If it still can’t produce ice after several hours, refer to our repair guide below for easy, step-by-step instructions.

Causes and Solutions

To fix a Maytag ice maker that won’t work, you might have to remove jammed ice cubes in the shutoff arm. If frost build-up is preventing your machine from functioning, a defrost is necessary.

If the root cause is a faulty component, you must replace it to get your ice maker running.

Here’s a quick guide to help you determine why your Maytag ice maker won’t work. Look for the symptoms you’ve observed on your ice maker or fridge, then rule out the possible issues until you find the root cause.

Symptoms	Issues	Solutions
The freezer is too warm.	Underloaded Freezer	Keep your freezer ¾ full so it has enough space to circulate the cool air inside the compartment.
Improper Leveling		• Unthread the screws on the base grille, if it applies to your fridge model. • Pull the base grille toward you to remove it. • Set the carpenter’s level on top of the fridge to check if it’s level from front to back and from side to side. • Determine which side the fridge is leading toward.  • Use a wrench to adjust the leveling legs. • Rotate it to the right to lower the height or to the left to raise it. • Use the carpenter’s level to determine if your fridge is level. Make the necessary adjustments until your unit is leveled properly.
Tripped Circuit Breaker		• Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker. • Locate the circuit breaker that keeps tripping. • Flip the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position. Wait for a few seconds and flip the switch back to the ON position. • Plug in the ice maker and confirm that it has power and is functioning properly.  • Plug in other appliances and lights one at a time to test if they are working correctly
The water supply is insufficient.	Kinked or Frozen Water Line	• Straighten out kinks and bent areas in the water line.  • If you see signs of damage, replace the hoses immediately. • To fix a frozen water line, adjust the fridge’s thermostat.  • Keep the internal temperature at an ideal range to prevent the water line from freezing over.
Clogged Water Filter		• Locate the water filter cap in front of the base grille.  • Turn it counterclockwise until the knob is in a vertical position, then pull it out of the housing. • Slide the cap out of the water filter. Set it aside, but throw away the old filter. • Get your new filter. Take off the protective coverings from the O-rings. • Install the cap on the new water filter. Slide the filter into the housing. Make sure the cap is in a vertical position. • Push the filter in until it is fully seated, then rotate it clockwise until the knob is in a horizontal position. • Dispense 4 gallons of water to flush out impurities and air from the water line.
Low Water Pressure		Contact a plumber for assistance.
The shutoff arm is malfunctioning.	Ice Jam	• Use a wooden or plastic spatula to remove the jammed ice cubes.  • Avoid using a sharp tool as it may cause irreparable damage to your ice maker.
Frost Build-Up		• Manually defrost your ice maker by unplugging its power cord. Open the doors and let the ice melt. • Once the ice maker is thawed, clean up the fridge and let it fully dry.  • Restore power to your unit, then set the freezer’s temperature as close to 0°F(-18°C).
Damaged Shutoff Arm		• Unplug the refrigerator and open the freezer door. • Lift up the ice maker door to access the shutoff arm. • Turn off the ice maker.  • Locate the shutoff arm. Then, gently push it back to remove the arm from the slots on the ice maker. • Pull the old shutoff arm out of the ice maker assembly. • Insert one end of the new shutoff arm into the ice maker body. Push it into the slot, then slide the other end into the fill cup. • Swing the arm up and down to check its movement. • Turn on the ice maker and restore power to your fridge.

The freezer is too warm.

A freezer must be set to at least 0°F(-18°C) to promote ice production. Ice will not form in the tray if this compartment exceeds 5°F(-15°C).

The first thing you need to check is its settings. Did you set it to the desired temperature?

If you have, but your freezer is still warm, you can start looking into other factors that affect its cooling efficiency, such as underloading, improper leveling, and insufficient power.

Underloaded Freezer

Just like the fresh foods compartment, your freezer must be stocked to promote better cooling. Although we don’t recommend overfilling it, a full freezer is still better than an empty one.

If your freezer has nothing inside, it must work harder to maintain its cool temperature. As warm air seeps into the compartment each time you open its door, it will struggle to cool the air.

Solution: Keep your freezer ¾ full so it has enough space to circulate the cool air inside the compartment.

Improper Leveling

An improperly leveled fridge will encounter all sorts of performance issues, usually as a result of temperature fluctuations. It can also hinder ice production by preventing the water in the trays from freezing.

If your fridge isn’t level, it will also work harder to run daily operations, putting its internal components at risk of premature failure.

Depending on how lopsided the fridge is, a quick visual inspection might be enough to determine that your unit needs proper leveling. A more accurate alternative is using a carpenter’s level.

What you’ll need:

• Screwdriver
• Wrench
• Carpenter’s level

Solution: To level a Maytag refrigerator, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Remove the base grille or kickplate.

Depending on your fridge model, you might have to unthread the screw on the grill before you can pull it out. On other models, you must open the door at a 90-degree angle to remove the grille.

• Step 2: Place the carpenter’s level on top of the fridge to check if it’s level from front to back and from side to side. Determine which side the fridge is leading toward. 

• Step 3: Use a wrench to adjust the height of the leveling legs. Rotate it to the right to lower the height or to the left to raise it.

• Step 4: Check if the fridge is level from front to back and side to side using the carpenter’s level. Make the necessary adjustments until your unit is leveled properly.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Your Maytag refrigerator should have a dedicated circuit to prevent an electrical overload. If power keeps on going out, your unit will struggle to sustain the desired temperature for ice production.

Even though your ice maker is functioning properly, water simply can’t freeze in the trays if the freezer is too warm.

Solution: Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker. Follow these steps to reset it.

• Step 1: Locate the circuit breaker in your household and identify the one that keeps tripping. The switch would be out of place when a breaker trips.
• Step 2: Move the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position.
• Step 3: After a few seconds, flip the switch back to the ON position.
• Step 4: Plug in your refrigerator. Confirm that it can turn on and operate properly.

Turn on the lights and plug in the other appliances in the circuit. If it trips, the appliance or light may have faulty wiring. 

We recommend contacting a licensed electrician who can help you resolve the issue.

The water supply is insufficient. 

An insufficient water supply can impede ice production. If there isn’t enough water flowing into the ice tray, you might end up with small bits of ice or no ice at all.

Before making any repairs, you should check if the valve is fully open. Most of the time, you can fix this problem by straightening kinks or removing obstructions in the water line. 

Replacing an old and dirty filter might also do the trick. However, on rare occasions, you might need the expertise of a plumber.

Kinked or Frozen Water Line

Kinks in the water supply line can stop or limit the flow of water to your refrigerator. As a result, it will restrict the water flow to your ice maker.

Another potential cause is a frozen water line. If your fridge is too cold or has too much moisture, it can cause the water line to freeze, which not only cuts off water to the ice maker but also to the dispenser.

Solution: Inspect the water line for kinks and obstructions, then straighten them out to restore the flow of water to your fridge. If you see signs of damage, replace the hoses immediately.

Adjust the fridge’s thermostat. Keep the internal temperature at an ideal range to prevent the water line from freezing over.

Clogged Water Filter

Dirt build-up on the filter can restrict the flow of water into your ice maker, preventing it from filling the mold and producing ice.

Luckily, you can resolve this problem by changing the water filter. You should replace it every 6 months or whenever your indicator light says so.

Maytag has 5 different water filters so refer to your user manual or the filter you have on hand before purchasing a replacement. Depending on your model, it will be mounted either in the upper right corner of the fridge or in the base grille.

Solution: First, identify the type of water filter your Maytag refrigerator needs. To replace an in-grille filter, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Locate the water filter cap in front of the base grille. Turn it counterclockwise until the knob is in a vertical position, then pull it out of the housing.
• Step 2: Slide the cap out of the water filter. Set it aside, but throw away the old filter.
• Step 3: Get your new filter. Take off the protective coverings from the O-rings.
• Step 4: Install the cap on the new water filter.
• Step 5: Slide the filter into the housing. Make sure the cap is in a vertical position.
• Step 6: Push the filter in until it is fully seated, then rotate it clockwise until the knob is in a horizontal position.
• Step 7: Dispense 4 gallons of water to flush out sediments and purge air from the water line. Dump the water you dispense.

Low Water Pressure

For your Maytag ice maker to function properly, your cold water supply must have water pressure between 30 and 120 psi (207-827 kPa). You can do a quick check by dispensing water into a large measuring cup for 20 seconds.

If the cup has less than 8 ounces of water, your water pressure doesn’t meet the minimal requirement. 

Solution: We recommend contacting a plumber for assistance.

The shutoff arm is malfunctioning.

The shutoff arm turns the ice maker on or off. During a cycle, the arm starts at a raised position, which is the OFF position, then it lowers to signal the ice maker to kickstart ice production.

Ice cubes and frost build-up can get in the way of the shutoff arm, preventing it from going down. If it happens, your Maytag ice maker will not work because it still hasn’t received the signal to start producing ice.

Due to frequent usage and natural wear and tear, the shutoff arm can malfunction. In such cases, a replacement is necessary to get the ice maker back up and running.

Ice Jam

Ice can get lodged in your ice maker, preventing the shutoff arm from moving freely. If it gets stuck in the up position, your ice maker will think that the bin is full and won’t resume ice production.

Solution: Use a wooden or plastic spatula to remove the jammed ice cubes. Avoid using a sharp tool as it may cause irreparable damage to your ice maker.

Frost Build-Up

Aside from a warm freezer, a very cold one can stop ice production by freezing the ice maker. Simply put, the shutoff arm won’t be able to move down if there’s too much frost on or around it.

Solution: Manually defrost your ice maker by unplugging its power cord. Open the doors and let the ice melt.

Once the ice maker is thawed, clean up the fridge and let it fully dry. Set the freezer’s temperature as close to 0°F(-18°C).

Damaged Shutoff Arm

Like other fridge components, the shutoff arm can get brittle due to constant usage and age. If you see cracks and other signs of damage on the arm, it’s a sign to get a new one.

Replacing a shutoff arm is quite easy. Although the steps may vary per model, it is a pretty simple process, which should take about 10 to 30 minutes.

What you’ll need:

• Maytag ice maker shutoff arm

Solution: To replace a faulty Maytag ice maker shutoff arm, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the refrigerator and open the freezer door.
• Step 2: Lift the ice maker door to access the shutoff arm.
• Step 3: Turn off the ice maker. 
• Step 4: Locate the shutoff arm. Then, gently push it back to remove the arm from the slots on the ice maker.
• Step 5: Pull the old shutoff arm out of the ice maker assembly.
• Step 6: Install the new shutoff arm by inserting one end into the ice maker body. Push it into the slot, then slide the other end into the fill cup.
• Step 7: Swing the arm up and down to check its movement.
• Step 8: Turn on the ice maker and restore power to your fridge.

After installing the new shutoff arm, it needs about 24 hours to reach optimal cooling temperatures. Your ice maker should start producing ice once it is cool enough to do so.

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