Frigidaire IM117000 Ice Maker Kit review

Intro

The Frigidaire IM117000 is a genuine OEM replacement ice maker kit described by the listing as a white, plastic unit for compatible top-mount refrigerators. The listing describes the kit as including the ice maker, a water valve, and installation hardware; it produces up to 2 pounds of ice per day and the included ice bin is listed to hold up to 5 pounds. As an OEM part from Electrolux (sold under the Frigidaire name), the IM117000 is intended as a direct add-on or replacement for refrigerators wired or prepped for an icemaker.

Owner feedback shows a clear pattern: many buyers install this and report it works fine, makes small-to-medium ice cubes, and is a relatively straightforward replacement; others report fitment hiccups, missing small parts, or early failures where the ice arm sticks or production drops after a few months. This review walks through what the kit is, how it behaves in everyday use, installation realities, and the safety and longevity signals that owners report.

What it is / first look

Listing facts you should know right up front:

• Manufacturer: Electrolux; Brand Name on the listing: Frigidaire; Model: IM117000.
• Item type: Ice Maker Kit. Included components listed: ice bin and installation accessories (the listing also states the kit includes the ice maker, water valve, and installation hardware).
• Output and capacity listed by the manufacturer: produces up to 2 pounds of ice per day; included ice bin holds up to 5 pounds.
• Size and construction: listed item dimensions are 14"D x 36"W x 6.5"H and the material type is listed as plastic. The listing shows the unit in white.
• Warranty: the listing notes a 90 Day Limited warranty. The listing also recommends validating the needed part number with your appliance service manual or by contacting the appliance manufacturer before buying.

At first look the IM117000 is a compact plastic module intended to sit inside a top-mount freezer and tie into the refrigerator's water supply and wiring for an on/freezer ice solution. The manufacturer copy and the listing both present it as an OEM replacement/kit rather than a universal add-on; the listing even calls out that it is for Top Mount Refrigerators and that it features a sensor arm that activates and stops when the bin is full.

In daily use

Owner reports give the clearest picture of day-to-day life with this kit. Below are patterns drawn from multiple buyer notes: what's typical, what to watch for, and what owners did when they had issues.

Small households and occasional use

Several owners who installed the IM117000 in family or small-household fridges report the unit makes an adequate amount of ice for everyday drinking and occasional entertaining. The listing's 2 lb/day figure lines up with owner descriptions calling the module "small" or "perfect" for limited demand. Owners note that the cubes tend to be small-to-medium in size; some like that because the cubes fill glasses without using too much freezer space.

Startup behavior: owners repeatedly say it can take a few cycles for the unit to start making ice reliably. Expect to discard the first few batches after installation (that matches how owners describe startup) and give the unit time to push air out of the water line and stabilize. Some owners reduced the freezer temperature slightly to speed freezing; others recommended filling the freezer to help temperature stability.

Typical run-time observations from owners: multiple reports say the bin can take lengthy periods to fill — one owner mentioned about 48 hours to fill a bin, another estimated 3–4 hours to make about 10 medium cubes depending on conditions. These are owner-reported experiences and show the practical pace you'll likely see in a normal household.

High-demand households & parties

If your plan is to run an ice-heavy household or support frequent parties, owner feedback is mixed. A handful of owners praise the output, saying "huge output" or "mountains of ice," but several other owners say output is modest and slow. The listing's stated maximum output of up to 2 pounds per day is an important baseline — owners who expected large quantities were disappointed, while those who bought it to add convenience rather than replace a high-capacity factory system tended to be satisfied.

Installation & replacement fit (top-mount refrigerators)

The kit is presented as an OEM replacement meant for top-mount refrigerator installs. Owners describe the mechanical installation as doable for someone with basic appliance-handyman skills, but several installation caveats keep showing up in the feedback:

• Tools and small drilling: multiple owners say you will need tools to push screws through the internal freezer wall and that they used a drill or an electric screwdriver. Some found the step "nerve-racking" because it requires drilling or punching into the freezer shell.
• Pre-wired fridges: if your fridge is pre-wired for an ice maker and the opening and waterline preparations are present, a few buyers reported the install taking as little as 15 minutes to an hour. When the fridge is not prepped, owners reported needing more time or additional plumbing work.
• Missing small parts: a handful of owners reported small hardware omissions such as a missing nut or ferrule for the inlet valve; one owner borrowed a part from a water filter kit to complete the install. That suggests you should check contents before beginning.
• Water solenoid wiring length: an owner noted the solenoid wires are sometimes at their limit and may be short; verify routing before finalizing install.
• Model fit: some owners specifically called out that it fit model FFTR1835VB3 perfectly; your results will vary and the listing recommends validating the part number against your service manual.

Materials & build quality

The listing lists the material type as "Plastic" and shows the unit in white. The kit is sold as a genuine OEM Frigidaire part manufactured by Electrolux. The material callout on the listing is limited to "plastic" — the listing does not specify further food-contact grades, certifications, or specifics about plastics used in the ice bin or the ice maker internals.

Build impressions from owners are mixed but lean positive at first: many owners call out that the unit "works great" and that it looks and fits like the original equipment in their freezer. The included ice bin is small and light (the listing states it holds up to 5 pounds), and the entire kit's listed item weight is 15.2 ounces — consistent with a mostly plastic lightweight assembly.

On the negative side, repeated owner notes point to two possible weak points:

• Small hardware and water fittings: missing nuts/ferrules have appeared in some reports. Owners solved these ad-hoc by borrowing parts, but that is an inconvenient gap in quality control for an OEM kit.
• Component reliability over months: while many buyers report months of trouble-free operation, a non-trivial set of buyers reported early issues where the ice arm would stop dropping or production would slow dramatically after a few months of use. That pattern suggests some variability in long-term component reliability across units.

Safety considerations

From a safety perspective, consider these points drawn from the listing and owner experience:

• Water + electricity: this kit integrates a water valve/solenoid and electrical connections inside the refrigerator. The listing doesn’t provide third-party electrical or plumbing certifications, so follow the appliance manual, the listing's recommendation to validate your part number, and manufacturer instructions when connecting water and wiring. Several owners noted tight wiring length at the solenoid; avoid stretching or pinching wires during routing.
• Drilling into the freezer shell: owners commonly report needing to drill or create holes for mounting or routing screws. Drilling into your freezer can feel risky — the reviewer voice here flags that you should be comfortable making precise penetrations and follow manufacturer guidance to avoid damaging insulation, refrigerant lines, or the cabinet shell.
• Sensor arm and jamming: the listing describes a sensor arm that activates when ice is low and stops when full. Multiple owners reported an arm that sometimes sticks in the raised position after dumping and requires manual resetting; if that happens repeatedly it can block further ice production. That behavior is not just inconvenient — it can be a failure mode requiring repair or replacement. The pattern of owner reports suggests you should check the arm operation on startup and periodically during early weeks of use.
• Leak and overfill reports: at least one owner reported overfilling behavior where ice stuck in the tray and water overflowed into the fridge area. Overfill or leaks can cause water damage or accelerated corrosion inside cabinets — verify the water line seal and solenoid fit during install and monitor the first few cycles closely.
• Warranty window: the listing lists a 90 Day Limited warranty, which is short for an appliance part. If you’re risk-averse or need longer-term coverage, factor that into your buying decision.

In short: no widespread recall or catastrophic safety concerns appear in the listing or owner notes, but the combination of water and electrical connections, the need to drill/mount in the freezer, reports of the arm jamming, and some early failures means this install is best done carefully and by someone comfortable with basic appliance plumbing and wiring. The listing itself instructs buyers to verify part numbers with the service manual or manufacturer — follow that step before you start.

Who this is for / who should skip

Who this fits:

• Owners of compatible top-mount refrigerators that are pre-wired or prepped for an ice maker and who want an OEM Frigidaire solution rather than a countertop unit.
• Small households or people with modest daily ice needs — the listing states up to 2 pounds per day and the included bin holds up to 5 pounds, and multiple owners report that this is adequate for typical in-home glass filling and occasional entertaining.
• DIY-minded buyers comfortable with basic appliance installation: routing a water line, drilling or mounting inside the freezer, and handling moderately constrained wiring runs (owners frequently used drills and screwdrivers to finish the job).

Who should consider skipping it:

• Large households, heavy entertainters, or anyone who needs large, frequent ice production — several owners report modest output and the manufacturer-stated maximum is 2 pounds per day.
• Buyers who want a long parts warranty: the listing states a 90 Day Limited warranty, which is short compared with many appliance warranties.
• Anyone uncomfortable drilling into the freezer shell, handling water connections, or troubleshooting early failures like a sticking sensor arm — owners report those as the most common pain points.

Verdict

The Frigidaire IM117000 is a practical OEM ice maker kit for compatible top-mount refrigerators. The listing presents it as a compact plastic module in white that produces up to 2 pounds of ice per day and comes with a 5-lb capacity bin and installation hardware. Many owners report straightforward installs and satisfactory day-to-day performance; others report missing small hardware, short solenoid wiring, occasional noise on dump, and a worrying minority report units that slowed or failed after a few months with the arm getting stuck.

If you have a compatible refrigerator and you want an OEM solution for modest daily ice needs, this kit is often a simple and space-efficient way to add ice without using a large countertop machine. If you need heavy output, long-term peace of mind, or don't want to deal with drilling and plumbing, consider other options or ensure you have access to post-purchase support.

Check before you buy

• Confirm compatibility: the listing recommends you validate the needed part number with your appliance service manual or by contacting the appliance manufacturer — do that before ordering.
• Measure your freezer space and plan for the bin: the included ice bin is listed to hold up to 5 lbs and will use freezer real estate.
• Prepare tools and parts: owners frequently used a drill or electric screwdriver. Check the kit contents immediately — some buyers reported missing small nuts/ferrules and had to source them separately.
• Expect a startup period: owners report you should discard the first few batches and allow a few cycles for the water line to clear and production to stabilize.
• Watch wiring length: several owners said the water solenoid wires can be short; verify routing and connections before final mounting.
• Monitor early operation: confirm the sensor arm moves and drops correctly after the first several cycles — repeated sticking has been a common failure mode in owner reports.
• Know the warranty: the listing shows a 90 Day Limited warranty — plan accordingly if you need longer-term coverage.

Available colors (from listing/images)

• white