Peak performance declines after 12 years, signaling replacement readiness for most units

https://blogfreely.net/beliasmptu/failed-component-costs-drive-appliance-repair-pricing-more-than-you-realize

Most refrigerators reach their natural end-of-life threshold between 10 and 15 years, with the most cost-effective replacement window occurring around the 12-year mark when reliability decline becomes steep and repair expenses mount rapidly