OEM vs Aftermarket Door Striker for Frigidaire: Honest Comparison (131763302)

Your Frigidaire washer won't start. You press the button — nothing. The door feels loose, doesn't click like it used to. You've traced it to the door striker (part 131763302), and now you're staring at two options: a $45–$65 OEM part from Frigidaire or a $12–$18 aftermarket replacement. Let's cut through the noise.

Quick Answer

For a door striker, aftermarket is the smart choice for 90% of repairs. It's a simple mechanical latch — no electronics, no complex engineering. The aftermarket version performs identically to OEM at a fraction of the cost, and you'll have your washer running again the same day instead of waiting a week for factory parts.

Side-by-Side Comparison

When OEM Makes Sense

There are legitimate scenarios where paying 4x more for the OEM striker is worth it:

• Warranty coverage: If your washer is still under manufacturer warranty, using OEM parts keeps that warranty intact. Installing aftermarket could void coverage on a $800 machine.
• Commercial installations: Laundromats or rental properties with service contracts that specifically require OEM parts for reimbursement.
• Resale value: If you're flipping appliances or preparing a rental for sale, some buyers care about "all original parts" — though honestly, no one's checking the door striker.

But here's the thing: a door striker is literally a plastic piece that the door latch hooks onto. It's one of the simplest parts in the entire washer. There's no circuitry, no calibration, no proprietary engineering. It either catches the latch or it doesn't.

When Aftermarket Wins

For most home repairs, aftermarket dominates on every practical metric:

Price reality: You're saving $35–$50. That's not chump change for a part that takes 10 minutes to install. The OEM premium buys you... a Frigidaire logo molded into plastic no one will ever see.

Speed: Your washer's been down for three days. Dirty laundry is piling up. The aftermarket part ships faster and gets stocked at more distribution points. You'll be doing laundry by the weekend instead of two weeks from now.

Identical function: The door striker failure mode is simple — if the actuator is damaged, the door won't latch properly and the washer won't turn on. The aftermarket replacement fixes this identically to OEM because it's the exact same mechanical design. The latch catches, the sensor reads "door closed," the washer starts. Done.

"I've installed probably 50 of these strikers over the years — ATF6500, ATF7000, BKFW series, you name it. Never once has a customer called back with an aftermarket failure. They're all the same molded plastic with a metal pin. Save your money." — 18-year appliance tech

Same compatibility: This aftermarket striker replaces the same part numbers as OEM (AP4508273, 134456640, 134456602, PS2378364) and fits the same 700+ models across Frigidaire, Electrolux, Crosley, and Kenmore brands.

Our Verdict

Go aftermarket unless you're under warranty. A door striker is too simple a part to justify the OEM premium. You're paying for a brand name on a component that's hidden inside the door frame and performs a purely mechanical function. The aftermarket version will latch your door, trigger the sensor, and last just as long — for a quarter of the price.

Save the OEM budget for parts where it actually matters: control boards, motors, pumps with electronics. For a hunk of molded plastic with a metal actuator? Buy the $12.99 part, install it in 10 minutes, and spend the savings on literally anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an aftermarket door striker void my Frigidaire warranty?

Technically yes, if you're still within the manufacturer warranty period (typically 1 year from purchase). However, if your washer is more than a year old — which most needing this repair are — you don't have a warranty to void. At that point, aftermarket makes complete financial sense. If you're under warranty, contact Frigidaire for a covered repair instead of DIY.

How do I know if my door striker is actually the problem?

Classic symptoms: the door feels loose when closed, doesn't make the usual "click" sound, or the washer won't start even though the door appears shut. The striker is the plastic piece mounted on the washer frame that the door's metal latch hooks into. If it's cracked, worn smooth, or the metal actuator pin is missing or bent, the door sensor won't register "closed" and your washer refuses to run. It's a $13 fix that solves the "won't start" problem instantly.

Is the installation different between OEM and aftermarket strikers?

Zero difference. Both mount the same way with the same screw holes in the same location on the door frame. You're removing two screws, pulling out the old striker, dropping in the new one, and reinstalling those same two screws. The aftermarket part is manufactured to OEM specifications — same dimensions, same mounting points, same actuator position. If one fits, the other fits identically. Takes about 10 minutes with a Phillips screwdriver.