I can't speak for the EU in general, but in the UK, we get the minimum EU 2 years, plus up to six years from purchase to make a claim if the product is faulty according to market expectations of the lifetime of the product. If your fridge breaks after five years, and it's regular market expectation that your fridge, given what you paid for it[1], is expected to last longer, then the seller is in breach of contract.
Retailers try very hard to pretend that the law doesn't exist and that their obligation to you ends after a two year warranty period. This is false.
[1] Market expectation is adjusted according to the advertised price. For example if you buy a pair of shoes for £5, then you cannot expect it to last six years, of course. If a sale advertises an original and a discounted price, then it is the advertised original price that matters.
See for example: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-do-i-do-...
Retailers try very hard to pretend that the law doesn't exist and that their obligation to you ends after a two year warranty period. This is false.
[1] Market expectation is adjusted according to the advertised price. For example if you buy a pair of shoes for £5, then you cannot expect it to last six years, of course. If a sale advertises an original and a discounted price, then it is the advertised original price that matters.