Failure of any of these components or systems can make your fridge stop working. If Your Fridge Has Stopped and the Light is Off. As obvious as this sounds, often a fridge shuts down completely because it’s simply getting no power. The first thing to check is the breaker (in your home’s electrical service panel) of the circuit serving the fridge. Most homes have a dedicated 20-amp circuit for the fridge alone, while older homes may have it on a general kitchen circuit.