Is it normal for a fridge to feel warm?

Whether feeling warm is normal for a residential refrigerator depends entirely on which part of the appliance you are touching. It is completely normal and intentional for the exterior metal side panels and front frame perimeter to feel warm or hot due to built-in anti-condensation heating loops that circulate hot liquid refrigerant. However, it is never normal for the interior food storage compartments or the lower rear compressor housing compartment to feel warm or hot, as interior warmth indicates a cooling failure, dirty condenser coils, blocked airflow ducts, or a malfunctioning refrigeration sealed system. You can troubleshoot heat sources easily by checking condenser coils. You can verify normal operation when warm exterior cabinet walls are accompanied by properly chilled interior food compartments and clean, dust-free coils.