Left side of frig heating up - Frigidaire 14.7 Cu. Ft. Top-Mount Refrigerator - White

Your auto defrost mechanism is not working - check the timer or heating element for proper operation.

Sounds like you may need to clean and vacuum out the condenser coils under the unit.

Likely the cooling fan has died. This happened on my unit. The fan is visible from underneath on the rear left side. Use a flashlight to see if it is spinning. I used a broom handle to tap it and it started to run, which cooled the metal you found hot. I ordered the part on line and replaced it. Heating problem went away.

get in a technician for the diagnosis

Check in the frig side upper left at the top. The frig has to be running. There are air vents that bring the air to the frig side. If you dont feel any air this is what could be the problems with that:
Freezer fan not running
vent is closed
vent is iced up
evaporator is iced up
try to determine which one of these it is or not...
let me know and we will go from there
hope this helps

Hi: Those areas are designed to be warm to keep moisture from forming there(Moulion coil). When they get hot it means the fridge is over working. The condenser coils remove the heat from the fridge. When clogged the heat will leave anywhere it can. The moulion coil is the strip you described,and will overheat when the condenser coils wont disperse the heat. Most likely the coils need a good cleaning, on the bottom of the ref. Use a coil brush and a vacuum. Or even an air compressor to blow the dust and hair out; plan on dusting the house too. Pull the grill off the front and clean them. If real bad pull the panel of the lower back and clean it out too. Since you work in detroit the dust and hair on the coils would be like putting a blanket over your radiator. Parts would heat up. I hope it's just the coils. If a compressor is failing you can get the same symptoms. I hope it is the latter for you, as I'm in your boat also. I hope this helps, Jeff

gheck and see if your condenser fan working or pull the refrigerator 3/4 off the wall

no danger of fire, they(Whirlpool) run a copper heat tube through the center mullion of frig, to cut down on amount of undesirable condensation that may build up between doors, reason for extra heat can be from leaving door open too long, perhaps the coils under the frig need to be vacuumed,

HI thanks for your question, i think what your problem is . the compressor is over heating and cutted out. clean all the coils at the back of the fridge. if theres a fan motor at the back make sure its going check that thanks

• the defrost timer on your machine is actually integrated within a control board/air diffuser. hopefully that is not the problem (expensive).
• i would start by testing the heater and bimetal thermostat in the freezer. (note: the bimetal thermostat will only have continuity when below 40 degrees.)
• the heat you feel between the doors is normal (if it is not too hot). 
• some of the heat that is released by the machine is intentionally released between the doors to prevent condensation.
•  if it seems warmer than usual then you might need to clean the coils under the machine and make sure the airflow under the machine is not obstructed at all. 
• if the coils are dirty then they will not be able to release the heat properly and the heat will be released in other areas like between the doors.