Roku and TCL accused of 'bricking' TVs with poor software updates in new class action lawsuit

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(Image credit: TCL)

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Roku and TCL are being sued in a class action lawsuit that claims software updates released by the companies have been "repetitively defective," making TVs unusuable.

Roku is most known for its streaming stick devices and smart TV platform, while TCL makes a variety of televisions. The two companies have a partnership where Roku's OS powers the smart capabilities of many affordable TVs. TCL is one of Roku's biggest clients.

The complaint was filed in a federal court based out of southern California, where the companies were accused to releasing software updates that cause the smart TVs to freeze, restart over and over, not turn on at all or degrade the experience.

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As seen by Top Class Actions, the plaintiff, Terri Elise, accuses the companies of knowingly releasing poor updates.

"“Despite consumers’ persistent complaints of repeated system failures, often leaving their TVs completely inoperable, defendants offer no recourse,” the Roku class action lawsuit reads. “This is inconsistent with representations made in express warranties, which promise to repair, correct or otherwise remediate the software defect.”

The suit lists the Roku Select Series, Roku Plus Series, and the TCL 3, 4, 5, and 6-series models that run RokuOS.

The complaint demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief plus an award of actual and statutory damages and restitution for members of class action. The initial filing does not have a specific number, but that will come about as the case either settles or goes to trial.

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What TCL owners are saying

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

There are several comments under the Top Class Actions post with people noting that they've experienced issues with Roku TCL sets.

"I was watching my TV and it just stopped showing pictures," one owner claimed. Another said they have the TCL QM8 which would get blacked out screens or just shut off after software issues.

On the Roku and TCL subreddits we were able to find multiple posts about software updates breaking TVs going back at least two years, which matches with the timeline presented in the lawsuit.

For example, this post from four months ago decries a forced firmware update that disabled connectivity features. Or this one from the Roku subreddit where the poster claimed their TCL TV refused to update its operating system.

This lawsuit is in its initial stages so it may be some months before a resolution or settlement is reached. We have reached out to TCL and Roku for comment and will update this article should we hear back.

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West Coast Reporter

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.

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