Roku and TCL face a class action lawsuit for allegedly releasing software updates that brick their smart TVs, leaving consumers with unusable devices. The complaint, filed in a federal court in southern California on May 4, 2026, outlines claims that these updates cause televisions to freeze, restart unexpectedly, or fail to turn on entirely.
The lawsuit was initiated by Terri Elise, a consumer who purchased one of the affected models between December 16, 2024, and the present. According to documents associated with the case, the plaintiff asserts that both companies knowingly released poor quality updates despite receiving numerous consumer complaints regarding the functionality of their devices.
Affected models include:
- Roku Select Series
- Roku Plus Series
- TCL 3-Series
- TCL 4-Series
- TCL 5-Series
- TCL 6-Series
The lawsuit highlights that over 300 comments on Top Class Actions reflect similar issues experienced by other Roku TV owners. One owner noted frustration when stating, “I was watching my TV and it just stopped showing pictures,” while another remarked on persistent system failures that leave their devices completely inoperable.
Experts suggest that the partnership between Roku and TCL—where Roku’s OS powers many TCL TVs—has contributed to these widespread issues. The complaint demands a jury trial along with declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, and restitution for affected consumers. Furthermore, the text of the lawsuit points out the apparent contradiction between the companies’ marketing claims of reliability versus the reality of their products’ performance.
As the case unfolds, it remains unclear how Roku and TCL will respond beyond their initial statement asserting that they believe the claims are meritless. While both companies have yet to provide detailed explanations regarding the software defects or any potential remedies for affected consumers, they remain under scrutiny from both legal authorities and dissatisfied customers alike.
