Multiple class action lawsuits have targeted Hisense in recent years, alleging serious defects and false advertising claims. These legal battles highlight significant issues affecting thousands of consumers who purchased Hisense televisions expecting quality performance.
The Hisense TV lawsuits involve two main allegations: defective main boards in Android smart TVs causing performance issues, and false advertising claims about QLED technology in certain TV models. These class action suits seek compensation for affected consumers and aim to force Hisense to change its manufacturing and marketing practices.
Main Board Defect Lawsuit Details
The primary Hisense lawsuit centers around alleged defective main boards in Android smart TVs manufactured since 2019. This class action suit claims thousands of consumers purchased televisions that experienced significant performance problems due to faulty internal components.
The lawsuit alleges that Hisense knowingly sold Android TV models with defective main boards that cause frequent system crashes, slow performance, and complete device failures. These issues typically manifest within the first few years of ownership, often just after warranty periods expire.
Affected TV models include various Hisense Android TV series sold between 2019 and 2024. The defective main boards allegedly cause symptoms such as boot loops, random shutdowns, sluggish interface response, and inability to load streaming applications properly.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims Hisense was aware of these manufacturing defects but continued selling affected models without adequately warning consumers or providing satisfactory remedies for those experiencing problems.
The legal action seeks to recover costs for consumers who purchased defective televisions, paid for repairs, or had to replace their TVs due to main board failures. It also aims to force Hisense to improve manufacturing quality control processes.
“The alleged main board defects affect core functionality of these smart TVs, essentially rendering them unusable for their intended purpose as connected entertainment devices.”
— Consumer Electronics Legal Analysis Group
QLED False Advertising Claims
A separate class action lawsuit filed in 2024 alleges that Hisense falsely advertised certain television models as featuring QLED (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode) technology when they actually lack true quantum dot displays.
The plaintiff, Robert Macioce, purchased a 43-inch Hisense QD5 model from Best Buy in November 2024 after being influenced by marketing claims about enhanced color performance through quantum dot technology. The lawsuit argues that these TVs don’t contain genuine quantum dot components.
Models allegedly affected by false QLED advertising include:
- QD5 series televisions
- QD6 series models
- QD65 series displays
- QD7 series televisions
- U7 series smart TVs
- U7N series models
The legal complaint contends that Hisense’s marketing materials prominently featured “QLED” branding and made specific claims about color accuracy and display quality that the televisions cannot actually deliver due to lacking proper quantum dot technology.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that consumers paid premium prices for QLED features that don’t exist in their purchased televisions, constituting fraud and negligent misrepresentation under consumer protection laws.
This false advertising case seeks financial compensation for affected buyers and demands that Hisense cease misleading marketing practices regarding quantum dot technology claims.
Consumer Protection Violations
Both Hisense lawsuits cite multiple violations of consumer protection statutes and common law principles that protect buyers from defective products and deceptive marketing practices.
The main board defect lawsuit alleges breach of warranty claims, as Hisense televisions failed to perform as expected during their advertised lifespan. The suit also claims violations of state consumer fraud statutes for selling products known to have significant defects.
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act violations form another foundation for the legal action, as this federal law requires manufacturers to honor written warranty terms and provide adequate remedies for defective products covered under warranty.
The QLED false advertising lawsuit relies on New York consumer fraud statutes, federal truth-in-advertising regulations, and common law fraud principles. These laws prohibit businesses from making material misrepresentations about product features and capabilities.
Moreover, both lawsuits include unjust enrichment claims, arguing that Hisense profited unfairly by selling defective or misrepresented products to consumers who relied on the company’s marketing and quality representations.
The legal actions also cite negligent misrepresentation theories, claiming Hisense failed to exercise reasonable care in representing the capabilities and reliability of their television products to potential buyers.
“These lawsuits represent broader issues in the electronics industry where manufacturers prioritize cost reduction over quality control and accurate marketing representations.”
— Technology Consumer Rights Foundation
Affected TV Models and Timeframes
The Hisense lawsuits cover different product lines and manufacturing periods, affecting thousands of consumers who purchased televisions during specific timeframes and model ranges.
Android TV Main Board Defect Coverage:
- Manufacturing period: 2019 to present
- Affected models: Various Hisense Android TV series
- Primary issues: Boot loops, crashes, performance degradation
- Estimated affected units: Thousands of televisions
QLED False Advertising Coverage:
- Sales period: Recent years through 2024
- Affected models: QD5, QD6, QD65, QD7, U7, U7N series
- Primary issue: Lack of genuine quantum dot technology
- Geographic scope: United States consumers
The main board lawsuit particularly focuses on Android TV models that experienced premature failures typically occurring 18-36 months after purchase. These failures often coincide with warranty expiration periods, leaving consumers with expensive repair costs.
Furthermore, the QLED lawsuit affects consumers who specifically chose Hisense models based on quantum dot marketing claims and paid premium prices for technology that allegedly doesn’t exist in their purchased televisions.
Both legal actions seek nationwide class certification to include all affected consumers regardless of their specific purchase location or retailer, provided they bought qualifying Hisense TV models during the relevant timeframes.
Consider protecting your future TV purchases with a comprehensive electronics warranty to avoid similar issues with other manufacturers.
Current Lawsuit Status and Proceedings
The Hisense lawsuits are in various stages of the legal process, with attorneys working to establish class certification and build evidence supporting consumer claims against the television manufacturer.
The main board defect lawsuit was filed in federal court and seeks to represent all United States consumers who purchased affected Hisense Android TV models since 2019. Court proceedings are ongoing as attorneys gather evidence and documentation.
The QLED false advertising lawsuit filed in late 2024 is in earlier stages, with plaintiff attorneys working to establish the factual basis for quantum dot technology claims and gathering expert testimony about display technologies.
Both cases are seeking class action certification, which would allow the lawsuits to proceed on behalf of all similarly affected consumers rather than individual plaintiffs. This certification process requires demonstrating common issues affecting large numbers of consumers.
Additionally, discovery proceedings allow plaintiff attorneys to request internal Hisense documents, engineering reports, and communications that might support claims about known defects or misleading marketing practices.
Settlement negotiations have not been publicly announced for either lawsuit, though such discussions often occur privately during litigation proceedings. The ultimate resolution timeline depends on court schedules and potential settlement agreements.
“Class action certification typically takes 12-18 months, with full case resolution potentially requiring 2-4 years depending on settlement negotiations and trial proceedings.”
— Legal Timeline Analysis Institute
Potential Compensation
Consumers affected by the alleged Hisense TV defects and false advertising may be entitled to various forms of compensation through the ongoing class action lawsuits.
Potential compensation types include:
- Refund of purchase price – Full or partial reimbursement for defective televisions
- Repair cost recovery – Compensation for out-of-warranty repair expenses
- Replacement TV costs – Funds to purchase replacement televisions
- Extended warranty coverage – Additional protection for existing TV owners
- Punitive damages – Additional compensation to deter future misconduct
The main board defect lawsuit seeks compensation for consumers who experienced TV failures, paid for repairs, or purchased replacement devices due to alleged manufacturing defects. This includes both direct costs and incidental expenses.
For the QLED false advertising case, potential compensation focuses on the price premium consumers paid for quantum dot technology that allegedly doesn’t exist in their televisions.
To potentially qualify for compensation, affected consumers should preserve documentation including purchase receipts, warranty information, repair records, and any communications with Hisense customer service regarding TV problems.
Moreover, consumers experiencing issues with Hisense TVs should document problems through photos, videos, and written descriptions to support potential claims in the ongoing litigation.
The final compensation amounts and distribution methods will depend on lawsuit outcomes, settlement negotiations, and court approval of any proposed resolution agreements.
If you’re experiencing Hisense TV problems, consider upgrading to a more reliable TV brand while the lawsuits proceed.
How to Join the Class Action Lawsuits
Consumers who believe they own affected Hisense televisions can take specific steps to potentially participate in the ongoing class action lawsuits and protect their legal rights.
Documentation requirements for potential class members:
- Original purchase receipts or proof of purchase
- TV model numbers and serial numbers
- Documentation of problems experienced
- Records of repair attempts or costs
- Warranty information and communications
Contact information for the law firms handling these cases is available through legal news websites that track class action developments and consumer rights issues.
Most class action lawsuits allow affected consumers to join automatically once class certification is approved, without requiring individual legal representation or upfront costs. Attorney fees are typically paid from any settlement amounts rather than by individual consumers.
Steps to protect your rights:
- Preserve all documentation related to your Hisense TV purchase and problems
- Monitor legal news for updates on class certification and settlement proceedings
- Contact the plaintiff law firms if you believe you qualify for the class actions
- Avoid signing any individual settlement agreements with Hisense without legal consultation
- Keep records of ongoing problems or repair costs related to your TV
Furthermore, consumers should be aware of statute of limitations deadlines that might affect their ability to participate in legal proceedings. These deadlines vary by state and type of legal claim.
The Better Business Bureau complaints database also provides a platform for consumers to document issues and potentially support broader legal actions against Hisense.
Video Credit: Tech Legal Review / YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
What Hisense TV models are affected by the lawsuits?
The main board defect lawsuit covers various Hisense Android TV models manufactured since 2019, while the QLED false advertising case specifically targets QD5, QD6, QD65, QD7, U7, and U7N series televisions. Both lawsuits seek to include all affected models sold to United States consumers during the relevant timeframes.
Consumers can check their TV model numbers by looking at labels on the back of their televisions or in the settings menu under “About” or “System Information.” Documentation of the specific model and purchase date helps establish potential eligibility for class membership.
The scope of affected models may expand as litigation proceeds and additional evidence emerges about defective products or misleading marketing across different Hisense TV lines and manufacturing periods.
How do I know if my Hisense TV has the alleged defects?
Main board defects typically manifest as frequent crashes, boot loops, slow performance, inability to load apps, random shutdowns, or complete system failures. These problems often develop 18-36 months after purchase and worsen over time despite software updates or factory resets.
For QLED false advertising claims, affected consumers are those who purchased TVs specifically marketed as having quantum dot technology but may have received displays without genuine quantum dot components. This typically involves models with “QLED” or “QD” designations in their marketing materials.
If you’re experiencing persistent technical problems with your Hisense TV that began after the warranty period, or if you paid premium prices for advertised QLED features, you may potentially qualify for the relevant class action lawsuit.
When will the Hisense lawsuits be resolved?
Class action lawsuits typically require 2-4 years to reach final resolution, depending on court schedules, discovery proceedings, and potential settlement negotiations. The timeline varies based on case complexity and whether parties reach settlement agreements or proceed to trial.
The main board defect lawsuit is further along in proceedings, while the QLED false advertising case was filed more recently in 2024. Both cases must first achieve class certification before proceeding to discovery and potential resolution phases.
Consumers should monitor legal news sources and the plaintiff law firms’ websites for updates on case status, settlement negotiations, and any deadlines for claiming compensation or opting out of class settlements.
What compensation might I receive from these lawsuits?
Potential compensation varies depending on final settlement terms or court judgments, but may include refunds of purchase prices, reimbursement for repair costs, funds for replacement televisions, or extended warranty coverage for affected models.
The main board defect case seeks compensation for actual damages including TV replacement costs and repair expenses, while the QLED lawsuit focuses on the price premium paid for non-existent quantum dot technology.
Final compensation amounts depend on factors including the number of class members, total settlement funds, individual damages suffered, and court approval of any proposed settlement distribution methods.
Can I still return my Hisense TV or get a refund outside the lawsuit?
Consumer rights outside the class action depend on individual circumstances including purchase date, retailer return policies, warranty coverage, and state consumer protection laws. Some consumers may have alternative remedies through credit card dispute processes or manufacturer warranty claims.
However, participating in class action lawsuits typically provides broader compensation opportunities and doesn’t require individual legal action costs. Consumers should consider consulting with consumer protection attorneys before pursuing individual remedies that might affect class action participation.
The ongoing lawsuits may also pressure Hisense to offer voluntary remedy programs for affected consumers, though no such programs have been announced as of the current litigation status.
Sources:
- ClassAction.org Hisense Android TV Lawsuit
- Milberg Law Firm Hisense QLED Lawsuit
- Top Class Actions Hisense Coverage
- Law Inc. Hisense Smart TV Lawsuit Analysis
- Better Business Bureau Hisense Complaints
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