A smart TV update should make your TV better, not leave it stuck on a black screen. But that is the core complaint behind a new proposed class action lawsuit against Roku and TCL North America, which claims faulty software updates have caused some Roku-powered TVs to freeze, restart over and over, lose picture, or stop working entirely.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by plaintiff Terri Else. It accuses Roku and TCL of selling TVs with software problems that could seriously affect how the sets perform. TCL North America does business as TTE Technology Inc., while Roku provides the operating system used on many TCL Roku TV models.
The models named in the complaint include Roku Select Series TVs, Roku Plus Series TVs, and TCL 3-Series, 4-Series, 5-Series, and 6-Series Roku TVs. According to Top Class Actions, the proposed nationwide class would cover people who bought those models from December 16, 2024, to the present.
The lawsuit focuses on Roku OS updates. These updates usually install automatically and are meant to keep a smart TV current. They can add features, fix bugs, improve security, and help streaming apps keep working as expected.
The complaint says some owners had the opposite experience. Instead of making the TVs more reliable, the lawsuit claims certain updates caused serious problems, including:
That last point matters because not every complaint is about a TV completely dying. Some owners appear to be dealing with TVs that still turn on but become slow, unstable, or difficult to use after an update.
The lawsuit also claims Roku and TCL did not do enough to fix the issue after customers complained. According to the complaint, support responses often pointed owners toward basic troubleshooting steps rather than a clear long-term fix.
Roku has pushed back on the lawsuit. A company spokesperson told multiple outlets, including Android Authority, “We believe the claims are meritless.” TCL had not yet responded for now. So, for now, this is still an allegation, not a proven finding. The case is in its early stages, and a court has not ruled that Roku or TCL caused the TV failures described in the complaint.
Why does this case matter? This lawsuit points to a much bigger issue with modern smart TVs. The TV in your living room is no longer just a screen. It is also a computer, an app platform, a streaming device, and an internet-connected product that depends on software long after you buy it.
That setup has benefits. Smart TV updates can patch security issues, keep apps running, and add new features without requiring new hardware. But it also gives manufacturers a lot of control over how the TV works after it leaves the store.
That is where things get complicated. A TV’s panel, speakers, and ports might still be perfectly fine, but a bad software update can make the whole thing feel broken. For buyers, that raises some very fair questions:
These questions are not limited to Roku or TCL. Almost every smart TV platform depends on software updates now. But Roku and TCL are especially visible because Roku OS has been widely used in affordable and midrange TVs, including many TCL models sold in the U.S.
What should Roku TV owners do? There is no need for every Roku or TCL Roku TV owner to panic. The lawsuit does not mean every affected model will fail, and many Roku TVs continue to work normally.
Still, owners who are seeing repeated crashes, black screens, boot loops, or major slowdowns after an update should keep records. That means writing down the model number, software version, date the problem started, and any support case numbers. Photos or videos of the issue can also help if you need to deal with customer support or warranty claims.
It is also worth trying the usual troubleshooting steps before assuming the TV is permanently bricked. A power cycle, network reset, or factory reset may help in some cases. Just keep in mind that the lawsuit claims these kinds of fixes did not solve the problem for many affected owners.
For now, the lawsuit is seeking a jury trial, along with damages, restitution, and changes that could help affected customers. The case could be dismissed, settled, or move forward, depending on what the court decides.
But even before there is a legal outcome, the complaint highlights something smart TV owners already know: software is now part of the TV’s lifespan. And when that software goes wrong, it can be just as frustrating as a hardware failure.
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