Samsung Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over ‘Catastrophic’ Oct. 2024 Galaxy S22 Software Update

Samsung faces a proposed class action lawsuit that alleges an October 2024 software update rolled out to Galaxy S22 users nationwide rendered many of the mobile devices inoperable, and that the electronics giant failed to offer any meaningful relief to consumers.

The 50-page defective product lawsuit contends that the October 2024 One UI 6.1.1 update, which Samsung promoted as a system upgrade to enhance device performance, particularly through AI-driven features, had a “devastating impact” on Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra devices, with many smartphones left trapped in an endless reboot loop characterized by repeated crashing, data loss and ultimately failure.

According to the class action lawsuit, Samsung was aware prior to selling the Galaxy S22 devices that the products were “susceptible to critical and potentially fatal defects” stemming from the 6.1.1 software update, including catastrophic motherboard damage and total device loss, yet failed to disclose the risk to consumers or timely stop the update.

The case alleges Samsung also denied warranty coverage or refused to offer repairs free of charge, “even when the damage was clearly caused by its own software.”

Despite “widespread and immediate” complaints from users, Samsung has not recalled the impacted Galaxy S22 devices or offered refunds or any other meaningful support, the suit states. The defendant, a global powerhouse in the personal electronics industry, continues to profit from its sale of the Galaxy S22 smartphones without disclosing the alleged defects, the lawsuit says.

Galaxy S22 devices were touted as professional-grade, AI-powered smartphones, case says

The Samsung Galaxy lawsuit says that the S22 devices were launched in early 2022 with “great fanfare and aggressive marketing,” as Samsung promoted the products as professional-grade, AI-powered smartphones designed for long-term performance. Per the case, the Galaxy S22 smartphones were designed not merely as a communication device but as an “intelligent productivity tool” capable of handling remote work, creative production, and multitasking.

Further, the suit notes that Samsung, in response to consumer concerns about device durability and security, announced it would support the new S22 phones with four years of “major Android OS upgrades and give years of security updates,” a first in the Android ecosystem. The promise was “designed to assure consumers that their investment in Samsung hardware would be supported and warranted well into the future,” the case says.

According to the complaint, Samsung was aware of the 6.1.1 update defect “prior to or shortly after” it was rolled out globally, and shortly after the update was released, online forums were flooded with complaints from users demanding answers from the company.

“Affected consumers lost access to stored data, contacts, and cloud-linked services,” the filing says. “Many were forced to perform factory resets or pursue costly third-party repairs—despite Samsung’s warranty still being active in many cases.”

Although Samsung eventually acknowledged that its SmartThings Framework app—a system service that enables the UI and backend functionality of Galaxy smartphones to control smart home devices directly—was “causing some Galaxy devices to reboot,” the company did not issue a recall, and instead advised users to fix their devices themselves, the case continues.

Lawsuit takes issue with Samsung’s Galaxy S22 alleged refusal to help users

The class action lawsuit summarizes that Samsung’s advertising representations about the Galaxy S22 devices’ longevity, software support and update reliability were “materially misleading,” particularly given that Samsung, the suit alleges, “failed to adequately test its own updates” to ensure compatibility with device hardware. According to the suit, Samsung made no mention of the risk posed by the 6.1.1 update despite having rolled the update out in phases and “likely receiving internal bug reports” before it was released globally.

Samsung offers a number of guarantees with the purchase of a Galaxy device, including a standard one-year manufacturer's warranty that excludes coverage for software-related issues unless they result from a defect in materials or workmanship, the filing says.

The case reiterates that Samsung also includes with the Galaxy smartphones up to four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates.

However, Samsung outright “refused to honor such extended warranties for phones damaged by the 6.1.1 update,” leaving consumers to bear the cost of device repairs and replacements, the lawsuit claims.

The suit calls the terms of Samsung’s limited warranty “procedurally and substantively unconscionable” in light of the widespread damage caused by the software update.

Further, the complaint says that users who have contacted Samsung Support have been frequently met with “generic troubleshooting suggestions,” such as restating their phones in safe mode or performing a factory reset, none of which address the underlying update defect. Multiple users who sought assistance at authorized Samsung dealers reported being informed that their devices needed motherboard replacements, or could not be repaired at all, and that repair costs would not be covered under warranty, the filing states.

The plaintiff’s experience aligns with the reported defects

The plaintiffs in the case are two New York residents who, after being prompted by Samsung to install the 6.1.1 update, were left with devices experiencing severe malfunctions and eventual failure. One plaintiff, after sending her device in for repair, was quoted $500 by Samsung to replace the motherboard as the device was out of warranty, the suit shares. 

Per the case, the second plaintiff held out on installing the 6.1.1 update for months because of the widespread issues being reported until May 2025, when, the complaint says, it became “necessary” to install the update to run all features on his device. Shortly thereafter, the plaintiff similarly experienced device failure and went to Verizon to obtain a replacement phone under his insurance plan, but also had to pay out-of-pocket for an additional device while waiting for the new phone to arrive.

Had the plaintiffs known that the 6.1.1 software update would impact their devices and render them unusable, they would not have purchased their Galaxy S22 smartphones or would have paid less for them.

“In a competitive market where consumers are asked to pay upwards of $1,000 for a device, assurances of long-term functionality and reliable software support are not only material—they are central to the purchase decision,” the suit summarizes.

Who does the Samsung Galaxy S22 lawsuit look to cover?

The Samsung Galaxy S22 class action looks to cover all United States residents who, within the four years prior to the filing of the complaint, purchased a Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+ or S22 Ultra device.

I own a Samsung Galaxy device. How do I join the lawsuit?

Typically, there is nothing a consumer needs to do to join or sign up for a class action lawsuit when it’s first filed. The time to take action typically occurs in the event of a class action settlement, at which point the people covered by the case, called class members, may receive notice of the settlement with instructions on how to submit a claim form for benefits.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy device that was affected by the 6.1.1 update, or simply want to stay in the know on class action lawsuit and class action settlement news, sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.

Looking for current class action lawsuits to join? Check out ClassAction.org’s list of current class action lawsuits.