MSI Laptops Suffer From Hinge Defect, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that several MSI laptop models are equipped with defective hinges that can cause a device’s display to separate from the keyboard during normal use.

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The 65-page lawsuit contends that although MSI touted the laptops at issue—including 2020 or later models of the G Series, Prestige, Creator, Stealth, Summit, Katana, and Delta devices—as “premium portable computers” with “military-grade” durability, the company was aware that the hinge mounting points that connect the devices’ upper and lower cases were prone to cracking.

According to the lawsuit, the cracking defect manifests during “normal and intended use” when opening and closing an MSI device and can significantly impair a computer’s functionality and portability. In some cases, the suit relays, users are unable to adjust the screen or are forced to rely on an external monitor. The case notes that the affected laptops, specialized for gaming and high-level computing, can cost between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on the model and features.

“MSI concealed, failed to disclose, or otherwise engaged in deceptive marketing with respect to the Defect,” the filing alleges. “As a result, many consumers purchased Laptops that became practically unusable after just months of use.”

The allegations in the lawsuit stem in part from the findings of a professional metallurgical engineering expert who analyzed the hinges’ materials and structural integrity. According to the complaint, the alleged defect stems from, among other factors, the use of fragile plastic to secure hinge components, excessive stress, and inconsistent screw tightening.

Specifically, the expert found that the laptop hinges were anchored by metal screws embedded in brass inserts with a plastic housing that supposedly has “very little strength or toughness,” the lawsuit says. Over time, repeated use can cause the plastic to warp, deform and eventually crack, the suit claims.

The expert also determined that the laptops had overly tightened hinges, which require a user to exert additional force to open the device, placing further stress on mounting points, the case continues. Similarly, the expert saw that the hinge screws were not evenly tightened, which could lead to stress imbalances and eventual failure, the filing says.

Once the alleged defect manifests, it can inflict significant damage to the device, including to the display, screen bezel and internal components, which, in the worst case, may cause the laptop to split in two, the complaint shares.

Related Reading: Class Action Alleges Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 Laptop Hinges Can Break, Crack Screen Due to Defect

Although MSI offers a limited warranty, the complaint claims that many consumers who have contacted the company are denied warranty coverage and forced to pay hundreds out of pocket for repairs or replacements.

The suit further alleges that MSI knew, or should have known, about the hinge defect prior to the laptops’ release due to pre-market testing and quality control processes, including through the company’s purported “military-grade” testing, consisting of quality evaluations after exposure to acceleration, vibration, an “explosive atmosphere,” shock and other environmental factors.

The class action lawsuit also points to a bevy of consumer complaints online and repair data—many based on normal, non-military-grade uses—that the suit says should have made the defect evident to MSI after the devices entered the market.

The plaintiff, a Florida resident, purchased an MSI G-Series Raider laptop in January 2022 for over $4,000, the lawsuit says. After about a year of use, the device’s hinges became stiff and began to produce a cracking noise, and over the following months, despite careful use, the laptop eventually split in two, the case claims. The laptop remained functional only with a cable connecting the upper and lower casings, the suit adds.

The MSI class action lawsuit looks to represent all consumers in Florida who purchased any post-2020 G Series laptop models (i.e., the GV, GF, GL, GP, GE, and GS models), as well as models in the Prestige, Creator, Stealth, Summit, Katana, and Delta laptop lines.

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