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iRobot Roomba Defect Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Why: The plaintiff alleges iRobot knows about a defect in its Roomba Vacuums but continues to sell the product anyway.
- Who: iRobot Corporation faces a class action lawsuit from a customer.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.
An Illinois resident filed a class action lawsuit against iRobot Corporation, which manufactures and sells the Roomba Vacuum, for an alleged wheel defect in the vacuums that renders the product useless.
The plaintiff is Thomas W. Toolis who bought a Roomba Vacuum in 2018. In February 2022, the Roomba’s left wheel became unable to turn, causing the whole vacuum to stop working properly. Toolis contacted iRobot about the listed Error 5 and was instructed to buy a $59 wheel kit to fix the vacuum. However, Toolis says the wheel kit did not remedy the malfunction and that the left wheel issue persists. Toolis claims iRobot has declined to provide him with a fully functioning Roomba Vacuum.
Toolis seeks to represent a class of all persons and entities who bought a Roomba Vacuum, sent it to iRobot for repairs or replacement for a wheel malfunction and were charged for repair kits that did not remedy the defect.
iRobot Roomba Defect Renders Vacuum ‘Inoperable,’ Plaintiff Says
Toolis claims that the wheel kit does not remedy the Roomba malfunction because there is a “defect in the vacuums’ core processing unit,” specifically the H-Bridge driver circuit. Further, he says that iRobot knew about the defect/malfunction but chose not to disclose the issue with consumers and continued to sell the vacuums anyway.
“The subject failure of the Roomba Vacuum during the Class Period has been well documented on the Internet,” the class action lawsuit says. iRobot also charges customers for repair kits that allegedly do not remedy the wheel defect, making their profits “unjust and inequitable,” according to the complaint.
Toolis accuses iRobot of violating consumer protection laws and engaging in deceptive business practices. iRobot is also accused of breaching implied warranty.
“In selling the Roomba Vacuum to Plaintiff with the knowledge that the machine was defective, iRobot impliedly warranted the Roomba Vacuum to be fit for the use of cleaning flooring,” the class action lawsuit says. However, iRobot knows the products “routinely malfunction and the vacuum becomes inoperable,” thus failing to fulfill its advertised purpose.
Toolis seeks actual damages or restitution; an order preventing iRobot from selling more Roomba Vacuums; refunds, replacements and/or recalls of the Roomba Vacuums; attorneys’ costs; and pre-and post-judgment interest.
Has your Roomba stopped working due to a defective wheel? Share your experience in the comments section below!
The plaintiff is represented by Christopher M. Jahnke of Frankfort Law Group.
The iRobot Roomba Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Toolis v. iRobot Corporation, Case No. 1:22-cv-01290, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.
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43 thoughts oniRobot Class Action Claims Company Profits From Defective Roomba Vacuums
Please add me to the action; I purchased and still have running, an 2014 Roomba that is NOT connected to the internet. However, in September 2018, I purchased an i7+. I too had wheel issues in 2022 and purchased both left and right wheels. I have a non-pet, no children, hardwood-floored home, and am a maintenance-focused person. A recent software update caused my unit to constantly have stuttering wheel operation and then the unit freeze with Error 34 within 18″ of the base unit. I ran every diagnostic/troubleshooting step and even had a case assigned. Totally worthless troubleshooting. They are only offering a trade-in of $100 as compensation. Personally, I feel quite strongly based on the behaviors of much of the tech industry/IoT oriented products, that iRobot is possibly knowingly engaged in forced obsolescence, and is using it’s heavily promoted web based app and tools to force otherwise good hardware to fail based on buried CROM/BIOS flashing of some kind. It’s not in iRobot’s interest to sell a unit that lasts almost 10 years, as with my original, non-WiFi/non-app Roomba. A motor runs, sensors sense, filters filter and solid-state devices don’t “wear out”- only physical parts. The latest units require full iOS/Android/WiFi connections to work. That’s a huge red flag. I sincerely want to see iRobot held accountable if it is ever determined they are practicing forced obsolescence by purposely pushing software updates that cause unit failure or operational impairment to the point customers throw up their arms in frustration and spend hundreds of dollars on a device that is likely to also be ‘forced’ to fail within 36-60 months.
Our Roomba stopped do cking properly within 8mnts then at 1.5the docking station upward springs would not make contact & allow charge.
S9+ error of “clean brushes”. Company suggested purchasing a replacement cleaning head module – two separate units did not fix the problem. First S9 replaced under warranty, second is past warranty and multiple contact with company reps offer no solutions other than to throw it away and purchase new . . .
I have had 6x M6 robots replaced because robot is unable to leave the home dock. Replacements typically start showing this problem within a few months. I have now been told that I am outside the warranty after over a year of sending documentation to iRobot with the past six months I have simply been ignored.
Please add me to this because I have gone through over six robots due to malfunctions with the wheel.
Below is the error message I receive and hopefully this will show up in Google searches for more people to add on.
iRobot Error 19 means your Roomba is experiencing an issue undocking from the Home Base. Clear any obstacles that may be in front or around the Home Base, then press the button. If the message persists, please perform a robot reboot by removing the battery from the robot for 60 seconds, then reinsert the battery.
Anyone have error 26 on their roomba I feel like this overpriced vacuum has more than one issue, add me please!!
Yes, add me please!
Carlos Hamer
I would like to be added to this. We have a similar problem with Roomba S9+ wheel assembly. Currently they are out of stock of the Right Replacement wheel assembly (#4652240) and have been for several months
Anyone have error 26 on their roomba I feel like this overpriced vacuum has more than one issue, add me please!!
Same issue after only a couple of months
Requested to be added
I need to be added
thank you. 03/01/2023
Add me please I have a terrible noisy not worth the money non working Roomba e5.