Dell class action alleges Inspiron 2-in-1 has defective dual hinge system

Dell class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Rachel Gunter filed a class action lawsuit against Dell Technologies Inc.
• Why: Dell allegedly concealed a hinge defect in its Inspiron 2-in-1 devices.
• Where: The Dell class action lawsuit was filed in Maryland federal court.
• What are my options: Try Microsoft for alternatives to Dell. 

Dell Technologies Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit alleging its Inspiron 2-in-1 hybrid laptops have a defective hinge system that fails prematurely.

Plaintiff Rachel Gunter says the Inspiron 2-in-1 hinge defect prevents the laptop from opening and closing, and “deprives owners of the devices’ defining feature: the ability to be configured as either a tablet or laptop.”

When the Dell Inspiron laptop hinges seize and fail, the plastic bezel surrounding the screen can crack, Gunter says. The laptop screen itself can also crack due to the hinge defect, the Dell class action lawsuit alleges.

Dell conceals Inspiron hinge defect from consumers, Dell class action says

Gunter says Dell should have known about the hinge defect through durability testing of the product and from consumer complaints about the product.

However, Dell conceals the defect from consumers, according to the Dell class action lawsuit.

“Indeed, even when consumers advise Dell that the defect has manifested in [their Dell Inspiron laptops], Dell denies that the defect exists and asserts hinges only fail when misused (and, thus, are not covered by warranty),” the Dell class action lawsuit states.

Gunter says she purchased a Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 device in September 2020 after viewing multiple advertisements touting the 360-degree hinge rotation and touch screen features and researching other laptop options.

At no point in her research did she learn that the Dell Inspiron device had a hinge defect that could significantly affect its functionality, the Dell class action lawsuit alleges.

Less than a year after she purchased the Dell Inspiron, Gunter says the right hinge on the device began to pull apart from the laptop screen. As the hinge defect worsened over time, Gunter says she was unable to close the device and has not been able to use it for its intended purpose.

When she contacted Dell seeking warranty coverage for the defect, she was reportedly told that she would need to mail the device to Dell and pay for the repairs.

Had she known about the Dell Inspiron defect, Gunter says she would not have purchased the device or would have paid much less for it.

The Dell class action lawsuit asserts claims for violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violation of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, unjust enrichment, and fraudulent omission or concealment.

In 2010, Dell settled a class action lawsuit alleging some of its Inspiron notebook computers were defective and failed prematurely.

Have you had issues with the hinges in a Dell Inspiron device? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

Gunter is represented by James P. Ulwick of Kramon & Graham PA, Joseph G. Sauder and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC, and Daniel O. Herrera and Olivia A. Lawless of Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP.

The Dell Inspiron class action lawsuit is Rachel Gunter, et al. v. Dell Technologies Inc., Case No. 1:23-cv-00937-JKB, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

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