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LED flashlights manufactured by Duracell reportedly drain batteries even when they have been turned off, according to a recent class action lawsuit.
Duracell LED flashlights are reportedly marketed as “ideal” for emergencies and capable of providing up to an hour and a half of high intensity light and up to seven hours of low intensity light when used with Duracell batteries.
Likewise, the recommended Duracell batteries are advertised as having a “10 year storage lifespan” and touted as “the most trusted batteries in the world,” according to the Duracell class action lawsuit.
However, consumers relying on these representations ended up disappointed, according to Duracell class action allegations by plaintiffs Stanley Siddle and Jef Meeks.
The plaintiffs claim that certain Duracell LED flashlights are plagued with a “catastrophic” defect that causes the devices to drain battery power even when turned off.
“Specifically, these flashlights are defective in that they continuously and rapidly drain the installed batteries when their LED lights are switched OFF, thus causing the batteries stored inside these flashlights to become fully depleted and dead, in less than 30 days, instead of the 10- year advertised storage lifespan for the Duracell batteries sold with these flashlights or the replacement batteries sold separately,” the Duracell LED Flashlight class action lawsuit claims.
Siddle and Meeks state that the flashlight defect result in consumers being left without light when their flashlights, which were stored for emergency situations, cannot turn on. Even if the LED flashlights turn on, they allegedly fail to provide light for anywhere near the advertised performance times.
The Duracell class action lawsuit claims that consumers believe, based on Duracell representations, that they can store LED flashlights with batteries in strategic locations around their home and rely on the 10-year storage lifespan advertised on Duracell batteries.
However, the defect reportedly drains flashlight batteries far sooner than 10-years which leaves consumers in the dark during “critical emergency or even life-and-death situations” such as power outages, vehicle breakdowns, and natural disasters.
The Duracell flashlight class action says customers have been complaining about the issue since late 2014 in complaints both directly to the battery company and to retail distributors such as Amazon, Costco, and Home Depot.
Despite allegedly being aware of the problem, these parties have not made efforts to resolve consumer complaints – earning them a position as named defendants in Siddle and Meeks’ class action lawsuit.
In subsequent models of the LED flashlight, Duracell allegedly changed the packaging to include statements such as “eliminates power drain of batteries in off position” and “no battery drain in off position.”
Siddle and Meeks claim that these statements are admissions by Duracell that their former models suffered from the “rapid parasitic battery drain defect.”
Plaintiffs seek to represent a Class of consumers who purchased Duracell LED flashlight models 250, 300, or 350 from Duracell, Costco, Home Depot, or Amazon. They also seek to represent a Class of the same consumers from California who are protected under additional state laws such as the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
Plaintiffs and the proposed Class are represented by Timothy P. Rumberger of Law Offices of Timothy P. Rumberger.
The Duracell LED Flashlight Class Action Lawsuit is Siddle, et al. v. The Duracell Company, et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00568, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
UPDATE: On June 18, 2019, Duracell has requested that a class action lawsuit over allegedly defective flashlight batteries be dismissed.
UPDATE 2: On Aug. 20, 2020, Duracell will pay $2.2 million to settle a class action lawsuit filed against it over claims that the company defrauded customers who purchased some of its LED flashlights.
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108 thoughts onDuracell Class Action Says LED Flashlights Drain Batteries Quickly
I put brand new Duracell C batteries (6) in my new portable Radio/cd player. Used the radio 2 times for about l/2 hr. Turned it on 1 month later and the radio said “Low Battery”. Tested the batteries, they were dead. The date on the batteries were supposed to be good until mar. 2031.
I have many Duracell 350 flashlights that I bought at Costco. At first I thought they were great, so much so that I asked Sam’s Club to carry them (as I am no longer a Costco member). After a while I realized that the batteries were draining when not in use. I now just have them stored in a box with the batteries removed. I’m hoping that Duracell will provide a fix for the parasitic draining or a replacement flashlight without the problem.
I bought a pack of the Duracell 300 flashlights from Costco and I’m having the same problem they go dead from just sitting… complete waste of money I’ve gone through multiple sets of batteries
I bought this Duracell Flashlight in COSTCO and it drains me batteries every time I load them in without even turning it on. This product is ridiculous and deceived probably hundreds of people. Its a waste of money for consumers to be fraud by companies who did not review their QUALITY CONTROL MANUALS or PROCESS prior to releasing such product. Duracell is a reputable company next to EVEREADY, PANASONIC etc.. yet unscrupulous people thinks that the world is still adamant not to file a complaint…well, I am complaining and so are those who got nicked by fooling us consumers and degrading our trust. Totally unacceptable behavior from a Company who stained itself in such a cheap way.
I have Duracell 500 3 pack flashlights, batteries leaked after one year and after i installed new batteries the flashlight would only stay on for a few seconds and shut off on its own, other times the flashlight won’t turn on at all.
Yes I have a bunch of those Costco Duracell flashlamps are also noted that the batteries drain after a short while.
Add me to this class action.
I just purchased the Duracell 550 LED 3 flashlight set from Costco. Nice bright light, but the flashlight OVERHEATS after just 5 minutes use!!! The 4 AAA batteries are extremely hot when taken out, and that’s not normal. Obviously they are discharging at a rate that exceeds what the batteries are rated at. I substituted Panasonic batteries, and they, too, overheat. If the batteries are expected to get very hot, than I would not expect the batteries to last very long when in use, such as an emergency at my home or on the road.
AVOID THIS LED FLASHLIGHT FROM DURACELL. unless you plan to use it for very short periods of time. I will bring it to Costco’s attention when I return it.
i bought a 3cell quantum flashlight at harbor freight. in about 30 days it goes dead without use. talked to the sales people they said they never of the problem after reading your article i know quantum has a problem to i am getting bs
Bought the 3 pack of 350 at Costco batteries drain when off and are dead when you try to use them.
I have two 1000 three 350 they all
kill batteries quickly when off. all
purchase at Costco.
i would appreciate replacements