Samsung’s Premium ‘Black Stainless Finish’ Flakes, Peels, and Degrades, Class Action Claims

Samsung’s kitchen products that feature the “premium design” of a black stainless steel finish prematurely degrade and put consumers at risk of eating plastic, a nationwide class action lawsuit claims.

The nationwide class action lawsuit was filed in a Texas district court on April 21 by lead Plaintiff Adam Lee, who alleges Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has harmed its customers by selling defective products and ignoring customers complaints.

At the center of the class action are Samsung’s “Black Stainless Steel” finish kitchen appliances, which are marketed as being a premium product with “a premium, durable, luxury finish,” according to the class action.

However, the company conceals and omits that the finish is a thin plastic coating that is prone “to peel, chip, flake, and prematurely degrade through the ordinary use of the Black Stainless Steel Appliances,” the class action claims.

Lee says that in 2016 he bought a $450 Samsung microwave, a $1000 Samsung dishwasher, and $1,178.32 Samsung gas range – all with the black stainless steel finish and all with life expectancies of around 10 years.

Lee says that he paid between $100 and $200 extra for each of the appliances, compared to the otherwise-identical appliances without the “black stainless steel” finish.

After only a few years, Lee says that the finish on his oven started to peel, flake, and degrade.

“As a result, Plaintiff is concerned by both the severe deterioration in the aesthetic appeal of his Black Stainless Steel Appliances, and by the potential ingestion of flakes of the ‘black stainless steel’ finish,” the class action claims.

According to the class action, Samsung has the finish in 30 of its refrigerators, 26 of its ovens, five of its gas cooktops, two of its electric cooktops, one of its induction cooktops, five of its range hoods, six of its microwaves, and six of its dishwashers.

Lee says that when he confronted Samsung about the defect, he was told “in dismissive fashion” that it was not covered by warranty because the defect is “cosmetic.”

“Defendant would offer no repairs, replacements, or compensation of any kind.”

Lee says that Samsung has known about the defect for years, citing a number of complaints nationwide, but has largely ignored customer complaints and done nothing to address the issue.

“Despite notice of the defect in the Black Stainless Steel Appliances, and the reasonable expectations of consumers created by Defendant’s marketing of its Black Stainless Steel Appliances, Defendant engaged—and continues to engage—in a wrongful course of conduct,” the class action states.

Lee wants to represent anyone in the country who has bought a black stainless steel finished appliance from Samsung, and he also wants to represent a Texas subclass.

He is suing for fraudulent concealment, breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment, and is seeking certification of the Class, injunctive relief, legal fees, and a jury trial.

Samsung is also facing a class action lawsuit for the heat sensors in its electric and gas ovens. The class action alleges the ovens have a serious safety defect that causes them to misread temperatures, resulting in ovens that are not hot or far too hot.

Have you purchased a Samsung kitchen appliance with the black stainless steel finish? How has your appliance lasted? Let us know in the comments section!

Lee is represented by Aaron D. Radbil and Alexander D. Kruzyk of Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC.

The Samsung Black Stainless Steel Class Action Lawsuit is Adam Lee v. Samsung Electronics America Inc., Case No. 4:21-cv-01321, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

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