Amazon fire TV stick lawsuit: Claims company “bricked” old devices to push new sales

Amazon is facing a major class action lawsuit that says it intentionally slowed down or ended support for older Fire TV Stick devices so users would be pushed to buy new ones. The lawsuit claims Amazon “bricked” first- and second-generation Fire TV Sticks by stopping software updates and support, making the devices stop working properly, as per the filing in a California state court.

Fire TV Stick devices explained

These Fire TV Stick devices let users stream movies and shows from apps like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix by plugging into a TV’s HDMI port, according to the lawsuit background details cited by New York Post. The first-generation Fire TV Stick came out in 2014 and the second-generation came out in 2016. The lawsuit says Amazon stopped software updates for first-gen devices in December 2022 and for second-gen devices in March 2023.

After updates stopped, many users reportedly faced glitches like freezing, lag, buffering issues, and sometimes total device failure, as cited by New York Post. The suit says Amazon did not offer refunds or proper upgrades after stopping support, which allegedly forced customers to buy newer Fire TV Stick models, as per the complaint.

Lawsuit filed by California user

A California resident named Bill Merewhuader filed the case, saying he bought a second-gen Fire TV Stick in 2018 and it became unusable by 2024. The lawsuit also claims Amazon never clearly told customers that software support could be cut off, which the plaintiffs say is “deceptive”. Amazon has released multiple newer Fire TV Stick models over time, including newer versions like Fire TV Stick 4K Select and 4K Plus priced around $40–$50, as cited by New York Post.

Federal regulators have raised concerns in general about “bricking” practices and whether companies fully inform customers about how long software support will last, according to a November 2024 FTC staff report. The FTC said failing to clearly disclose software update timelines may potentially be considered a deceptive practice if it affects how long a product works as promised. Amazon did not immediately respond to media requests for comment on the lawsuit, according to the New York Post report.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Amazon being sued over Fire TV Stick devices?

Amazon is accused of stopping software updates for older Fire TV Stick models, which allegedly made them stop working well and pushed users to buy new devices.

Q2. What problems did users face after Fire TV Stick updates stopped?

Many users reported slow performance, buffering, freezing, and in some cases their devices stopped working completely.