Apple sued over defective iPhones infected with 'Touch Disease'

iPhone 6 touch disease
The 'Touch Disease' starts with a flickering bar at the top of the screen

Apple is facing a class action lawsuit over claims it knowingly sold defective iPhone 6 models with screens that stop responding to touch.

Dubbed "Touch Disease", the fault sees screens gradually become unresponsive until they are completely unusable. The defect, associated with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, begins with a flickering grey bar at the top of the screen, which gradually fills the entire display. 

The fault is apparently related to the touchscreen chip's connection to the iPhone's logic board, which can be compromised if the phone is bent - as some have experienced with the iPhone 6. Many customers who have brought the problem to Apple have been told the phones can't be fixed because the iPhone's one-year warranty has expired.

Attorneys representing three Apple smartphone owners named as plaintiffs in the litigation in  the US District Court for Northern California asked that the case be granted class-action status to represent anyone in the United States who has bought an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.

“This action arises from Apple's concealment of a material design defect that causes the touchscreens on the iPhones to become unresponsive and fail for their essential purpose as smartphones,” the civil complaint contended.

The lawsuit accused Apple of refusing to repair iPhones free of charge despite knowing that a design flaw was a fault.

iPhone 6 Plus
The problem appears to affect the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Credit: Bloomberg

According to the lawsuit, chips that handle touchscreen input were not properly secured to logic boards and failed under normal wear-and-tear.

“The internet is replete with examples of blogs and other websites where consumers have complained of the exact same Touchscreen Defect within the iPhones,” the complaint maintained.

The lawsuit accuses Apple of a litany of violations including fraud and breach of implied warranty, and goes on to demand unspecified cash damages along with attorneys fees.

Damages sought in the suit include having the court order Apple to repair, recall, and replace the iPhones at issue.

Apple did not respond to requests comment. On Monday night the company sent out invitations to a special event scheduled for next Wednesday, when the company is due to unveil the upcoming iPhone 7.

 

License this content