Customer Sues Sony for Fraud, Alleging Faulty Camera Shutter

Sony has been aware of a shutter failure issue on its Alpha 7 III mirrorless camera (a7 III) since soon after its release in 2017, but it denied coverage outside the one-year limited warranty period, alleged a Saturday fraud class action (docket 4:23-cv-00177) in U.S. District Court for Northern Florida in Tallahassee.

Plaintiff Hannah Lewis of Tallahassee is suing Sony under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and for the class under various state consumer fraud acts, said the complaint. Shutter failures on the a7 III manifest in a “consistent way,” with users reporting an atypical shutter sound, followed by the camera’s screen turning black, then a “Camera Error” message. Users are instructed to turn the power off then on, the complaint said.

Following the instructions “will not solve the problem,” said the complaint. Users experiencing shutter failure have tried removing and reinserting the battery, “which is ineffective,” it said. When a user removes the lens, “the shutter is closed and stuck,” and in many instances, the shutter has become detached, it said. Users and do-it-yourself repair enthusiasts have offered ways to unbind the shutter, but efforts to fix the problem can cause further damage and void the warranty, the complaint said.

Lewis alleges Sony denied coverage to customers who experienced shutter failure on the mirrorless camera for claims submitted outside the limited one-year warranty period. The a7 III has a shutter life expectancy of 200,000 actuations, but numerous users report failures at levels between 10,000 and 50,000, said the complaint. It cited a Change.org petition signed by 2,016 people asking Sony to recall the camera for shutter replacement. Sony “is aware of the percentage of this model which experience premature shutter failure but has declined to act by issuing a recall or covering the faulty shutters,” the complaint said.

Class members allegedly were damaged by paying more for the product than they would have if they had known about defects. Lewis bought her a7 III for about $2,000 in 2021 at a local Best Buy store, the complaint said. She expected it would function adequately and not malfunction after a short period of usage, approximately a year after purchase. Purchasers who experience the shutter malfunction after the warranty period must pay over $500 for repair and replacement of the shutter mechanism, the complaint said.

In addition to consumer fraud, plaintiff asserts breach of contract, breach of express warranty, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. She seeks injunctive relief ordering Sony to remove, correct or refrain from the challenged practices; monetary, statutory and/or punitive damages and interest; and attorneys’ fees and legal costs. Sony didn't comment Tuesday.