A class action has been brought against Western Digital by a group of SanDisk Extreme Pro external drive owners who say the drives failed in ways that caused significant personal data losses. The case has been covered by Tom’s Hardware and highlights a broader concern among users about reliability in portable storage devices.
The plaintiffs seek more than $5 million in damages and identify Nathan Krum, a California resident, as the lead initiator of the lawsuit. They allege a pattern of defects that began to surface in 2023 and persisted across multiple batches of drives, affecting a notable number of customers who trusted SanDisk Extreme Pro and related models with their valuable files.
From May 2023 onward, users report a range of issues, with data loss and drive malfunctions being the most troubling. A frequent symptom described by affected owners is a persistent error message indicating that the disk cannot be read by the computer when connected. This disruption often occurs without warning and can interrupt workflows for creative professionals, students, and small businesses relying on external storage for backups and transfers.
Western Digital acknowledged the problem and stated an intention to release a firmware update aimed at mitigating the failures. In subsequent communications, the company narrowed the scope of the fix, announcing that the firmware update would be deployed only for the 4TB SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro variants, leaving owners of other capacities potentially exposed to ongoing problems.
Plaintiffs contend that the quality issues extend beyond the failed drives themselves. They allege that replacement units sent by the manufacturer continued to malfunction, suggesting a systemic defect rather than isolated incidents. The suit emphasizes the risk that replacements may also fail, compounding the loss of data and the frustration of affected users who depend on reliable backups for personal and professional records.
The case provides a timeline of reported failures and attempts at remediation, including user complaints that began before and continued after the initial firmware promises. The plaintiffs argue that the company should be held accountable for defects that compromise data integrity and for not delivering a timely, effective remedy across all affected product lines. They seek redress for financial damages and for corrective actions that would prevent similar outcomes for other customers in North America and beyond.
Analysts note that this dispute touches on the broader issue of how SSDs and external drives are marketed versus how they perform in real-world usage. Instances of data corruption, unreadable disks, and sudden hardware failure can undermine trust in high‑value storage devices, especially when users rely on these tools to safeguard irreplaceable personal memories and critical work product. The outcome of the lawsuit could influence how manufacturers address firmware updates, warranty coverage, and the speed at which they communicate known defects to consumers.
As the legal process unfolds, affected users are advised to review their warranties and consider taking proactive steps to protect data. Routine backups, diversified storage solutions, and careful monitoring of drive health can reduce exposure to similar risks. The case also underscores the importance of independent testing and transparent reporting from manufacturers when technical issues arise, so customers can make informed choices about device reliability and support commitments.
In summary, the Western Digital dispute centers on reported failures across SanDisk Extreme Pro external drives, alleged data losses, and the company’s responses through firmware updates and replacement units. The plaintiffs argue that these issues are more than isolated incidents and seek compensation and accountability as a consequence. The situation remains dynamic as the parties pursue their respective positions in court and as broader consumer expectations for dependable storage devices continue to grow.