Cree LED Lightbulbs Suffer Premature Burnout, Suit Says

Cree, Inc. vastly overstates the life of its light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, according to a new class complaint.

LED bulbs have become the light source of choice in the U.S. with the phasing out of traditional incandescent bulbs. Promises of a long lifespan induce customers to purchase the bulbs, the suit filed Dec. 6 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon alleges.

Cree says its 100-watt replacement bulbs will last more than 13 years (15,000 hours) and save consumers hundreds of dollars per bulb of energy costs over the life of the product, the suit says. ...