Western Digital, the parent company, took steps to address the issue by releasing a firmware update in May, aimed at resolving the problem of unexpected drive disconnections from computers.

Concerns have arisen surrounding the operational integrity of SanDisk portable SSDs.  However, despite efforts, the problem endured and has now escalated, resulting in reports of drives rendering entirely inoperable.

The ongoing SSD malfunctions have prompted legal action against Western Digital, potentially leading to a class action lawsuit. Within the United States alone, the number of potential participants in this legal action could reach into the hundreds of thousands. The legal complaint specifically references models such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro, SanDisk Extreme Portable, SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable, and WD My Passport SSDs.

Unfortunately, a subsequent firmware update rolled out in July seems to have exacerbated the situation. Users have reported an increased frequency of incidents involving data inaccessibility. Drives are either transitioning into a read-only state or becoming completely unrecognizable by the operating system, leading to substantial data loss.

Western Digital's history includes previous legal disputes concerning the functionality of storage devices, suggesting a recurring pattern of product-related concerns. The ultimate outcome of the present legal matter remains uncertain as the company grapples with the consequences of these persistent issues.

Western Digital Faces Legal Scrutiny Over Persistent Malfunctions in SanDisk Portable SSDs