$850K Thinkware Dashcam Settlement: Claims Due December 14

People who bought certain Thinkware dashboard cameras in the United States may submit a claim for a payment from a proposed $850,000 class action settlement. The case concerns advertising for a feature called Super Night Vision.

The settlement covers the Thinkware X700, F200PRO, DC-M2-FG-IR, DC-M2-FG and F70PRO models purchased from January 25, 2019, through August 31, 2024. Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by December 14, 2026.

Thinkware Systems USA denies that it did anything wrong. The court has authorized notice and granted preliminary approval, but it has not decided the allegations or granted final approval. Individual payments are not fixed and will depend on the number and mix of valid claims.

Key facts

Case: Jessica Ratzak et al. v. Thinkware Systems USA, Inc., No. S-CV-0049793
Court: Superior Court of California, County of Placer
Settlement fund: $850,000
Covered models: X700, F200PRO, DC-M2-FG-IR, DC-M2-FG and F70PRO
Purchase period: January 25, 2019, through August 31, 2024
Claim deadline: December 14, 2026
Opt-out and objection deadline: November 30, 2026
Final approval hearing: January 12, 2027, at 8:30 a.m.
Benefit: A pro rata cash payment; no fixed amount is guaranteed
Current status: Proposed settlement awaiting final approval

What happened

The plaintiffs allege that Thinkware advertised five dashcam models as having a Super Night Vision function without adequately disclosing that the feature was available only in parking mode. They claim buyers could not learn that limitation from the challenged advertisements or product packaging.

Thinkware agreed to establish an $850,000 fund to resolve the case. The fund will cover approved claims, settlement administration, any court-approved attorneys' fees and expenses, and a service award of up to $10,000 for the class representative.

The settlement avoids continued litigation. Thinkware denies the allegations and wrongdoing. The court-authorized notice expressly states that the agreement is proposed and that the judge will decide whether it is fair, reasonable and adequate at the final hearing.

A claim is required for payment Remaining in the class is not enough to receive money. A valid claim must be submitted online or postmarked by December 14.

What Thinkware and Super Night Vision are

Thinkware Systems USA sells dashboard cameras that record video from a vehicle. Depending on the model and installation, a dashcam may record while a car is moving and may also use a parking-surveillance mode after the ignition is turned off.

Thinkware describes Super Night Vision as technology that reduces image noise and improves footage in low-light conditions. Its current support information says available settings vary by model. Some products can use the feature in continuous driving mode, parking mode or both, while official pages for models such as the F200 PRO identify the feature as limited to parking surveillance.

Parking mode is a recording state designed for a parked vehicle. Thinkware says it generally requires a hardwiring cable or compatible power accessory. The system can then record based on motion, impact or another supported parking setting.

That distinction is central to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs do not claim the listed cameras completely lacked low-light technology. They allege the marketing did not sufficiently disclose that Super Night Vision on the covered products operated only in parking mode.

What the lawsuit alleges

The plaintiffs brought false-advertising and related consumer claims concerning the way the feature was represented. Their theory is that buyers reasonably understood the named feature to be generally available, while the parking-mode limitation affected when it could actually operate.

The court has not ruled that the advertising was deceptive. Product functionality can vary by model, firmware, accessory and setting, and Thinkware's current support page warns that settings vary by dashcam model. The settlement resolves claims tied to the listed products and purchase period without deciding liability.

The dispute concerns a limitation, not total absence The allegation is that Super Night Vision was restricted to parking mode on the covered models and that the restriction was not adequately disclosed.

Who may be included

The settlement class includes people in the United States who purchased one or more of these products during the class period:

Thinkware X700
Thinkware F200PRO
Thinkware DC-M2-FG-IR
Thinkware DC-M2-FG
Thinkware F70PRO

The purchase must have occurred from January 25, 2019, through August 31, 2024. Buying a different Thinkware model or purchasing outside that period does not fit the public class definition.

The notice does not say that merely owning a dashcam guarantees an approved claim. Claimants must submit the information and certification required by the official form. The administrator will review claims for validity, duplication and compliance with the settlement.

How payments will be calculated

The fund does not promise a fixed amount per camera or claimant. Each approved payment will be calculated pro rata, meaning the net money available for claimants will be allocated under the settlement formula based on valid claims.

The notice says the calculation considers the number of valid claim forms and the distribution of covered products claimed by each person and by the class overall. Administration costs, court-approved fees and expenses, and any representative award will reduce the amount available for claimant payments.

Because the valid-claim count is unknown, no authoritative source supports a reliable individual estimate. A payment could be lower than a simple division of $850,000 by the number of claimants.

No fixed payout is available The settlement fund is shared after approved costs. Payment amounts depend on valid claims and the covered products reported.

How to file a claim

Claims can be submitted at the official settlement website, TWCameraSettlement.com. A paper form can also be printed and mailed to Thinkware Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 1349, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.

Online claims must be submitted by December 14, 2026. Mailed forms must be postmarked by that date. Claimants should keep a copy of the completed form and any supporting material they provide.

The public notice directs administrative questions to 1-888-614-5272. The administrator, not Class Action Pulse, decides whether a claim is complete and valid.

Other legal options and deadlines

A class member who wants to preserve the ability to bring an individual case over the released claims must submit a valid exclusion request by November 30, 2026. A person who excludes themselves cannot receive a settlement payment.

An objection is different. A class member who objects remains in the settlement but tells the court why they believe the agreement should not be approved. Objections are also due November 30 and must follow the procedures in the official notice.

Doing nothing leaves a class member bound by the final judgment and release if the settlement becomes effective, but it produces no payment. The notice states that failing to submit a timely valid claim forfeits the right to receive a share of the fund.

November 30 controls legal-rights choices Requests to opt out and objections are due two weeks before the December 14 claim deadline.

What remains disputed

Thinkware denies the plaintiffs' allegations and any wrongdoing. The settlement is not an admission. The court has not decided whether the packaging or advertisements were misleading, whether every buyer saw the same material, or whether every purchaser experienced the same loss.

The exact individual payment remains unknown. The court has not yet approved attorneys' fees, expenses or the requested service award. Claims can be rejected under the administrator's procedures.

The agreement must receive final approval and survive any appeal before payments can be distributed. The scheduled hearing date can change, so class members should check the official website for updates.

Timeline and next steps

The class period begins January 25, 2019, and ends August 31, 2024. The court granted preliminary approval on August 12, 2026, allowing notice and claims to begin. The court-authorized public notice was issued in September 2026.

Opt-outs and objections are due November 30. Claims are due December 14. The final approval hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2027, at the Howard G. Gibson Courthouse in Roseville, California.

If the court grants final approval and no appeal prevents the settlement from becoming effective, the administrator will calculate and distribute approved payments. There is no guaranteed distribution date in the public summary.

Frequently asked questions

Which Thinkware models are covered?

The X700, F200PRO, DC-M2-FG-IR, DC-M2-FG and F70PRO are covered when purchased in the United States during the class period.

What is the purchase period?

January 25, 2019, through August 31, 2024.

How much can I receive?

No fixed amount is available. Payments will be calculated pro rata based on valid claims, covered products and the net fund after approved costs.

Do I need to submit a claim?

Yes. A valid claim must be submitted online or postmarked by December 14, 2026 to receive money.

What is the opt-out deadline?

November 30, 2026. Objections are due the same day.

Did Thinkware admit wrongdoing?

No. Thinkware denies the allegations and settled to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation.