ON Faces Class Action Over “Squeaky” Sneakers

In an unexpected turn for one of performance footwear’s fastest-growing names, ON, the Swiss brand known for its sleek design and CloudTec cushioning, is now facing a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. over… squeaks.

Filed October 9, 2025, in the U.S. District Court of Oregon, the complaint (Bologna & Ramirez v. On Inc., Case No. 3:25-cv-01852) accuses the brand of knowingly selling defective shoes that produce a “loud, embarrassing, and difficult-to-stop squeaking sound” with every step. The plaintiffs allege the defect appears in models featuring ON’s CloudTec outsole, including the Cloudmonster, one of the brand’s top sellers in the performance-running category.

Plaintiffs Patricia Ramirez and Louis Bologna say they each purchased ON sneakers within the past year, one pair at Dick’s Sporting Goods, another through ON’s website — only to find the signature CloudTec comfort overshadowed by a constant squeak. After repeated attempts to resolve the issue, both claim ON failed to offer meaningful repairs or replacements.

According to early consumer reports and online discussions cited in the complaint, the noise appears to originate from air pockets or gaps within the CloudTec sole units, particularly where the hollow “clouds” compress and release during motion. When moisture or debris gets trapped inside these channels, it can cause friction or suction-like sounds that amplify with each step.

While not a safety hazard, the effect is noticeable enough to disrupt running rhythm — and for some, it’s simply too loud to ignore.

The lawsuit argues that ON knew or should have known about the issue through customer complaints and social-media chatter, yet continued to market the product as premium performance footwear, a move plaintiffs call a “deceptive omission” under U.S. consumer law. The case seeks $5 million in damages and injunctive relief requiring ON to fix or replace the affected shoes.

ON’s meteoric rise, from niche Swiss startup to global powerhouse with Roger Federer as a shareholder, has hinged on its precision engineering and design credibility. Its marketing has always positioned the brand as “sound science meets Swiss minimalism.” Now, that sound is being taken a little too literally.

A squeaky shoe might seem like a minor inconvenience, but for a brand built on quiet luxury and performance polish, it’s a reputational rattle. Consumer frustration has played out publicly on platforms like Reddit and TikTok, where “#onsqueak” is quietly gathering momentum.