Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Craig Allen Keefner
McDonald’s Drive-Thru Outdoor LCD Failures
Worth noting the noting of this isotropic screen failure at McDonalds Drive-Thru in California (Sep2020). Further investigation points to a Samsung OH55F, which given the specifications, is surprising. Our guess is the vendor supplying these is Coates and we have sent a query to them asking about this.
August 2022 Update
- Another example this time in the Midwest at McDonalds. This is the drive-thru screen set-up at a McDonalds in the US midwest – seemingly beat up and suffering from the heat and UV damage of the sun. Yikes!
January 31 Update
- See our in-depth technical review of the problem with the Samsung Outdoor LCDs used at California McDonalds. Interesting that California is NOT worst case environment for these sorts of failures. Here is the technical review link.
January 21 Update
- We have been unable to get additional information from Samsung, Coates or McDonalds regarding these failures.
- It is confirmed these are Samsung OH55F lcds
- Retail cost for these “Outdoor Displays” is about $10K each.
- The specs list IP56, 2500 NITs and 5000:1 contrast ratio, media player is a Cortex A12, 24×7 rated, 3-Year Parts & Labor
- Interesting whitepaper by Samsung with the OH55F and the Economic Impact of Menuboards
- The big reason for failure begins with lack of airflow.
- Lack of airflow in the design of the metal menu board as well as lack of cleaning the filters (yes there are air filters and yes they need to be on the maintenance cycle)
- Another point is that technically this is NOT isotropic failure — An isotropic failure is reversible when the LCD is cooled. The failure shown in the photo is permanent and irreparable.
- We have an in-depth explanation of all this available as well.
- Companies that can and should be consulted on outdoor displays include Peerless-AV and LG-MRI
