INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – A staggering 300,000 self-balancing electric skateboards have been recalled due to a crash hazard that has resulted in four reported deaths, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recall was prompted by concerns that the skateboards could stop balancing the rider if the board’s limits are exceeded, posing a significant risk of serious injuries or even death.
The manufacturer of the recalled skateboards, Future Motion, has received numerous reports of incidents, including the tragic deaths of four individuals between 2019 and 2021. These deaths were attributed to head trauma, with three of the riders not wearing helmets at the time of the accidents.
In addition to the fatalities, there have been reports of injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper and lower body fractures, and ligament damage. These incidents have raised serious concerns over the safety of these electric skateboards.
The recalled Onewheel Electric Skateboards, including the Onewheel GT, Onewheel Pint X, Onewheel Pint, and Onewheel+ XR, were sold online and at independent shops nationwide from January 2014 through September 2023 for prices ranging between $1,050 and $2,200.
To address the safety issue, consumers are strongly advised to discontinue the use of these skateboards. Furthermore, the manufacturer has recommended that users download or update the Onewheel app and update the firmware on their board to include a new functionality called “Haptic Buzz” alert, which provides a tactile and audible warning system to alert riders when they are nearing the limits of the board or in low battery or error states.
Riders are also being encouraged to wear a helmet and other protective equipment to ensure their safety. For consumers with the Original Onewheel or Onewheel+ model, arrangements can be made for a pro-rated refund in the form of a store credit upon the disposal of the product.
For further information and assistance, Future Motion can be reached online or by phone during specified hours from Monday through Friday.