New York (AP) — Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards are being recalled after several deaths and numerous injuries were reported, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said last week. The recall affects all models of Onewheel skateboards, totaling 300,000 units, manufactured by Future Motion, a California-based company. The skateboards are at risk of stopping their self-balancing function if usage limits are exceeded, leading to potentially serious crashes.
According to the CPSC, Future Motion has received reports of dozens of incidents involving these skateboards, including four deaths between 2019 and 2021. In addition to the deaths, the reported serious injuries include paralysis, traumatic brain injury, fractures, and ligament damage, with many of the incidents resulting from head trauma. It was noted that in at least three of the reports, the riders were not wearing helmets.
Anyone who owns an impacted Onewheel skateboard has been advised by regulators to stop using it immediately. The recall affects all Onewheel electric skateboards sold online and through independent retailers from January 2014 through September of this year, including Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X and Onewheel GT.
To address the crash hazard, a new safety alert feature called “haptic buzz” will be available through a firmware update for certain models of Onewheel skateboards in the coming weeks. Future Motion’s Onewheel team has urged riders to check their board’s eligibility and learn more about installing the update with Onewheel’s app on Future Motion’s website.
Meanwhile, original Onewheel and Onewheel+ boards are not eligible for the firmware update. Those who are eligible can arrange to receive a prorated refund in the form of $100 in store credit after disposing of the product, according to the CPSC and Future Motion’s Onewheel team. The Onewheel team emphasized the importance of rider safety and the use of protective gear.
Prior to the recall announcement, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using Onewheel electric skateboards back in November due to similar reports of death and serious injuries. At that time, Future Motion had “refused to agree to an acceptable recall of the product,” according to the CPSC. In response to the recall update, Future Motion stated that it was the result of months of collaboration with the CPSC.
With the recall now in effect, Onewheel users are strongly advised to comply with the safety measures and updates provided to ensure their safety and the overall success of the sport.