Rochester, New York – A massive recall of 300,000 self-balancing electric skateboards has been initiated due to a concerning crash hazard and four tragic deaths reported. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has highlighted the reason for the recall as a defect that can cause the skateboards to lose balance when the limits are exceeded, posing a serious risk of accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities.
The manufacturer of the recalled skateboards, Future Motion, has received numerous incident reports linked to the product, including the four reported deaths that occurred between 2019 and 2021. The fatalities were attributed to head trauma, with three of the riders not wearing helmets at the time of the accidents.
In addition to the fatalities, other injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, fractures in the upper and lower body, as well as ligament damage, have been reported in connection with the electric skateboards.
The Onewheel Electric Skateboards, subject to the recall, were sold online at various platforms including www.onewheel.com, other websites, and independent shops nationwide from January 2014 until September 2023, with prices ranging from $1,050 to $2,200.
To address the safety concerns, consumers are advised to immediately discontinue the use of the skateboards. Owners of the Onewheel GT, Onewheel Pint X, Onewheel Pint, or Onewheel+ XR models are urged to download or update the Onewheel app and install the latest firmware that includes the Haptic Buzz alert feature.
The Haptic Buzz system provides riders with tactile and audible warnings when approaching the limits of the board or in low battery or error situations. Updates for the Onewheel GT model are expected within a week, while those for the Pint X, Pint, and XR models will be released within six weeks.
Furthermore, riders are strongly encouraged to prioritize safety by using helmets and other protective gear while operating the electric skateboards.
For consumers with the Original Onewheel or Onewheel+ models, arrangements can be made for a pro-rated refund in the form of a store credit upon confirmation of the disposal of the product. Future Motion can be reached online or by phone for further assistance or inquiries regarding the recall process.