NORFOLK, Va. – The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of 300,000 self-balancing electric skateboards due to a crash hazard and four reported deaths. According to CPSC, the skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the board’s limits are exceeded, posing a significant risk of serious injuries or death.
Future Motion, the manufacturer of the recalled skateboards, has received numerous reports of incidents, including four fatalities between 2019 and 2021. These deaths were the result of head trauma, with three of the riders not wearing helmets. In addition to the fatalities, there have been reports of traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, fractures, and ligament damage related to the use of these electric skateboards.
The Onewheel Electric Skateboards, which have been recalled, were sold online at www.onewheel.com, other websites, and at independent shops nationwide from January 2014 through September 2023. Consumers who have purchased the Onewheel GT, Onewheel Pint X, Onewheel Pint, or Onewheel+ XR electric skateboards are advised to stop using them and update the firmware on their board to include Haptic Buzz alert functionality.
The firmware update for the Onewheel GT should be available within one week, while the update for the Pint X, Pint, and XR will be launching within six weeks. Future Motion is also offering a pro-rated refund in the form of a store credit for consumers who have the Original Onewheel or Onewheel+ model and dispose of the product.
Consumers can take further action by visiting the recall website or contacting Future Motion online or by phone. The manufacturer can be reached at 800-283-7943 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT on Monday through Friday for additional information or assistance related to the recall.