LOS ANGELES, California – Future Motion, the company behind Onewheel electric skateboards, is issuing a recall for all models of its e-skateboards following reports linking the products to four deaths, according to a federal safety watchdog.
The recall decision comes after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urged the company to recall the single-wheeled skateboards due to a safety hazard. The commission’s report cited at least four deaths and multiple injuries related to the Onewheel electric skateboards, prompting the recall.
Future Motion has revealed that it has received numerous reports of incidents involving the electric skateboards, including fatalities and injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures, and ligament damage.
An estimated 300,000 of the skateboards are being recalled. The products are recognizable by their distinctive single-tire wheel positioned in the center of the board and are electrically powered.
The company cited the risk of the skateboards no longer balancing the rider if the board’s limits are exceeded, posing a significant crash hazard. They have highlighted that four deaths reported involving Onewheel skateboards from 2019 to 2021 have resulted from head trauma, with the riders often not wearing helmets when they crashed.
To address safety concerns, Future Motion announced that it is developing a new safety feature called a “haptic buzz” that will alert riders audibly and physically when there is a risk of a crash. This feature will be available for certain Onewheel models, with an update for the Onewheel GT set to be released in one week.
The company will also release updates for the Pint X, Pint, and XR models, although it may take up to six weeks. However, the original Onewheel and Onewheel+ models will not be eligible for the update.
Overall, the recall and safety concerns over Onewheel electric skateboards have raised significant questions about the safety of e-skateboards and the need for robust safety measures in all electric recreational products. Advocates for safety are urging companies to proactively address potential hazards to prevent further injuries and fatalities.