SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – All OneWheel electronic skateboards are being recalled following reports of injuries and deaths, prompting the maker, Future Motion, to take action.
The recall affects all models of Onewheel electric skateboards, with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issuing a notice for 300,000 of the self-balancing skateboards. The commission warned users to immediately stop using the skateboards due to a crash hazard that can result in serious injury or death.
According to the commission, there have been four reported deaths of Onewheel users between 2019 and 2021, along with multiple reports of serious injuries. The deaths resulted from head trauma, with at least three of the victims not wearing a helmet at the time of the accidents. The injuries linked to the skateboards included traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, body fractures, and ligament damage.
Initially, Santa Cruz-based Future Motion resisted issuing a recall, but the company is now cooperating and plans to roll out a firmware update to address the safety issues. The update, referred to as “haptic buzz,” will alert riders of certain situations that may result in a crash.
The firmware update will be available in a few weeks and is only applicable to certain Onewheel products. Both Future Motion and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission are urging riders to wear personal safety equipment.