RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Three hundred thousand self-balancing electric skateboards have been recalled due to a crash hazard and four reported deaths. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated that the reason for the recall is that the skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the board’s limits are exceeded, posing a crash hazard that can cause serious injuries or death.
Future Motion, the manufacturer, has received dozens of reports of incidents involving the recalled skateboards, including four deaths reported between 2019 and 2021. The deaths were a result of head trauma, with three of the riders not wearing helmets. Other injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper and lower body fractures, and ligament damage have also been reported.
The recalled Onewheel Electric Skateboards were being sold online, at various websites, and at independent shops nationwide from January 2014 through September 2023 for between $1,050 and $2,200. Consumers are advised to stop using the skateboards and update the firmware on their board to include Haptic Buzz alert functionality. Haptic Buzz is a tactile and audible warning system that provides the rider with a buzzing sensation and sound when nearing the limits of the board or when in low battery or error states.
Riders are also being encouraged to wear a helmet and other protective equipment. Future Motion can be contacted online or by phone for further assistance.