SANTA CRUZ, California – After four reported deaths and multiple injuries linked to their products, Future Motion, the maker of Onewheel electric skateboards, has announced a recall of all models of its e-skateboards. This decision comes after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began urging the company to recall the one-wheeled skateboards in November 2022, following numerous incidents. Future Motion has acknowledged receiving a significant number of reports of incidents involving the electric skateboards, including four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021, as well as various injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures, and ligament damage.
The recall affects an estimated 300,000 Onewheel skateboards. These skateboards are identifiable by a single-tire wheel situated in the center of the board, which propels it forward electrically. The unique one-wheel aesthetic and ease of the Onewheel skateboards have proven to be fatal in some cases. Future Motion has stated that the skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the board’s limits are exceeded, posing a crash hazard that can result in serious injury or death.
According to the CPSC, four deaths reported to involve Onewheel skateboards from 2019 to 2021 have resulted from head trauma, and in at least three of those cases, the riders were not wearing helmets when they crashed. However, Future Motion has announced that it is working on a new safety measure called a “haptic buzz,” which will alert riders audibly and physically when there’s a danger of a crash. Owners of certain Onewheel models will be able to download this update to the device’s firmware in the coming weeks.
The company clarified that the updated safety feature will be available for only certain Onewheel models, with the original Onewheel and Onewheel+ models not being eligible for the update. This recall serves as a crucial step towards ensuring the safety of consumers, and Future Motion is committed to implementing measures to prevent further accidents and injuries related to their electric skateboards.