Recall Alert: Onewheel Electric Skateboards Due to Safety Concerns
Due to at least four reported fatalities and several injuries in recent years, federal regulators have announced a recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards, including various models. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded that these skateboards, totaling 300,000 units and manufactured by California-based Future Motion, stop balancing if users go beyond their comfort zones, potentially resulting in major accidents.
Future Motion has reported numerous incidents involving their skateboards, including four deaths between 2019 and 2021, as well as severe injuries such as paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, and ligament damage, according to the CPSC. These fatalities resulted from head trauma, often in cases where riders were not wearing helmets.
In response, regulators advise those with affected Onewheel skateboards to immediately discontinue use. The recall encompasses all Onewheel electric skateboards, including Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X, and Onewheel GT models, sold both online and through independent retailers from January 2014 through September of this year.
To address the safety concern, Future Motion’s Onewheel team will introduce a new safety alert feature called “haptic buzz” through a firmware update for Onewheel GT, Pint X, Pint, and XR boards in the coming weeks. Riders can check their board’s eligibility and access update installation information through the Onewheel app on Future Motion’s website.
Important Update for Onewheel Electric Skateboard Owners
Owners of the original Onewheel and Onewheel+ boards should note that they are not eligible for the upcoming firmware update known as “haptic buzz.” Riders with eligible Onewheel GT, Pint X, Pint, and XR boards can look forward to this safety enhancement in the coming weeks. However, for those with non-eligible models, arrangements can be made to receive a prorated refund in the form of $100 in store credit after safely disposing of the product, as recommended by the CPSC and Future Motion’s Onewheel team.
The Onewheel team emphasizes that using Onewheels that are not updated or not eligible for the firmware update is not advisable. Rider safety is paramount, and the team urges all riders to wear helmets and protective gear, emphasizing the importance of safety for the long-term enjoyment of the sport.
Prior to the recent recall announcement, the CPSC had issued warnings to consumers in November, citing reports of deaths and serious injuries associated with Onewheel electric skateboards. At that time, the CPSC noted that Future Motion had declined to agree to an acceptable product recall.
Future Motion’s Onewheel team has described this recall update as the result of months of collaboration with the CPSC. The Associated Press has reached out to Future Motion for additional comments regarding this development.