Prioritizing Safety: Recall Notice for Onewheel Electric Skateboards

In response to safety concerns raised by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Future Motion Inc., the manufacturer of Onewheel electric skateboards, has issued a recall affecting approximately 300,000 self-balancing Onewheel electric skateboards. The decision comes in the wake of unfortunate incidents involving fatalities and injuries associated with these products.

Between 2019 and 2021, Future Motion Inc. received reports of four fatalities involving users of the self-balancing skateboards. Additionally, numerous users suffered severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, upper and lower-body fractures, and head trauma. Investigations revealed that the skateboards could lose balance if their operational limits were exceeded, creating a crash hazard that could lead to serious harm or even death.

All models of Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards are part of this recall. However, owners of the Original Onewheel or Onewheel+ models are encouraged to dispose of their products. For these customers, a prorated refund will be provided in the form of a Onewheel store credit.

On the other hand, users who own Onewheel GT, Onewheel Pint X, Onewheel Pint, or Onewheel+ XR models are advised to update their firmware once the update is made available. The company plans to release a firmware update for these models within six weeks.

It's important to highlight that the reported fatalities primarily resulted from head trauma, with at least three of the four riders not wearing helmets during the incidents. In light of this, Future Motion Inc. and the CPSC strongly recommend that all riders prioritize personal protective equipment, including helmets, for their safety at a minimum.  However, at these speeds it is highly recommended that riders opt for e-bike-rated helmets governed by the Dutch standard NTA 8776 that can protect riders up to 28 mph.  

The recalled Onewheel skateboards were sold between January 2014 and September 2023 at a price range of $1,050 to $2,200.

Future Motion Inc. shared, "This update is the culmination of months of work with the CPSC, and we are committed to making continual improvements to ensure the best possible experience for our riders.

Additional information here.