Recall alert: 4 people have died using this Kickstarter electric skateboard

November 17, 2022

By Kim Komando

When a manufacturer releases a product to the public, they’re responsible for any defects or overlooked issues. These could be minor, causing an inconvenience, or dangerous to consumer health and safety. The problem could affect a few thousand units or millions.

This year we saw an unusually high number of vehicle recalls. We combed through six months of recall reports we put together this year and came up with a massive list of 5 million vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen and more. Tap or click here to see if your car has been recalled.

The troubles go beyond four-wheeled vehicles. A popular one-wheeled electric skateboard, the Onewheel GT, faces recall after reports of deaths and multiple injuries. Though the manufacturer recalled just one model, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to stop using all Onewheel models immediately.

NOTE: If you know anybody using a Onewheel electric skateboard, please pass along this article.

The first recall

Onewheel launched in 2014 after a successful Kickstarter campaign by Future Motion. Multiple models of self-balancing electric skateboards have been introduced over the years, and the line has sold hundreds of thousands of units.

Earlier this year, Future Motion issued a voluntary recall for the Onewheel GT in cooperation with the CPSC. The board continued to operate after the rider dismounted. The front footpad can fail to disengage when the rider steps off the board, causing it to continue moving rather than stopping for a safe dismount.

Of the 20,000 units sold, the company received 813 reports of this problem, causing 11 minor injuries. The affected models were manufactured before June 2022. The recall involved replacing the footpad, and design changes were implemented to prevent the issue from reoccurring.

To check if your model is affected, locate the serial number on the bottom of the right rail on your Onewheel GT. Enter that serial number in the field on the recall page at recall.onewheel.com.

You’ll receive a free replacement front footpad with installation instructions if eligible. There’s also a repair video on YouTube.

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That’s not enough for the CPSC

Now the CPSC is warning consumers about the risk of death and serious injury with all Onewheel models, not just the GT. Models include the following:

• Onewheel.
• Onewheel+.
• Onewheel+ XR.
• Onewheel Pint.
• Onewheel Pint X.
• Onewheel GT.

The agency echoed the assessment that the board can stop while in motion, ejecting the rider and causing severe injury or death. There have been at least four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021 and multiple reports of injuries.

The CPSC urges owners not to buy, sell, donate or ride any Onewheel. It also states that Future Motion refused to agree to an acceptable recall of the product.

Future Motion’s response

Future Motion calls the CPSC’s statements “unjustified” and “alarmist.” The company says that all its Onwheel electric skateboards are safe when following common-sense and safe riding practices: riding within your abilities, respecting the board’s safety systems, following local laws and wearing safety gear.

The company also said it evaluated several boards that riders claimed suddenly stopped and found no underlying technical issues.

Future Motion believes that the front footpad replacement of the Onewheel GT was enough and rejects the CPSC’s press release warning against all Onewheel models. The company will continue to work with the CPSC as needed, however.

What you can do

The CPSC is pursuing a total recall of every Onewheel unit. Until then, you should stop using yours. If you experience any issues, report incidents with the Onewheel and any dangerous product or a product-related injury at SaferProducts.gov.

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