Recall alert: 4 people have died using this Kickstarter electric skateboard
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
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It seems like we’re always hearing about recalls these days. Whether it’s toy and furniture design flaws or listeria or E. coli in our food, safety recalls are a pretty common scenario in the U.S.
Part of the reason for the steady stream of recalls is technology and safety guidelines are always improving. We have better ways of identifying problematic products than we did before — and we have more thorough ways of identifying people who may be affected. This vehicle recall app is just one of the new tools you can use to get recall alerts.