Future Motion has received 813 reports of its Onewheel GT self-balancing skateboard failing to stop after the rider dismounts. Some of the incidents have caused injuries, and the company is now recalling over 20,000 units.
Footpads on about 20,500 Future Motion Onewheel GT electric skateboards introduce a bystander injury hazard, and the company voluntarily recalled them this Thursday.
An Aug. 11 post on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website says the footpad can fail to disengage after the rider has dismounted while the board is in motion. After that, the skateboard can keep operating unexpectedly, which can injure bystanders.
In fact, the malfunction has injured bystanders — 11 of them, according to reports that Future Motion has collected. Reported injuries include “bruises, friction burns, and a twisted ankle.”
Future Motion said it issued the voluntary recall in cooperation with the CPSC. It advised that anyone who owns a Onewheel GT should stop using it immediately and contact the company to determine whether their footpad is affected.
How to Identify a Onewheel GT
The GT is Onewheel’s flagship model. “Onewheel” and “GT” branding appear on the side of the affected skateboards. The skateboard’s wheel also has the Onewheel logo.
Consumers can identify whether a Onewheel GT has a recalled front footpad by contacting Future Motion and providing the serial number for the board. To find the serial number, look on the underside of the skateboard rail, next to the QR “matrix” barcode.
Future Motion will replace boards with affected footpads with a free replacement skateboard footpad, including shipping and installation instructions. Future Motion said it’s contacting all known purchasers of affected units directly.
With the serial number, you can input it directly into Future Motion’s recall site to determine if this recall applies to you.
Onewheel Recall, Company Response
The footpad recall does not constitute the company’s first safety issue. In May, Future Motion faced a wrongful death lawsuit when a Onewheel malfunction allegedly killed a Colorado man.
Addressing the recall in a statement, the company cited the engineering challenges its “futuristic” sport demands.
“In order to ensure all of our Onewheel GT owners can ride with confidence, we have made design changes to the front footpad’s pressure sensitive sensor to address this issue. Every new GT currently being built ships with these updated footpads installed,” the company said in a statement.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern this has caused. Building hardware for a futuristic boardsport has its challenges.”
