It was only a matter of time before the popular self-balancing scooters known as hoverboards were recalled. This winter dozens of consumers complained that their hoverboards were spontaneously catching on fire. At the time, regulations only existed for the batteries within the hoverboards, but not the entire device. Safety standards are now available, and today the CPSC has announced that ten different firms are recalling a total of 501,000 hoverboards.
At the request of the Commission, Alibaba Group has taken voluntary action to require certifications from testing agencies for hoverboards listed by third-parties on the AliExpress.com and Alibaba.com online marketplaces. Consumers are urged to immediately stop using hoverboards which do not comply with applicable safety standards and dispose of them in accordance with local and state regulations.
The lithium-ion battery packs in the hoverboards can overheat, posing a risk of the products smoking, catching fire and/or exploding. There have been at least 99 reports of the battery packs in self-balancing scooters overheating, sparking, smoking, catching fire and/or exploding, including reports of burn injuries and property damage. The recalled hoverboards were manufactured in China and sold at mass merchandisers nationwide and online retailers from June 2015 through May 2016 for between $350 and $900.
Recalled self-balancing scooters include the following retailers, brands and online firms:
- Digital Gadgets is recalling 16,000 units of Hover-Way/Model # HWSBB601-R
- Hoverboard is recalling 70,000 Powerboards
- Hype Wireless is recalling 25,000 units of Hype Roam
- Keenford is recalling 84,000 iMotos
- PTX Performance Products USA is recalling 4,900 Airwalk Self Balancing Electric Scooters
- Razor USA is recalling 28,000 Hovertrax
- Swagway is recalling 267,000 units of Swagway X1
- Yuka Clothing is recalling 800 units of Wheeli, 2Wheelz, Back to the Future, Mobile Tech, Hover Shark, NWS, X Glider and X Rider
- Boscov’s is recalling 1,300 Orbits
- Overstock.com is recalling all hoverboards sold on its website; a total of 4,300
