The Consumer Protection Safety Commission urges consumers to no longer use Future Motion’s Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards due to an ejection hazard.
The CPSC said that four deaths have been blamed on the skateboards, along with numerous injuries. The CPSC said that skateboards failed to balance the rider or suddenly stopped while in motion.
The federal agency said ejections from the skateboards can cause traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures and ligament damage.
The CPSC said the skateboard’s maker objected to its findings. Future Motion said when compared to other forms of transportation and sport, its units are safe.
"Onewheel electric skateboards are safe when operated following common-sense safe riding practices that are common to any board sport," a spokesperson for the company said. "We strongly disagree with the CPSC's unjustified and alarmist claims, and we see no reason for riders to stop using their boards. We go to great lengths to encourage riders to educate themselves on safety and the overwhelming majority of riders use the board safely, ride within their abilities, respect the board's safety systems, follow local laws, and wear a helmet and other safety gear. Onewheel riders are adults who know that there are inherent risks in riding an electric skateboard, just as there are in other board sports like snowboarding, or with riding an e-bike, electric scooter, ATV, or motorcycle."
Future Motion claimed that the CPSC's statement was "alarmist" and "sensational."
Because Future Motion objected, the items are not under a formal recall. The CPSC said that it is pursuing a recall order. In the meantime, the CPSC said that consumers should not use or try to resell the devices.
The Onewheel models have been sold online since 2014 for $1,050 to $2,200.
The CPSC said all Onewheel models, including the Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X, and Onewheel GT lines, are included in its report.