U.S. government leads recall of 500,000 hoverboards

After many months of safety warnings and reports of fires caused by hoverboards, 10 manufacturers, distributors and retailers have finally issued an official recall of 501,000 hoverboards in the U.S. coordinated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The recall impacts the biggest hoverboard brands on the market, including Swagway (the Swagway X1 model), the Hovertrax from Razor, the Airwalk Self Balancing Electric Scooter, the iMoto, the Hype Roam, the Wheeli, 2Wheelz, Back to the Future, Mobile Tech, Hover Shark, NWS, X Glider and X Rider.

Additionally, retailer Overstock.com is recalling all hoverboards sold on its website, which amounts to 4,300 in all. Similarly, Boscov's, a retailer based in Reading, Pennsylvania, is recalling 1,300 Orbit hoverboards.

The hazard described by the CPSC specifically cites risks associated with lithium-ion battery packs used in the hoverboards that may "overheat, posing a risk of the products smoking, catching fire and/or exploding."

immediately stop using these recalled products and contact the recalling company to return their hoverboard for a full refund, a free repair or a free replacement

Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled products and contact the recalling company to return their hoverboard for a full refund, a free repair or a free replacement depending on the model," reads the official CPSC advisory in a statement sent to Mashable.

As we reported months ago, the CPSC advises that consumers only purchase hoverboards that have been certified as safe by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). While the CSPC advises that consumers seek a refund for many of the listed hoverboards, the agency advised seeking replacements from some brands that have acquired safety certification.

For example, in the case of Swagway, the CPSC advises contacting Swagway to "receive a repair or credit toward the purchase of a UL 2272 certified Swagtron T1 or T3 model." Similarly, the agency advises seeking a UL-certified replacement device from the makers of the Airwalk, the Powerboard, the Hype Roam, the Hovertrax. For all other hoverboards listed, the agency advises seeking a full refund from the manufacturer or retailer.

Consumers in the U.S. unsure whether or not their hoverboard is part of the recall can call the CPSC consumer hotline at (800) 638-2772.

The recall comes just as the fears around hoverboards were beginning to wane and some hoverboard makers had begun to get UL-certified devices to the public. However, this massive recall will likely bring back memories of the horror stories associated with many hoverboard brands. According to the CPSC, roughly 99 hoverboard battery-related incidents have resulted in reports of injury and over $2 million in property damage across 20 states.

And while this recall will be welcome news for those still concerned about the safety of hoverboards, the agency warns that the investigation is ongoing, which means that there may be more recalls in the future.

Source:Techgig.com