Safety
People get badly hurt on these things, and some die. Most of the injuries come from ordinary falls and collisions; a few come from the vehicle itself failing. This page covers both, with the federal records behind every number.
This is not medical advice. If you've hit your head, get checked by a doctor.
The numbers
Consumer Product Safety Commission staff published their latest micromobility report in April 2026. It covers e-scooters, e-bikes and self-balancing scooters (hoverboards) from 2017 through 2024:
By product, staff count 206 e-scooter deaths, 310 e-bike deaths and 17 self-balancing scooter deaths. Collisions with motor vehicles and loss of control were the top hazards for both e-scooters and e-bikes. Battery fires account for a smaller share: 15 of the e-scooter deaths, 19 of the e-bike deaths and 11 of the self-balancing scooter deaths. Among injured e-bike riders in the 2024 study, 40% wore a helmet. The report notes that counts for 2023 and 2024 are still coming in and may rise.
Source: CPSC, Micromobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries, and Hazard Patterns: 2017–2024 (April 2026). Checked Oct 26, 2026.
Onewheel nosedives
A self-balancing board keeps you upright only while the motor has torque to spare. Ask for more than it has, by going too fast, climbing too steep or running the battery low, and it can stop balancing. The nose drops into the pavement and you go over the front. Riders call it a nosedive.
On November 16, 2022, the CPSC told people to stop using every Onewheel model, saying the boards "can cause the rider to be ejected." It cited at least four deaths between 2019 and 2021, all from head trauma. Future Motion did not agree to a recall at the time.
On September 29, 2023, Future Motion and the CPSC announced recall 23-299 covering about 300,000 boards: the original Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Pint, Pint X and GT. The recall notice says the boards "can stop balancing the rider if the boards' limits are exceeded." In at least three of the four deaths the rider wasn't wearing a helmet. Reported injuries include traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis and fractures. The fix for the GT, Pint X, Pint and XR was a firmware update adding Haptic Buzz, a vibration and sound warning near the limits. Owners of the original Onewheel and Onewheel+ were offered pro-rated store credit after disposing of the board.
Future Motion's own support pages describe two warnings. Pushback lifts the nose when you hit the top speed for your ride mode, and lifts it harder for low battery or an error. Haptic Buzz pulses at top speed, goes solid if you keep accelerating, fires on steep climbs or hard acceleration, and double-buzzes for low battery or an error. The company says rider weight, tire pressure, terrain and battery level all change when these kick in, and that a heavier rider going uphill will hit them sooner. Its instruction is to lean back and slow down. If you ignore them, it says, "riders risk falling off the board and potentially getting hurt."
- CPSC warning 23-046, November 16, 2022
- CPSC recall 23-299, September 29, 2023
- Onewheel support: What is Pushback/Haptic Buzz?
Gear
A helmet, every ride. Every death in the Onewheel recall was a head injury.
A helmet first. Every death in the Onewheel recall was a head injury. Future Motion's support page says to wear at least a helmet every time you step on the board, and to check for an ASTM F1492-08, CPSC or CE EN1078 certification and fasten the chin strap. It also suggests wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads, especially while you're learning.
The CPSC's own riding advice for e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards starts the same way: always wear a helmet. It also says to check brakes, tires and the frame before riding, use lights and reflectors, keep both hands on the bars, and slow down and lean back for bumps.
Other recalls and warnings worth knowing
March 20, 2025, recall 25-193
Segway Ninebot Max G30P and Max G30LP KickScooters
About 220,000 scooters. The folding mechanism can fail and let the handlebars or stem fold while you ride. Segway had 68 reports of folding failures, including 20 injuries. Remedy: a free maintenance kit to check and tighten the mechanism. CPSC notice
November 21, 2024, recall 25-052
Segway Ninebot P100S KickScooters (2023 manufacture)
About 1,400 scooters. The front fork can break. 31 reports of broken forks, six with injuries. Remedy: free repair. CPSC notice
November 24, 2025, warning 26-118
Rad Power Bikes batteries RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y and HL-RP-S1304
The CPSC told owners to stop using these batteries and take them to household hazardous waste collection. It knows of 31 fires, 12 with property damage totaling about $734,500, some while the battery wasn't charging or in use. Rad Power Bikes refused an acceptable recall, saying it can't offer replacements or refunds to all owners given its finances, and disputes the findings for its Safe Shield and semi-integrated batteries. CPSC warning
July 6, 2016, multi-company recall
Hoverboards from 10 companies
About 501,000 self-balancing scooters, including Swagway X1 and Razor Hovertrax. The lithium-ion packs could overheat, smoke, catch fire or explode; at least 99 incident reports. CPSC notice
The CPSC keeps a running list of powered scooter and skateboard recalls. Search it for your exact model before you buy used.
Batteries
Battery fires are a small share of the deaths in the CPSC data, and they happen whether or not anyone is riding. The CPSC's charging advice: be there while it charges, never charge while you sleep or are away from home, use only the charger that came with the device or one the maker recommends, and don't use a pack that's been modified or reworked by someone unqualified. Dead lithium batteries go to a battery recycler or hazardous waste site, never the trash. If your battery is on a recall or warning list, stop using it.
Source: CPSC Micromobility Information Center.
All recall and warning details checked against the CPSC notices on Oct 26, 2026.