At Least Seven Companies Recall More Hoverboards Due to Fire Risks

If you have a hoverboard in your home, it’s time to double-check it… again.
In November 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a series of six recalls on six different hoverboards because of safety hazards. All but one of the products were manufactured in China.
Back in July 2016, the CPSC announced a previous recall of about 500,000 hoverboards made by ten different companies. Reports showed the lithium-ion batteries could overheat, posing a risk of the products catching fire and/or exploding. This recall occurred after the CPSC warned hoverboard manufacturers in February 2016 that hoverboards that didn’t meet certain safety standards posed an “unreasonable risk” of fire to consumers.

Recall Involves at Least 7 Brands of Hoverboards

The new recalls concern at least seven brands of hoverboards, and again, the problem is the lithium-ion batteries, which may overheat and start fires, particularly when the units are charging.

  1. Drone Nerds: The CPSC is recalling about 700 of these, imported from China by Drone Nerds Inc. The recall affects those sold online and in Drone Nerds stores from November 2015 through March 2016 for about $300.
  2. Go Wheels: This recall affects about 1,800 Go Wheels hoverboards sold between October 2015 and March 2016 for about $200 exclusively at the Village Mart store in Memphis, Tennessee.
  3. iHoverspeed: This recall affects about 900 hoverboards sold online between November 2015 and December 2015 for between $290 and $330. The products were imported by Simplified Wireless.
  4. iLive: This recall involves about 8,700 hoverboards sold between April 2016 and March 2017 at Ace Hardware and HHGregg brick and mortar and online stores nationwide, and in Heartland America catalogs. The products were imported by Digital Products International, Inc.
  5. Sonic Smart Wheels: This recall affects about 1,000 hoverboards sold between August 2015 and December 2016 for about $200. They were sold at Dollar Mania store in Louisiana. Dollar Mania imported them, and they have received one report of a hoverboard catching fire in Louisiana and causing about $40,000 in property damages.
  6. Smart Balance: This recall affects about 700 hoverboards sold between August 2016 and March 2017 for about $150. They were sold only at Salvage World stores in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and were imported by Salvage World. The firm has received one report of a hoverboard battery pack catching fire in Mississippi and resulting in property damage.

In all cases, the CPSC and the companies have advised consumers to stop using the hoverboards and to contact either the store where they bought the product or the importer for a refund or replacement unit. All affected models have a “UL 2272” compliance certification label on them.

Two Girls Killed in Hoverboard-Caused House Fire

Though none of these companies have received reports of any injuries, there were two young children killed in a house fire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in March 2017. The hoverboard that caused the incident caught fire while recharging. The girls were taken to the hospital but did not survive. A responding firefighter was also killed in a car accident on his way to the house.