Hoverboard Recalls List: Are They Safe In 2024?

Hoverboards officially reached the mainstream market in 2013, and the hype quickly sparked interest on a global scale. But with them, they brought safety issues.

Hoverboard safety issues revealed themselves almost immediately after the toys came out, prompting retailers like Amazon to pull them from the market.

Hoverboard recalls became commonplace in 2016 and 2017. So, are hoverboards safe? Has the hoverboard combusting problem been solved?

In this article, we’ll go through a timeline of recalls, how hoverboards have gotten significantly safer, and how to avoid hoverboard fire hazards on your own.

Timeline of Hoverboard Brand Recalls

Here’s a list of recalled hoverboards found on the CPSC website. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe.

All Self-Balancing Scooter Recalls Since 2016 (Newest to oldest)

Date	Model	Hazard	Units
December 21, 2023	Hover-1 Helix (Camo & Galaxy colors only)	Fire hazard	25,000
March 30, 2023	Jetson Rogue	Fire hazard	53,000
May 19, 2022	Hover-1 Superfly	Injury hazard	93,000
August 25, 2021	Razor Hovertrax 2.0	Fire hazard	237,300
November 14, 2017	Drone Nerds hoverboard	Fire hazard	700
November 14, 2017	Go Wheels hoverboard	Fire hazard	1,800
November 14, 2017	iHoverspeed hoverboard	Fire hazard	900
November 14, 2017	iLive self-balancing scooter	Fire hazard	8,700
November 14, 2017	Tech Drift hoverboard	Fire hazard	100
November 14, 2017	Sonic Smart Wheels	Fire hazard	1,000
November 14, 2017	Smart Balance hoverboard	Fire hazard	700
July 24, 2017	iRover hoverboard	Fire hazard	2,800
March 23, 2017	Vecaro LifeStyle	Fire hazard	500
December 13, 2016	World Trading hoverboard	Fire hazard	1,900
July 6, 2016	Keenford Limited hoverboard	Fire hazard	84,000
July 6, 2016	Razor Hovertrax	Fire hazard	28,000
July 6, 2016	Overstock.com hoverboard	Fire hazard	4,300
July 6, 2016	Digital Gadgets hoverboard	Fire hazard	16,000
July 6, 2016	Boscov hoverboard	Fire hazard	1,300
July 6, 2016	Hoverboard LLC	Fire hazard	70,000
July 6, 2016	Yuka Clothing hoverboard	Fire hazard	800
July 6, 2016	PTX Performance hoverboard	Fire hazard	4,900
July 6, 2016	Ten firms recalled	Fire hazard	501,000

Since 2016, there have been a total of 23 hoverboard recalls. Around 1,115,200 hoverboard units have been affected. Fire hazards (battery overheating) have been the main reason for recalls.

Are Hoverboards Safe in 2024?

According to CPSC’s list of hoverboard recalls, there were no recalls in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Why? We can thank Underwriters Laboratories, or UL, an independent safety testing company. They created a series of tests for hoverboards and other self-balancing scooters a few years back.

For a while, no hoverboard met these UL 2272 requirements, but in early 2016, they approved a hoverboard produced by Ninebot, Segway’s parent company.

You’ll notice that lots of hoverboards were recalled after that, so even though the new safety standard was set up, most brands were not meeting them. That’s changed, luckily, and you can find many brands with the UL stamp of approval.

What Does UL Test For?

What does the UL test for? Here’s a rundown of their tests designed to separate hoverboard brands that catch fire from the ones that don’t:

The batteries

Nearly all hoverboards use lithium-ion batteries because they are small but store a lot of power. Unfortunately, they are also prone to overheating and explosions.

To determine if that’s possible with specific hoverboards, UL has tests that stimulate a battery cell heating up and what happens if a battery gets punctured. If they explode, that’s bad news. A self-balancing scooter fire can destroy an entire house.

The charger

Hoverboards use USB chargers, and they are not always safe. Before a hoverboard gets a UL certification, the lab tests the charger. Using a charger that is not UL-certified is a bad idea. A bad charger could cause perfect batteries to get overcharged and then they explode.

They might also just pop, dry out, and die without much fanfare. Neither is good. Knock-off chargers are common, so it’s best to use the charger you got with your UL-certified hoverboard because you know it’s been tested.

The wires

When building a hoverboard, the manufacturing process must be top-notch. To save money, some brands aren’t very careful. UL opens up the hoverboards they’re testing and takes a closer look. The wires were crimped and exposed in those that didn’t pass their tests, which could easily cause a short circuit. Some were not secured properly, so when riding, they could actually come loose. 

Other manufacturing issues

While looking inside hoverboards, UL might also notice shortcuts that could cause big problems. According to Quartz, UL has found metal shavings inside, which could cause short-circuiting and wire tears. To test for sound construction, UL conducts drop tests. If the board breaks and parts come loose after just one drop, it’s probably not going to get that coveted UL 2272 stamp.

Other tests

UL has many other tests for hoverboards, like a leakage current test, shock test, crash test, mold stress relief test, water exposure test, thermal cycling test, motor overload test, and vibration test. If you want to get even deeper into everything they’re looking at, check out this page on their website for a full list of tests.

Even if a model has gotten a UL 2272 certification, there could still be hoverboard safety issues. Things can change once you’ve been riding a board for a while, and improper care can make a hoverboard dangerous. However, the UL 2272 certification is the best defense against hoverboard fires, so you should absolutely only consider brands that meet that standard. You can find lots on Amazon now, as well as other retailers. Brands wear the distinction with pride, so if you don’t see it clearly displayed on the board or product page, odds are it probably isn’t safe enough.

How to Protect your Hoverboard against Fire Risks

Even perfectly designed hoverboards with a UL 2272 certification could cause a fire or other problems.

While there have only been a few official hoverboard recalls since 2017, you’ll still see stories of scooters exploding or starting fires. Why? The first reason could be that the hoverboards weren’t UL-certified. The other might be that the owners weren’t taking proper of their board. Here’s what to do to avoid playing with fire:

1. Don’t buy a really cheap hoverboard or one that isn’t UL-certified

This is a no-brainer. With hoverboards, you get what you pay for. While you don’t have to spend $1000+ on a top hoverboard, it is riskier to get one that’s under $200 or so.  You should certainly never buy one that isn’t UL 2272 certified. If you wanna go cheap, check our list of safe cheap hoverboards instead.

2. Never charge longer than the recommended time

You’ll frequently see stories of hoverboards exploding overnight or after their owners have left them charging for hours at a time. Most hoverboards take just 3 hours at the most to charge fully, and then they should be unplugged. This isn’t just to save energy; leaving a hoverboard charging too long can overcharge the battery. As we mentioned before, even perfectly good batteries can explode or die when overcharged, so don’t do it. You should also not leave your hoverboard charging unattended.

3. Don’t leave a fully-charged hoverboard lying around for very long

 If your hoverboard is fully charged, you shouldn’t leave it stored for too long. We recommend taking it for a short ride, so it gets down to at least 90%. Leaving a fully-juiced hoverboard in your garage or house for weeks at a time isn’t a great idea. It’s almost like the batteries' energy is bursting at the seams.

4. Keep your hoverboard in a cool area

Hoverboard batteries are sensitive to heat. If they get too hot, they can explode. Pretty much all batteries are like this, but lithium-ions are much more unstable. Make sure you aren’t leaving your hoverboard in a room you know gets really hot or hit with direct sunlight for hours at a time. Find a place that’s relatively cool and away from flammable objects. Ideally, you don’t expect your hoverboard to explode, but if it does, you want to make sure it won’t start a fire that spreads.

5. Play nice with your board

UL does conduct drop tests for hoverboards, but eventually, all hoverboards will break if you smash them around. Keep your board protected by not taking too many risks and not going off-road unless you have an all-terrain hoverboard specifically designed for the task. You should try not to crash just for your own safety, as well, so hopefully, bashing up your hoverboard is not something you intend to do.

Hoverboards that have been UL 2272 certified

Are you in the market for a hoverboard that meets all the essential safety requirements? There are lots of brands and models out there, such as:

• Halo Rover X
• Gyroor G2
• Swagtron Warrior XL
• Gyroor G13
• Hover-1 Titan

Other Safety Tips

Since hoverboard manufacturers have mostly figured out how to make safe products, injuries are the most significant safety concern. Most people aren’t getting burned; they’re just falling off their hoverboards.

To stay as safe as possible, always wear the appropriate gear. At a minimum, you should protect your head. Get a good helmet designed for cyclists since these have their own safety standards.

You want to make sure it is fitted properly. Other recommended gear includes knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. Falling on your tailbone can be incredibly painful, too, especially if you’re going at high speeds, so consider padded shorts specifically designed for skateboarders, snowboarders, and now, hoverboarders.

If you’re going to get a hoverboard for kids, we recommend getting the above-mentioned safety gear as well.

Always follow proper riding instructions, obey the law, and read the user manual.

It’s always important to have the fundamentals on point as well. Make sure you learn how to ride a hoverboard properly before you take upon any type of terrain challenge.

Conclusion & Stance on Recalls

Hoverboard recalls appear to have been clustered between 2016 and 2017, with only a handful of recalls in recent years. Most big brands are now springing for the UL 2272 certification, a set of safety requirements that significantly lower the risk of hoverboard fires.

If you want a hoverboard, be sure to get one that has that official UL stamp. You can also avoid hoverboard fire hazards by taking good care of the board. Don’t let it charge longer than necessary or sit fully charged for too long.

Store it in a dry, ventilated area away from anything that might catch on fire, and treat the hoverboard well when you’re riding. Smashing it up can hurt the batteries and motor.

If you are still wary of hoverboards because of early horror stories, you can rest easy. The safety requirements have significantly improved in a very short time, so if you get a UL-certified hoverboard, things will likely be just fine.