Self-balancing scooters/hoverboards
CPSC Recall #16-216 — July 6, 2016
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 16-216 |
| Recall Date | July 6, 2016 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | About 84,000 |
| Manufacturer | Keenford Limited, of Lynbrook, N.Y. |
| Importer | Keenford Limited, of Lynbrook, N.Y. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Macy’s |
| The Athlete’s Foot and other stores nationwide and online at imotohk.com and hoverboard360.com from September 2015 through December 2015 for between $400 and $600. |
Product
Self-balancing scooters/hoverboards
Description
This recall involves iMoto brand self-balancing scooters, commonly referred to as hoverboards. Hoverboards have two wheels at either end of a platform and are powered by lithium-ion battery packs. The iMoto Smart Balance Board style (model no. M1A1) has 6.5 inch wheels and was sold in blue, black, green, multi, pink, yellow, gold-plated chrome and platinum-plated chrome. The iMoto Smart Balance Board 2.0 style (model no. M2A2) has 8 inch wheels and was sold in blue, black, black/red, chrome, neon, Oreo and white. The iMoto Smart Balance Board SUV style (model no. M3A3) has 10 inch wheels and was sold in carbon fiber, mahogany and graffiti.
Hazard
The lithium-ion battery packs in the self-balancing scooters/hoverboards can overheat, posing a risk of the products smoking, catching fire and/or exploding.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been six incidents reported of sparks, overheating and short circuits with the recalled hoverboards. No injuries and property damage have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled products and contact Keenford Limited to exchange their hoverboard for a refund in the form of a store credit or a free replacement hoverboard that is certified to comply with UL2272.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund, Replace) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.