PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

More Than 500K 'Hoverboards' Recalled Over Fire Hazard

The lithium-ion battery packs in these two-wheeled scooters can overheat, catch fire, and/or explode.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

More than 500,000 so-called hoverboards sold by 10 different companies are being recalled over fire risks, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The lithium-ion battery packs in these self-balancing, two-wheeled scooters, also commonly referred to as hoverboards, can overheat, causing them to smoke, catch fire, and/or explode, the CPSC warned Wednesday. The agency said there have been at least 99 reports of the battery packs on these devices "overheating, sparking, smoking, catching fire and/or exploding including reports of burn injuries and property damage."

The recall most notably includes some 267,000 X1 hoverboards made by Swagway as well as 28,000 Hovertrax brand boards made by Razor USA, and all hoverboards sold on Overstock.com. It also affects the following hoverboard brands: Hover-Way, Powerboard, Hype Roam, iMoto, Airwalk Self Balancing Electric Scooter, Wheeli, 2Wheelz, Back to the Future, Mobile Tech, Hover Shark, NWS, X Glider, X Rider, and Orbit.

Owners of the affected boards should "immediately" stop using them and contact the recalling company for a full refund, a free repair, or a free replacement, depending on the model, the CPSC said. For a full list of affected models as well as contact information for recalling companies, head over to the CPSC's website.

The recall comes after the CPSC in February issued an official warning to manufacturers, importers, and retailers of self-balancing scooters, urging them to get their devices certified, or risk civil and criminal penalties.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read full bio