The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Jetson Electric Bikes announced the recall of about 53,000 self-balancing scooters/hoverboards after two young girls lost their lives in a fire started by the vehicle’s battery.
CPSC and Jetson are urging consumers to stop using and charging the 42-volt Jetson Rogue scooter/hoverboards immediately.
In April 2022, a 10-year-old girl and her 15-year-old sister died in a fire ignited by a 42-volt Jetson Rogue scooter/hoverboard in Hellertown, Pennsylvania.
According to the Hellertown Borough Fire Marshal, the fire rapidly spread to other portions of the house, resulting in the deaths of the two girls and smoke inhalation injuries to the girls’ parents.
Since then, multiple reports about the Jetson Rogue scooters/hoverboards sparking, melting, and burning have been cited. It was determined that the lithium-ion battery packs in the devices tend to overheat, posing a severe fire hazard.
The recall pertains to all 42-volt Jetson Rogue scooter/hoverboard units.
They were sold at Target stores nationwide and on Target’s online shop from August 2018 through June 2019. They were also available at www.ridejetson.com from January 2019 through November 2021 for between $100 and $150.
Jetson is currently contacting all known purchasers directly.
The company’s recall notice provides photos and the details needed to identify the hazardous units.
The self-balancing scooters/hoverboards have two wheels with light-up hubcaps; they come in black, blue, red, pink, and purple with a black platform. “Jetson” is printed on one side of the body and the top of the footpads.
Affected units have a UL certification label and serial number beginning with the letters “ROG” on the bottom of the vehicle but no barcode. Units with a barcode next to the serial number are not included in this recall.
The charge port on affected units is located to the left of the power button and has three pins. Units with a single-pin charge port, located to the right of the power button, are safe to use.
For more information, Jetson is available at 800-635-4815 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Customers can also go online at http://www.ridejetson.com/rogue-recall.
Only recently, CPSC advised consumers to exercise caution with micromobility devices such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards.
The safety commission recommends always being present when charging the lithium-ion batteries on these devices, warning consumers explicitly to “never charge them when [you are] sleeping.”
Other safety measures include only using the charger that came with the device, proper care when charging and unplugging the device, and only using approved replacement battery packs.
To prevent further fire hazards, consumers are instructed never to throw lithium batteries in the trash or in general recycling. Take them to a local battery recycler or hazardous waste collection center.
