Hoverboards Responsible for Deaths of 2 Hellertown Girls Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

Jetson Electric Bikes LLC announced a recall of about 53,000 42-volt Jetson Rogue self-balancing scooters/hoverboards due to the potential fire hazard posed by the lithium-ion battery packs.

The company is urging consumers to immediately stop using and charging the affected hoverboards and to contact Jetson for a full refund.

The recall follows the tragic death of a 10-year-old girl and her 15-year-old sister in Hellertown, on April 1, 2022. A fire, which originated from a 42-volt Jetson Rogue, engulfed the room and eventually spread to other parts of the house.

The incident resulted in smoke inhalation injuries for the girls’ parents. Multiple other reports of the recalled scooters/hoverboards catching fire, sparking, or melting have also emerged, with some involving flames.

The affected hoverboards, available in black, blue, red, pink, and purple, were manufactured between 2018 and 2019. They have a UL certification label and serial number on the bottom of the unit, but no barcode. The charge port has three pins and is located to the left of the power button. The recall does not include units with a barcode next to the serial number or a single-pin charge port located to the right of the power button.

Customers who purchased the hoverboards at Target stores nationwide, online at www.target.com between August 2018 and June 2019, or at www.ridejetson.com from January 2019 through November 2021 for prices between $100 and $150 are eligible for a refund.

To claim the refund, consumers should visit http://www.ridejetson.com/rogue-recall and submit photographs of the hoverboard’s serial number, charger, purchase date, and confirmation of disposal in accordance with state or local ordinances for lithium-ion batteries. Photos can be submitted online, by email, or by postal mail.

Due to the distinct disposal requirements for lithium-ion batteries, consumers should not deposit the Rogue’s battery in battery recycling boxes found at retailers or home improvement stores, nor dispose of it in the trash. Consumers are advised to follow their municipal recycling center’s guidelines for disposing of recalled lithium-ion batteries.

For more information, contact Jetson Electric Bikes at 800-635-4815 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit https://ridejetson.com and click on “SAFETY & RECALL” at the top of the page.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has also recently issued a reminder for consumers to exercise caution with micromobility devices like hoverboards, to always be present when charging these devices, and to only use the supplied charger.