Half A Million Hoverboards Recalled Due To Fire Hazard
By Debra Goldschmidt and Elizabeth Cohen
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on Wednesday of 501,000 hoverboards due to fire hazard.
The lithium-ion battery packs in the self-blancing hoverboards can overheat, resulting in sparking, smoking, fire and explosion, according to the agency. There have been at least 99 incidents of burn injuries and property damage reported.
The recalled hoverboards, which have two wheels, were sold between June 2015 and May 2016 at retailers and online, including Overstock.com. They are made by 10 companies, manufactured in China and sold at a cost of $350 to $900.
Consumers are advised to discontinue use of these products and contact the company for information about a refund, or in some cases, a repair. A list of the recalled hoverboards is available from the CPSC.
In December, CPSC chairman Elliot F. Kaye told CNN that the agency was working non-stop to figure out what was causing these products to "burst into flames."
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