Segway hoverboards and electric skateboards

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Mar 17, 2026 · , sent to the company Apr 27, 2026 · , published by CPSC May 11, 2026

   The product, in the report: Segway Ninebot Max G2 electric scooter

   To the Office of Compliance and Field Operations:

   I am writing to formally request that the Consumer Product Safety Commission open an in-depth investigation into the Segway Ninebot Max 02 electric scooter and evaluate whether a mandatory safety recall is warranted. I make this request after experiencing repeated and identical safety failures across three separate replacement units of the same model. These failures are not minor inconveniences. They present a substantial risk of loss of control, rider ejection, and serious bodily injury.

   I am a California resident and purchased this scooter from Best Buy in San Carlos, California. I selected the Segway Ninebot Max 02 based on the manufacturer’s marketing claims of stability, durability, and enhanced safety systems. Instead, what I have experienced is a recurring pattern of mechanical and firmware-related defects that make the device unpredictable and unsafe at normal operating speeds.

   The most alarming issue involves what I can only describe as sudden and aggressive braking behavior at or near top speed. The scooter is advertised as capable of reaching approximately 22 miles per hour. In real-world use, particularly when riding downhill, the scooter may reach 23 to 24 miles per hour. Under these conditions, the regenerative braking system abruptly engages with excessive force. This is not a gradual or controlled speed regulation. It feels like an instantaneous braking event that causes a forward jolt strong enough to shift the rider’s center of gravity.

   This braking action occurs without meaningful warning and without rider input. The handlebars lurch forward, the front end dips, and the rider must immediately compensate to avoid being thrown. In traffic or in a crowded pedestrian environment, such a sudden destabilizing force could easily result in a crash. At 22 miles per hour, the margin for error is extremely small. A momentary loss of balance at that speed can result in head injury, fractures, or harm to bystanders.

   The critical point is that this behavior has occurred on every replacement unit I have received. This is not an isolated defect tied to one serial number. It appears to be systemic, likely related to firmware calibration or a flawed implementation of regenerative braking logic tied to overspeed detection. Whether the root cause is software or hardware, the effect is the same: unpredictable, forceful braking that compromises rider control.

   The second ongoing issue involves persistent handlebar instability. On each unit, the steering stem either arrived with noticeable play or developed it shortly after minimal use. I followed all assembly instructions carefully. I tightened the fasteners using appropriate tools and confirmed that torque was applied correctly. Despite this, lateral movement in the handlebars remains. The play is not cosmetic. It affects steering precision.

   Even slight looseness in a steering column at higher speeds can amplify into wobble or misalignment. In an emergency maneuver, that instability can prevent accurate control. This is not a case of routine maintenance being neglected. It appears to be either a tolerance defect in the stem assembly or a structural weakness in the internal joint design. Again, the issue has repeated itself across multiple units.

   Compounding these safety concerns is the response I have received from the manufacturer. I have documented my complaints with Segway customer support on multiple occasions. In one recent case, the company returned a replacement scooter to me with a damaged display and continued steering instability. These issues were minimized as cosmetic, despite the fact that steering looseness is inherently a safety concern. The relevant customer service case number is [REDACTED].

   From my perspective, the pattern suggests that Segway is aware of these recurring issues but continues distributing replacement units without implementing corrective design changes. Sending consumers additional scooters that exhibit the same hazardous characteristics does not resolve the underlying defect. It perpetuates it.

   As a California consumer, I am also mindful of the protections afforded under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. When a product cannot be repaired to conform to express warranties after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer is entitled to meaningful relief. However, beyond warranty rights, my concern here is public safety. Electric scooters are widely used by teenagers, commuters, and riders in dense urban environments. A systemic braking defect combined with steering instability creates a foreseeable risk of injury not only to riders but also to pedestrians and motorists.

   I have preserved all relevant evidence, including the damaged shipping carton, the defective unit, and correspondence with the manufacturer. I am fully willing to cooperate with any inquiry conducted by the Commission. If necessary, I would welcome a field investigator to inspect the scooter and observe the braking behavior under controlled conditions.

   This product is marketed as a safe and premium mobility device. In its current condition, it behaves unpredictably at normal operating speeds. The fact that three separate units have exhibited materially identical defects strongly indicates that the issue is not isolated. It is either a design flaw, a firmware calibration failure, or a structural weakness in the steering assembly.

   For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Consumer Product Safety Commission initiate an In-Depth Investigation into the Segway Ninebot Max 02 and evaluate whether a safety recall or corrective action is warranted. The potential for serious injury is real, and I believe federal review is appropriate before more riders are harmed.

   Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available at the contact information listed above should your office require further documentation or clarification.

   Respectfully submitted,

   [REDACTED]

   Model

   Ninebot Max G2

   Bought from

   Best Buy, Minnesota

   Where

   WOODSIDE, California: Unspecified

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Segway, made or sold by Segway, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources