Hoverboard Battery Fire Risk: What You Need to Know

TL;DR: Hoverboards have a real and documented history of battery fires — this isn't fearmongering, it's the CPSC's actual track record. If your hoverboard is hot to the touch, smells like burning plastic, or makes strange noises while charging, stop using it immediately and unplug it from the wall. Check the CPSC recall database to see if your specific model has been officially recalled, and sign up for free recall alerts so you're covered if a new recall drops.

Hoverboards use lithium-ion batteries, and when those batteries are poorly manufactured, overcharged, or damaged, they can catch fire or explode. This isn't theoretical — the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled millions of hoverboards since 2016. If you're hearing about hoverboard fires and wondering if yours could be at risk, the honest answer is: yes, depending on the model, and here's exactly how to find out.

Hoverboards are essentially a battery, motors, and gyroscopes packed into a small plastic shell that people stand on. When you charge the battery, you're putting energy into a chemical system that sits directly under your feet. When that system fails, it fails fast.

The main risks:

The battery itself can fail catastrophically. Lithium-ion batteries work by moving ions between electrodes, and if that process goes wrong — usually due to internal damage, manufacturing defects, or charging with the wrong equipment — thermal runaway occurs. The battery heats up, which causes it to heat up faster, until it catches fire or explodes.

Overcharging is a huge problem with older hoverboards. Many cheap models have no battery management system to cut off charging when the battery is full. People leave them plugged in overnight, and the battery keeps getting charge current with nowhere to put the energy.

Physical damage is another trigger. Dropping your hoverboard can damage the battery internally, even if the casing looks fine. Punctured or dented batteries are fire risks.

Cheap chargers make everything worse. Using a third-party charger that doesn't match the hoverboard's voltage and current specs is one of the fastest ways to cause a battery fire.

If you own a hoverboard, check these warning signs immediately:

Your hoverboard gets unusually hot during charging or use. A little warmth is normal. If it's hot enough that you wouldn't want to hold it against your skin, that's a problem.

You smell burning plastic, chemicals, or anything sweet-ish. That sweet smell is often vented electrolyte from a failing battery.

The battery is swollen or bulging. This is a serious sign of battery failure. Do not try to use or charge it.

You hear hissing, popping, or crackling coming from the battery area.

The hoverboard was made before 2018. The safety standards for hoverboards improved significantly after the massive 2016-2017 recall wave.

The CPSC documented a massive wave of hoverboard recalls starting in 2016. The agency documented over 250 fire incidents in just a few years, spanning multiple brands and models. Brands affected included self-balancing scooters sold under various names, with many imports from unknown manufacturers being the primary hazard.

The most commonly affected brands in documented CPSC recalls included various models sold online through major retailers during 2015-2017. Many of these recalls involved units that lacked adequate battery management systems or used substandard battery cells.

If your hoverboard was purchased during that period, it's worth checking the CPSC database directly at cpsc.gov. The recall database is searchable and free to use.

As of this writing, the RecallRadar database does not have active hoverboard recalls indexed. This may be because the primary recall wave occurred years ago and those programs have since expired, or because newer recalls have not yet been scraped. Check CPSC.gov directly for the most current information, and consider registering your device with RecallRadar to get alerts if a new recall is issued.

Go to cpsc.gov and use the recall search. Search for "hoverboard" or "self-balancing scooter." Look for your specific brand and model number — the model number is usually on a sticker on the bottom or back of the unit.

If you find a recall notice, the remedy is typically a refund or replacement. Stop using the hoverboard immediately and unplug it.

Register your hoverboard with the manufacturer if you still have proof of purchase. Even without a receipt, registering your model number helps the manufacturer contact you if a recall is issued.

Even if your hoverboard isn't recalled, following these practices reduces fire risk significantly:

Use only the charger that came with your hoverboard. If you need a replacement, get one from the manufacturer, not a third-party seller on Amazon.

Never charge your hoverboard unattended, especially overnight. If you're not in the room to hear or smell a problem, a fire can spread before you wake up.

Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface. Not on your bed, couch, or carpet. A kitchen counter or tile floor is ideal.

Don't charge immediately after use — let the battery cool down first. Charging a hot battery is harder on the cells and increases failure risk.

If the battery gets hot, swells, or smells wrong while charging, unplug it immediately and move it outside or away from anything flammable. Do not put it in water.

If your hoverboard starts on fire, do not try to pick it up or move it. Lithium battery fires are hard to extinguish and can reignite.

Get everyone out of the area.

Call 911.

If it's small enough and you have a Class D fire extinguisher (designed for metal fires), use that. A standard ABC extinguisher can help but may not fully extinguish a lithium fire.

Do not use water on a lithium battery fire. Water can react with the electrolyte and make things worse.

Once the fire is out, do not touch the remains. The battery can reignite without warning.

If your hoverboard is old, has a swollen battery, smells wrong, or has been recalled, the safest move is to retire it. These devices are not worth the fire risk to your home or your family. Many municipalities have battery recycling programs — look for e-waste recycling drop-off points in your area for proper disposal.

Hoverboard safety standards have improved, but recalls still happen. The best thing you can do is register your devices and sign up for free recall alerts so you're notified immediately when something affects your specific model.

Set up a free RecallRadar alert for hoverboards and other personal electric devices at recallradar.co. You can also check any device you own against the recall database using the check tool at recallradar.co/check.

Check if your specific device is in the recall database: recallradar.co/check

Browse all active recalls: recallradar.co/recalls

Hoverboard recall database on CPSC: cpsc.gov/recalls

Report a safety incident to the CPSC: cpsc.gov/report