Michigan: Thousands Of Electric Scooters Recalled For Safety Issu

I remember being younger and wanting a skateboard because at the time, Tony Hawk was all over the place and skateboarding was growing in popularity. My mother, like many other parents at the time, made sure that I had not only one but two skateboards even though I didn't use them for long.

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I said all of that to say that trends are always changing and many of us are doing what we can to stay up with them. Although trends die all the time, there is one trend that has stuck around much longer than most people thought it would. That's electric scooters, hoverboards, segways, etc. as they all have the same basic function.

They are ways to travel slightly faster than walking but in the safest way possible. Well, that's what some of us may think but after some recent news, many people are rethinking their purchase. There are thousands of electric scooters that are being taken off shelves in Michigan and all over the country for a serious safety concern.

Walmart and Sam's Club have recalled nearly 18,000 electric scooters for concerns that they may randomly catch on fire due to a battery issue that causes them to overheat and burst into flames. The recall is for several models of the SG-5 Swagger 5 Boost Commuter Electric Scooters which were sold both in Walmart/Sam's Club stores and online.

The scooters were available from May 2018 through October 2024 for somewhere between $175 and $450. The scooters were only available in black or silver and have "SWAGGER 5" on the stem of the handlebars. The following model numbers are the ones on recall which is found on the side of the scooter deck:

SWGR5-V2-SLV

SWGR5-V2-2
SG5 Boost
SG-5S
96262-2
96262-9
SG-5S
96560-2

The recall comes after 7 different complaints about the lithium-ion battery had problems with overheating, smoking, melting, and even igniting. There was one incident where the battery ignited, and it caused both a burn injury and substantial damage to an apartment. All owners are encouraged to stop using the recalled scooters immediately and to not charge them again.

Owners are being asked to cut the throttle cord and dispose of the scooter according to the appropriate disposal ordinances for your state and local governments. This is an important thing to note as some municipalities have different guidelines regarding battery disposal.

All customers who have purchased to scooters are entitled to a refund and Walmart says they will reach out to those that have purchased them to organize refunds but there's nothing stopping you from either returning the item or even reaching out them first to sort out your refund.