The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Segway L.L.C. have officially recalled all 6,000 Segways due to safety concerns. The recall was prompted by incidents where the Segways tipped forward when the battery was low, particularly during sudden acceleration or when navigating obstacles. Despite only three reported injuries, the recall has significantly tarnished the Segway's reputation, associating it with safety risks. This situation poses a challenge for Segway's image and its inventor, Dean Kamen.
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Segway L.L.C. announced a recall yesterday of all 6,000 Segways, which, the announcement said, tend to tip forward when the batteries are low and the rider does something that requires a quick burst of power, like speeding up abruptly or trying to bump over an obstacle.