Hover-1 Dynamo Recall Lawsuit Investigation

DGL Group recalled about 4,200 Hover-1 Dynamo e-scooters on July 25, 2024, after the brakes on some units failed during use. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the voluntary recall, which remains open with no closure date on record. A recalled scooter has a printed code on a label under the deck, which owners can check before contacting DGL Group about the free refund. Anyone with an affected scooter should stop riding it right away and contact DGL Group for a full refund. Riders hurt by a brake failure may also want to know whether the recall creates any legal option.

Latest Hover-1 Dynamo Recall Updates

July 25, 2024: CPSC Announces the Recall

The CPSC’s recall notice, dated July 25, 2024, covers roughly 4,200 Hover-1 Dynamo e-scooters that DGL Group pulled from the market [1]. DGL Group had received multiple reports of the brakes failing, including some injuries, before the announcement. DGL Group is offering a full refund to every owner of a recalled scooter. The recall remains open.

Which Hover-1 Dynamo Units Are Affected?

The recall covers Hover-1 Dynamo e-scooters that carry a specific serial-number code and were sold during a set window:

• Scooters with the letters “WY” as the seventh and eighth characters of the serial number, on a label on the bottom of the scooter
• Scooters sold online exclusively at Walmart.com from November 2021 through July 2022, for about $200

Owners can check their own scooter by turning it over and reading the serial number on that bottom label. A scooter without the “WY” code falls outside this recall, even if bought in the same window. DGL Group asks owners of an affected scooter to keep the serial number visible when they request a refund from the company.

Why Was Hover-1 Dynamo Recalled?

Hover-1 Dynamo e-scooters were recalled because their brakes can fail, posing a risk of serious injury and a crash hazard for the rider. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and DGL Group identified the hazard after riders reported the brakes failing, with some incidents causing injury. The recall followed after DGL Group had already stopped selling the scooters. DGL Group imported the recalled scooters into the United States before their online sale, rather than manufacturing the scooters on its own. The company chose a full refund as the remedy for every affected scooter once the brake-failure reports and resulting injuries reached the CPSC.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

DGL Group has received 22 reports of the Hover-1 Dynamo’s brakes failing. Those reports include seven injuries: abrasions, contusions, a dislocated shoulder, fractured teeth, lacerations, and strains. The notice does not list any deaths connected to the recall. These figures come from reports DGL Group and the CPSC had received as of the July 25, 2024 notice. Later incidents, if any, are not reflected in that count, since neither agency has published a newer tally. A report to the company or the agency is not itself proof that the brakes caused a given crash. It is, however, the basis the recall itself relies on.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone with a recalled Hover-1 Dynamo e-scooter should take these steps right away, before riding it again:

1. Stop riding the scooter immediately, even if it has not shown a problem yet
2. Check the serial number on the bottom label for the “WY” code
3. Call DGL Group toll-free at 888-556-8426, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit hover-1.com’s recall page, to start a refund
4. Take a photo of the serial number before you sever the scooter’s motor cable, as DGL Group requires
5. Send the photos to DGL Group to receive the full refund
6. Keep the Walmart.com purchase record, if it is still available, until the refund is complete
7. Check Recalls.gov, a site jointly run by federal agencies including the CPSC, for this recall’s current federal status [2]

Legal Options

A recall does not automatically establish liability. Owning a recalled scooter does not by itself create a legal claim against DGL Group or the CPSC. No class action, multidistrict litigation, or settlement over this recall has been filed. That is based on the federal pending-MDL list [3]. Someone injured when a Hover-1 Dynamo brake failed may still want a legal review to look at the specific facts of what happened.

Filing Deadlines

An injury claim tied to the Hover-1 Dynamo recall has a filing deadline. That deadline comes from state law rather than the recall notice. Where the rider lives shapes the calendar, and so does when the injury happened. A strong claim can still be lost over a missed filing deadline. A rider who was hurt should check with a lawyer promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Recall Notice on Hover-1’s Website Start My Injury Claim?

No, the recall notice on Hover-1’s website does not start an injury claim. It walks owners to the refund only, reached by clicking “Important Recall Information” near the top of the site. A brake-failure injury claim is a separate step, taken up in an individual legal review.

What Evidence Should I Keep for a Hover-1 Dynamo Claim?

The evidence to keep for a Hover-1 Dynamo claim includes the scooter’s serial number and photos taken before the motor cable was severed. Also save your Walmart.com purchase record and any medical records from a brake-failure injury.

How Can I Tell If My Hover-1 Dynamo Scooter Is Part of the Recall?

You can tell your Hover-1 Dynamo scooter is part of the recall mainly by its look. Recalled units are matte black and two-wheeled, with a kickstand and reflective lights front and back. The Hover-1 logo sits on the stand board and on the stem.

Do I Need to Return My Hover-1 Dynamo Scooter to Get a Refund?

No, you do not need to return your Hover-1 Dynamo scooter to get a refund. The recall notice asks only for photos of the serial number and the severed motor cable.

Where Is DGL Group, the Company Behind the Hover-1 Dynamo Recall, Based?

DGL Group, the company that recalled the Hover-1 Dynamo, is based in Edison, New Jersey. The recalled scooters themselves were manufactured in China before DGL Group imported and sold them in the United States.

What If DGL Group Does Not Respond to a Hover-1 Dynamo Refund Request?

If DGL Group does not respond to a Hover-1 Dynamo refund request, the recall notice directs owners to file a complaint with the CPSC directly, describing the problem, rather than only re-contacting the company.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/DGL-Group-Recalls-Hover-1-Dynamo-E-Scooters-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-and-Crash-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Walmart-com
2. https://www.recalls.gov
3. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/mdl-case-info