Max Mobility Recall | 2026 Legal Update

The SpeedControl Dial recall is a Class 1 device recall. FDA lists it as Open and Classified. Max Mobility, a Permobil subsidiary, expanded it worldwide on August 12, 2025 to cover all SpeedControl Dials for the SmartDrive MX2+.

The dials were distributed between April 25, 2022 and July 8, 2025. The notice says a design issue may cause an intermittent electrical connection to the motor. The device could then keep driving or move without user input.

If you use a SpeedControl Dial, stop using it. Permobil offers a free replacement control through its recall portal. The company says the SmartDrive MX2+ itself is not affected.

Latest Max Mobility Recall Updates

October 3, 2025: Class Action Lawsuit Filed

Two wheelchair users filed the class action Garofalo v. Permobil in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 3, 2025, as Case 2:25-cv-02080. The named plaintiffs are Garofalo and Hardy.

The complaint alleges the SpeedControl Dial was defectively designed and did not work as intended [1]. That is an allegation and not a finding. Permobil, Inc. and Max Mobility LLC are among the defendants in the case.

September 12, 2025: FDA Posts Class 1 Recall in Database

FDA posted the expanded recall in its medical device recall database on September 12, 2025 [2]. It is listed as a Class 1 recall, number Z-2539-2025, for 15,834 units.

The unit total covers the United States and the other countries where the dials were distributed. The database notes that the manufacturer has initiated the recall and not all products have been corrected or removed.

August 12, 2025: Recall Expanded Worldwide

Max Mobility/Permobil announced a worldwide expanded recall and removal of all SpeedControl Dials on August 12, 2025. FDA published the announcement the same day [3]. The company said it would replace the dials with an alternate control.

The recall is due to a design issue. The notice says the new recall supersedes the previous recall and covers all dials in the market.

April 7, 2025: FDA Publishes Expansion Notice

FDA published the company’s announcement of an expanded recall on April 7, 2025 [4]. The notice repeats the scope set on March 28, 2025.

The notice says recalled product may have been comingled with redesigned product and shipped after December 20, 2024. The company release is dated April 4, 2025. FDA sent a safety bulletin on April 8, 2025 [5].

March 28, 2025: Recall Expanded to All Dials

Max Mobility/Permobil expanded the recall on March 28, 2025. The expansion covered all SpeedControl Dials made and distributed from August 17, 2023 up to March 10, 2025. FDA’s August 12, 2025 notice gives this date.

As of March 27, 2025, the company had 781 complaints and 5 serious injuries associated with the circuit board assembly design. Those counts are complaints the company received. They are not proven causes.

February 28, 2025: FDA Identifies Class 1 Recall

FDA identified the SpeedControl Dial recall as Class 1 in a safety bulletin sent February 28, 2025 [6]. The bulletin writes it as Class I and calls it the most serious type of recall.

It warns that the device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it. The bulletin followed the company’s earlier announcement of a nationwide recall and FDA’s notice of it.

January 14, 2025: Nationwide Recall Announced

Max Mobility/Permobil announced the nationwide recall of the SpeedControl Dial on January 14, 2025. FDA published the announcement on January 17, 2025 [7]. As of December 12, 2024, the company had received 646 complaints.

The company reported 3 serious injuries: a fractured hip, a fractured tibia and a fractured malleolus bone. The notice says the dials were distributed through authorized dealers for purchase by consumers.

December 20, 2024: Voluntary Recall Begins

Max Mobility/Permobil initiated the voluntary recall on December 20, 2024. It was the first recall action on the SpeedControl Dial. It covered dials made and distributed between August 17, 2023 and November 21, 2024.

The company linked the action to a material change in the circuit board assembly. FDA’s recall page says the company sent affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Correction letter that day [8]. Customers were notified by email.

Which Max Mobility Devices Are Affected?

The recall covers all SpeedControl Dials, and the notices list these part numbers and serial numbers:

• MX2-3DC: the SpeedControl Dial sold alone as a spare part for use with a SmartDrive
• MX2-3DCK: the SpeedControl Dial shipped together with a new SmartDrive power assist device
• MX2-3DCMC: the SpeedControl Dial that Max Mobility/Permobil shipped after the first recall began
• Serial numbers: all units in the same distribution window, including replacements received under the previous recall

The SmartDrive MX2+ power assist device itself is not recalled. Permobil’s recall FAQ says the SmartDrive serial number is under the front nose of the device [9].

Why Was Max Mobility Recalled?

The SpeedControl Dial was recalled because a design issue can cause an intermittent electrical connection between the dial and the SmartDrive MX2+ motor. FDA’s database lists the determined cause as component design or selection.

FDA’s notice says this issue has been part of the dial since it reached the market in April 2022. If the connection drops in and out, two performance issues could occur.

Continued drive means the device fails to fully stop when the dial is pressed inward. Involuntary movement means the motor starts without intentional user input.

At low speed, the notice lists a minor injury such as a cut, bruise, scrape or general soreness. At a fast speed, it lists a potential serious injury such as a bone fracture.

People near the user could also be hit, or have their toes or another extremity rolled over, according to the notice.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

For the circuit board issue, Max Mobility/Permobil received reports of 5 serious injuries as of March 27, 2025. They included fractures of the hip, tibia and malleolus bone, plus broken ribs and a concussion.

For the later design issue, the company identified 54 complaints that may be associated with the problem. Two involve serious injuries related to bone fractures.

FDA’s recall page, current as of March 3, 2025, lists 13 reported injuries and no reports of death. The company counts above come from its own notices, not from that page.

The notices say the issues may be associated with the dial. Reports do not prove that it caused each one.

What Should Consumers Do?

If you own or use a SpeedControl Dial, take these steps to protect yourself and your SmartDrive MX2+:

1. Stop using the SpeedControl Dial right away and switch to another way of controlling your SmartDrive MX2+.
2. Ask your SmartDrive provider or healthcare provider which control suits you, such as a wired SwitchControl.
3. Use the Recall Portal on Permobil’s recall page to request a free replacement control once you have your recall letter.
4. Cut the cord of the dial to destroy it, or ask Customer Experience how to return it.
5. Call Customer Experience at 800-736-0925 in the US or 800-265-9830 in Canada with questions.
6. You can also call the Technical Support Team at 615-257-2930, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT.
7. Report any problem with the dial to FDA’s adverse event reporting program at 800-332-1088.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SmartDrive MX2+ Still Safe to Use?

Yes, Permobil says you can still use the SmartDrive MX2+ when it runs without the SpeedControl Dial. It says the dial’s design issues are not present on the SwitchControl. If one of the SwitchControl’s two buttons fails, the other can be used.

Is the Max Mobility Recall the Same as the Earlier Recall?

No, the Max Mobility SpeedControl Dial recall is not the same as the earlier recall, which carried FDA numbers Z-1116-2025 and Z-1117-2025. A new complaint during that recall led the company to find a design issue.

Is the Max Mobility Recall Voluntary?

Yes, the Max Mobility recall is voluntary. Permobil’s recall FAQ says authorities did not mandate it, and the company says it notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the action.

Who Is Max Mobility and How Is It Related to Permobil?

Max Mobility is the company that Permobil acquired in 2017. Recall notices name Max Mobility because it is the official establishment name on record with the FDA for the SmartDrive MX2+.

What Can I Use Instead of the SpeedControl Dial?

Instead of the SpeedControl Dial, you can use a wired SwitchControl, which can be ordered with a mono jack port for an optional Buddy Button. You can also run the SmartDrive MX2+ app with a compatible Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Were the Recalled SpeedControl Dials Distributed Outside the United States?

Yes, the recalled SpeedControl Dials were distributed outside the United States. FDA’s recall database lists Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Japan and Taiwan among the other countries.

References

1. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.laed.274984/gov.uscourts.laed.274984.1.0.pdf
2. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=215323
3. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/max-mobility-permobil-announces-worldwide-expanded-recall-and-removal-all-speedcontrol-dials-market
4. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/max-mobility-permobil-expands-nationwide-recall-smartdrive-speed-control-dial-due-motor-being
5. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFDA/bulletins/3daf375
6. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFDA/bulletins/3d11f02
7. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/max-mobility-permobil-issues-nationwide-recall-smartdrive-speed-control-dial-due-motor-being
8. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls-and-early-alerts/power-assist-device-recall-max-mobilitypermobil-removes-speedcontrol-dial-component-used-smartdrive
9. https://hub.permobil.com/max-mobility/permobil-speedcontrol-dial-recall