Segway Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Ninebot Kickscooter Handlebar Recall

Approximately 220,000 Segway e-scooters were recalled earlier this year, following multiple reports of injuries caused by collapsing handlebars.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Segway Inc., alleging that the company failed to provide a meaningful solution for a handlebar defect that led to a major recall of its Ninebot KickScooters earlier this year. Plaintiffs claim the repair offered was inadequate, leaving consumers with unsafe scooters prone to sudden collapses.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Paul Hanson in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on July 31. While Hanson originally filed the lawsuit in California in April, it was refiled in Washington following a change in Segway’s corporate registration and because that is where Hanson purchased and used the recalled scooter.

Segway recalled approximately 220,000 Ninebot KickScooters on March 20, 2025, after at least 68 reports of handlebar collapses were received by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The incidents included 20 injuries ranging from abrasions and bruises to broken bones and lacerations.

The scooters, known for their foldable design and electric mobility features, have been on the market for more than 15 years and have been subject to prior recalls over safety concerns. In this latest case, users report that the folding mechanism in the handlebar can fail during use, causing riders to lose control and crash.

The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of all owners of the affected scooters, claiming Segway misrepresented the safety of the products and failed to adequately remedy a known defect after the recall was issued.

Hanson claims Segway’s March recall of its Ninebot KickScooter was inadequate, alleging the company failed to offer a meaningful fix or financial relief to consumers. Instead of a proper repair or refund, Segway only provided a do-it-yourself maintenance kit, which Hanson says placed the burden on customers to address a serious safety defect themselves.

According to the lawsuit, Hanson purchased a Segway Max G30LP scooter for $905.26 through Amazon in July 2021, believing the company to be the most reputable brand in the e-scooter market. He points to Segway’s own marketing, which describes its products as “safe and stable,” as part of the reason he trusted the purchase.

However, the complaint argues that Segway should have been aware of the defect well before the March recall, citing a similar handlebar-related recall involving another model in November 2024. Hanson says he only learned about the issue through Amazon notifications after relocating to Arizona, rather than through any direct outreach from Segway.

After discovering the defect, Hanson requested the maintenance kit recommended in the recall notice. The kit reportedly included only wrenches and super glue, which the lawsuit describes as inadequate for a potentially dangerous mechanical issue. The repair also required technically complex steps that consumers were expected to perform without professional support.

The kit’s instructions advised users to continuously monitor and tighten the handlebars throughout the scooter’s lifespan, a directive Hanson argues amounts to an admission that the underlying defect was never fully addressed.

As a result, Hanson claims he would not have purchased the scooter, or would have paid significantly less, had he known about the defect. He now considers the product unsafe and devalued.

“Thus, at all relevant times, Segway possessed continuous knowledge of the material dangers posed by the E-Scooter, and yet Segway knowingly continued to allow the sale of the EScooter.”

–Paul Hanson v. Segway Inc.

Hanson raises allegations of violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act, and the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, as well as breach of the implied warranty of merchantability and unjust enrichment.

His complaint seeks class action status, with a special subclass for residents of Washington and Arizona, as well as actual, compensatory, statutory and punitive damages.

Segway Injuries and Lawsuits

Between 2014 and 2018, injuries involving scooters increased by more than 200%, with emergency room visits rising by 365%. This sharp rise in injuries was attributed partly to the growing popularity of electric scooter rental services in cities across the U.S., which has coincided with a spike in head and neck injuries.

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report from 2019, found that head trauma made up nearly half of all electric scooter-related injuries. Researchers indicated that many of these incidents might have been preventable with helmet use and increased rider awareness. Additional studies have identified bone fractures and bruises as other frequently reported outcomes of e-scooter accidents.

However, concerns about scooter safety date back years. As early as 2008, at least 13 individuals had filed class action lawsuits against Segway, citing multiple recalls and reports of serious harm, including neck, back and traumatic brain injuries, as well as broken limbs and concussions.

In one notable case from 2011, a man was awarded $10 million in damages after sustaining a traumatic brain injury while participating in a Segway-sponsored event. He was instructed to navigate an obstacle course blindfolded and without a helmet.

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