Consumer Reports Withheld E-Scooter Recommendations

Safety concerns regarding speed and braking stability led the organization to pull rankings for 13 popular models.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Motocycles

Isometric editorial illustration of an electric scooter chassis, emphasizing the mechanical wheel and brake structure to represent safety testing standards. — Consumer Reports has withheld its recommendations for 13 e-scooter models following testing that identified critical safety risks related to high-speed braking and handling. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Consumer Reports has withheld its recommendations for 13 e-scooter models following testing that revealed significant safety risks. The organization identified braking stability and high-speed handling concerns after two testers were injured during recent evaluations.

Why it matters

The decision underscores growing safety risks as e-scooters reach speeds significantly higher than in previous years. Rising injury rates highlight the urgent need for enhanced stability standards as more riders adopt these vehicles for daily transit.

Consumer Reports assessed 13 e-scooter models capable of reaching common top speeds of 20 mph, up from a maximum of 15.5 mph recorded in 2022 testing.

The players

Consumer Reports

This nonprofit organization conducts independent product testing and consumer advocacy to inform public purchasing decisions.

Consumer Product Safety Commission

This federal regulatory agency is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from consumer products.

The details

Testing revealed that braking on e-scooters forces weight forward onto the front wheel, while rear wheels are prone to skidding during turns. One evaluator suffered a shoulder injury after losing control on gravel while turning at 20 mph, prompting the decision to withhold model recommendations.

In 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recorded 10,500 e-scooter injuries.
Consumer Reports conducted previous e-scooter evaluations in 2022.
In 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported nearly 80,000 e-scooter injuries.

Roadmap

As e-scooter manufacturers prioritize higher top speeds to compete, the industry faces an increasing disconnect between performance capabilities and rider safety. This shift mirrors the early maturation phases of other motorized personal transit where safety protocols often lag behind technological gains.

Current and prospective riders should prioritize models with superior braking systems and stability features rather than focusing solely on top speed. Buyers should remain cautious of high-speed performance in models that have not undergone independent third-party safety validation.

The takeaway

Riders should be aware that faster e-scooters introduce complex physical handling dynamics that significantly increase crash risks during braking or turning. Implementing defensive riding techniques and wearing protective gear remains essential as manufacturers struggle to stabilize higher-speed models.