Hoverboard Problems Common Issues and Fixes

From failure to balance and tilting to one side during a ride to grouchy gyroscopes that suddenly act up violently throwing you off the board, owners face a whole range of self-balancing scooter issues. This post lists out 14 common hoverboard problems and the solutions you need to try out to rectify the issues.

Well, there are no guarantees here. The suggestions provided here may or may not work for you and your balance board. That said, they’re solutions to known hoverboard problems. And many hoverboard owners have found them to work, at least most of the time.

Related: How to Charge a Hoverboard Without a Charger

14 Common Hoverboard Problems (And How to Fix Them)

Watch a video on how to fix a faulty self-leveling scooter or hoverboard

All hoverboards are siblings, so to speak, and all of them have one thing in common: when there’s a problem that needs immediate attention, a red light comes on. When this red light comes on, you can either contact a hoverboard technician and pay a hefty repair bill. Alternatively, you can read through the suggestions provided here and do it yourself.

What does the red light of a hoverboard coming on signify? It means that:

• You have a bad connection.
• The cables inside the hoverboard are loose.
• The smart-balancing sensors aren’t working right and need resetting. Here’s how to re-calibrate a hoverboard. 
• One of the motors has issues and likely needs replacement.
• The battery’s lost pretty much all its juice and you need to swap it out for a new one.
• The gyroscopes are malfunctioning and need to be replaced.
• The balance board’s internal circuits aren’t functioning as they should.

Give the little list above and think about it. What did you conclude? All of these hoverboard problems are resolvable. The solution to some issues such as balance sensors not working properly is really easy and isn’t time-consumption. You can reset the gyroscopes in less than 10 minutes without using any tool or spending money.

Other challenges such as loose cables may not be as easy as re-calibrating the electric scooter. They require you to grab a tool, unscrew the scooter’s casing, diagnose the problem, and resolve it. But an issue such as the gyroscopes malfunctioning necessitates spending money and time. And you need a bit of technical skills to install new gyroscopes.

Let’s now dive right in and look at specific self-balancing scooter problems you may experience and the fixes that work.

1.Hoverboard Problem #1: Battery Failure

It’s hard to find a kids’ or adults’ hoverboard that comes with a great battery. But even if the balance board you purchased for your child came with batteries that promise to last forever, they’ll die down the road. It’s just a matter of time.

Fix: Install a new battery Pack(s)

When the battery finally dies on you, what do you do? The only sensible thing to do when your hoverboard’s battery goes kaput is to buy a new one and install it. Be sure to buy the safest hoverboard battery in your range.

Some hoverboards come with a spare battery pack, and you won’t need to buy a new replacement battery pack the first time the existing one stops working.

If your kid’s board came with one battery pack, choose a UL2271-certified battery. These are lithium ion batteries, and Samsung manufactures most of them. And if you’re wondering how many batteries a hoverboard has, most have one but others use two battery packs.

How Do You Replace a Hoverboard’s Battery?

Unscrew the lower part of the balance board and lift it off. Some boards have 4 screws on the back side of the bottom casing and 4 on the front, but others may have 9. Use an electric screwdriver to remove the screws that attach the bottom casing. Then, remove the 4 screws that attach the battery holder to the board’s frame. Next, unplug the battery to remove it.

Then, put in the new battery pack, replace the battery holder and screw it onto the frame. Finally, replace the casing, re-calibrate the handlebar-equipped segway, and test-ride to see if you did a good job. Here’s a video on how to replace a hoverboard’s battery.

2. Hoverboard Trouble #2: Wheel Motor Issues

Where are the motors on a hoverboard? Most hoverboards have two motors that live inside the wheels. The motors stay inside the wheels to keep power transmission problems at bay. If and when these motors aren’t working properly, the red light on your hoverboard starts blinking.

Look at this flashing red light and count how many times it’s blinking. If the light blinks 4 times, it’s time to replace the wheel motor on the motherboard side. And if the red light blinks 5 times, the battery-side wheel motor needs attention (replacement to be specific).

Fix: replace the troublesome motor.

How to Replace a Hoverboard Motor

Replacing a hoverboard’s motor can be a little intimidating. And the easily discouraged among us may choose to contact a hoverboard repair shop instead of handling the process themselves.

First off, identify the wheel motor that’s giving you problems. Refer to the previous section to learn how to do this.

Pretty much anyone can do it after watching this YT tutorial on how to install a new motor on a hoverboard. It’s the easiest-to-follow tutorial I found while researching for this resource. You need an Allen Key, an electric screwdriver, a pair of hands, eyes, and a brain. And you can do it in 30 minutes tops.

Common Hoverboard Issue #3: Malfunctioning Balance Sensors and Internal Circuits

If the balance sensors on your self-balancing scooter aren’t working, you can’t ride it.

Fix #1: The first thing to try is resetting the hoverboard. If this fails to yield the results you seek, consider the fix #2 below.

Fix 2: Buy a new hoverboard if money isn’t tight and you like buying new expensive toys all the time. But this is the smarter thing to do: invest in a hoverboard replacement circuit board and solve the problem.

How to install a Hoverboard Circuit

The folks at Street Saw have created a video explaining how to install a new hoverboard circuit board. This company sells hoverboards and hoverboard repair parts and also offers hoverboard repair services.

Common Hoverboard Problem #4: The Connection Cables Have Come Loose

If the cables have come loose or the board has bad connections, your board won’t work. If you power off the board and flip it upside down, you’ll see the messy connections that need your attention. It may seem like you’ll never manage to sort out the mess, but it’s not as hard as you might think.

If you’re not sure which connection is causing trouble, disconnect every connection and plug everything right back. In most cases, this solves the bad connections issue. But if the problem persists, try replacing the hoverboard’s motherboard and gyroscopes.

But you know what? Replacing the motherboard and gyros might end up costing what a brand-new hoverboard costs! Besides, completing this DIY project may just be too technical for most people.

If replacing these two components makes sense for you, learn how to replace a hoverboard’s motherboard and gyroscopes here.

Problem #5: The Hoverboard Won’t Turn On or Charge

If your self-balancing scooter just won’t turn on or charge for the life of you, that can be extremely frustrating. If these two problems have surfaced, this could be a sign that:

• The battery’s gone kaput.
• The internal circuits of the hoverboard are bad.
• The hoverboard’s charging port is either disconnected or damaged.

But do you know for sure which problem you have? It’s easy, and here’s what to do:

Test #1: Plug the charger into the power supply. Do you see a green light on it? It means the charger isn’t the issue. Then, connect the charger to your hoverboard.

Does the green indicator on the charger disappear? If it does, it means your internal circuits are malfunctioning. Refer to the section that discusses the bad circuits problem (above). But if the light stays on, perform test #2 below.

Test #2: If the green light stays on but the hoverboard fails to turn on, this could mean that the charging port’s connection is bad or that the port is broken. Solving a connection issue should be easy.

Locate the charging port, inspect the cables and fix the disconnection or tighten the port from the inner side if it’s become loose .

If the issue is a jammed charging port, watch this useful video on how to fix a broken charging port on a hoverboard. However if the board has cut or frayed cables, the best decision is to install a new charging port.

Test #3: With the charger still plugged in and connected to the board, try turning the device on. If the green indicator doesn’t disappear and the hoverboard turns on but there’s a blinking orange battery indicator, the battery is the issue and needs replacement.

Hoverboard Issue #6: Hoverboard Not Turning Off (And Beeps Nonstop)

When you press the silver button on a hoverboard for a few seconds, the device should turn off. If this isn’t happening with your board, there’s definitely a problem. In most cases, a hoverboard that won’t turn on also makes a continuous beeping sound. And this annoys you no end.

Here’s the fix: Find the charging port on the hoverboard. Then, remove the bottom cover and locate the battery pack. The battery pack is typically blue, but it may also be black or silver in color.

Do you see that orange-yellowish cable? Disconnect it and the beeping sound will stop instantly. Then, screw the casing back on and turn the board on. Chances are the device won’t make the annoying sound again.

Don’t want to do all this? Well, dismount the hoverboard and leave it in the backyard or garage. Once the battery’s charge drains down to zero, the beeping noise will stop. At this point, charge the device and power it on. The odds it won’t make the sound again.

If neither tip works for your board, that could be a sign of internal circuit error or motherboard issues. Replace the circuit board and motherboard and…problem solved!

Problem #7: One Side of Hoverboard Not Working At All

When one side of a hoverboard stops working, this typically means that one gyroscope stopped working. In this case, all you need to do is replace the gyroscope. Make sure to purchase the right replacement gyroscope to resolve the issue.

If you’re not confident doing it yourself, take your self-leveling scooter to a hoverboard repair shop. I’ll let you in on a little secret: paying a technician to repair your broken hoverboard can cost gobs of money.

But if both sides of the hoverboard have stopped working, you have a bigger problem on your hands. Because this often means that the wheel motors have gone kaput. Or that you have motherboard problems. Or that the gyroscopes are bad.

Hoverboard Issue #8: Hoverboard Not Charging At All

Well, if your hoverboard won’t charge, you can’t derive any enjoyment from it. A hoverboard with charging challenges causes endless frustration for many people. But what causes the hoverboard-not-charging issue?

Reasons Your Hoverboard Is Not Charging

• A jammed or disconnected charging port
• A loose charging port (not always)
• A broken down or defective charger
• Not using the original charger that came with the hoverboard
• Bad battery/batteries
• Overcharging the hoverboard (which eventually renders the battery useless)

By the way, how do you know if a hoverboard is charging? Here’s how to know if a hoverboard is charging or not: When you plug the charger into the wall, you should see a GREEN light ON the charger. But once you plug the charging end of the charger into the hoverboard’s port, the light on the charge should immediately change to RED. And when the hoverboard gets fully charged, the light on the charger turns back to GREEN.

If your hoverboard is charging:

• Its charger gets hot over time.
• The charger stays red until the charging process completes.
• There’s a flashing orange light around the center of the board (if the board is turned on) but no light if you turn off the board.

If the charger of a hoverboard stays green when you plug it in it means:

• That the hoverboard is fully charged
• That the charger is broken and you need to buy a new one

Fortunately, there’s tons of good hoverboard chargers on Amazon and elsewhere online. Some chargers even automatically turn off the hoverboard once it’s fully charged. Decent batteries are also pretty easy to find on the web.

Problem #9: Hoverboard Not Holding a Charge

When your kid’s brand-new electric scooter finally ships in, charge it fully before you teach the child to ride the hoverboard. A decent hoverboard battery packs enough juice to last anywhere between 45 minutes and 60 minutes. If the battery meter on your board reads zero after just 10 minutes during the first ride, that’s a bad battery, one that won’t hold a charge.

Odds are that the battery’s charge-holding powers diminished drastically during the long stay at the warehouse. Or it was a low-quality battery. Did you really expect better than that from a $70 hoverboard?

Fix: There’s no fix for a hoverboard battery that won’t hold a charge other than replacing it. Once you swap out the low-mileage battery for a better pack, give it proper care. Otherwise, its charge-holding capacity will be gone in no time.

Problem #10: Hoverboard Light On One Side Remains On

If the light on one side of your kid’s hoverboard stays on the whole time but the board just won’t balance or move, that’s trouble.  Usually, the cause of this situation is a failed gyroscope on that side of the device.

Fix: Well, there’s no way to fix a bad gyroscope. You just have to buy a new one and install it yourself or pay someone to handle it. Please save your $$ and do it yourself. You’ll improve your technical IQ while helping your finances.

Problem #11: Hoverboard Vibrates Violently When Dismounting

This problem used to be common with earlier hoverboards, but with modern ones not so much. Every time you’re stepping off, the thing gets extremely shaky and potentially dangerous.

Why does a hoverboard shake when you’re stepping off? It’s because a vacuum gets created when you’re getting off the board. And this vacuum or negative pressure causes the sensors to remain engaged after you’ve dismounted.

Fix #1: The first thing to do is to reset your kiddo’s hoverboard. This tends to fix the problem.

Fix #2: Use a pair of scissors to trim the plunger-like component that engages the sensor so that no interaction between the two parts happens when there’s no weight on the deck.

Fix 2 requires you to tear down the board, address the issue, and then reassemble the device.

Problem #12: Hoverboard Shakes When Riding It

If your child isn’t heavy enough (lighter than 44 pounds) and steps on the hoverboard, it’ll likely shake or even spin.

But if the rider weighs more than 44pounds yet the hoverboard vibrates during rides, it could mean that the board’s sensors are a little off — purely the manufacturer’s fault. This fault makes it harder for the motherboard to detect weight.

Fix #1: Make sure that the rider’s reached the board’s stated minimum weight limit (usually 44 pounds).

Fix #2:  If the small/light rider still wants to ride, have them plant their feet outside of the foot pads. Riding in this position may feel awkward or uncomfortable at first, but it does get easier with practice.

Fix #3: If the rider weighs 44lbs or heavier and the shaking persists, it’s likely a manufacturing defect. The fix is adjusting the tabs that interact with the pressure sensors so that engagement becomes more likely once you step on the foot pads.

Note: you really have to disassemble the hoverboard to resolve this issue.

Problem #13: All Hoverboard Lights Remain On But Board Not Moving

When all lights on a hoverboard stay on, it’s almost always because the gyroscopes are fried.

According to Street Saw, when one gyroscope develops a problem, there’s a high possibility that the other one will soon become troublesome.

Fix: You’ll have to replace both gyros. Purchase a hoverboard repair kit and get the job done.

Problem #14: Hoverboard Just Won’t Balance When I Step On It

Hoverboards may not hover, but they easily self-balance, helping the rider stay upright and safe. So, when the smart balancing technology stops working, there’s a huge problem.

Reasons Why a Hoverboard Won’t Balance:

• Loose or disconnected motherboard, motor, and gyroscope wires/cables
• A fried Bluetooth chip; this is often signified by a grave-silent Bluetooth connector module when you crank up the hoverboard
• The hoverboard isn’t in the self-balancing mode
• The hoverboard isn’t calibrated
• Broken gyroscopes

Fix: First things first: re-calibrate the hoverboard. If this fails, open the casing and inspect the wires. If they’re loose or disconnected, tighten or unplug and plug the cables back in. If gyros are the issue, replace them. And if the Bluetooth chip got fried (often happens when resetting a Bluetooth hoverboard), install a new one. Learn how to install a new Bluetooth chip on this video.

Final Word on Hoverboard Faults and Fixes

Not only don’t hoverboards hover, but they tend to develop problems sooner or later. Luckily, some troubles aren’t major and re-calibrating the hoverboard often solves the issue. However, some problems will have you buying pricey replacement parts that require a bit of technical effort to resolve. In some cases, buying a new hoverboard may be the smartest approach.