Onewheel Repair: Service, DIY & Repair Shops

If your Onewheel needs repair, you have three main options: send it to Future Motion, repair it yourself, or use an independent Onewheel repair shop. Which option makes the most sense depends on whether the board is still under warranty, what is broken, and if the board has been modified.

For a board that is still under warranty, I recommend contacting Future Motion first. For an out-of-warranty or modified board, an independent repair shop can often be a more practical option, especially if you are outside the USA.

I always recommend, if you are under warranty, to contact Future Motion service and try and get the board repaired under the warranty. Many of us riders are not under warranty anymore and then there are the options below.

What Can I Repair Myself?

If you are comfortable working on electronics and mechanical components, there are quite a few things you can repair yourself. The Onewheel is not a particularly complicated machine mechanically, but some repairs require more tools and knowledge than others.

A good rule is to separate mechanical problems from electrical and battery problems. Changing a tire or tightening a loose bolt is one thing. Opening a battery pack or troubleshooting a damaged controller is something very different.

Repairs that are suitable for DIY

Some of the more common repairs and maintenance tasks that can be done at home are:

• Tire punctures: Small punctures can often be repaired using the sealant already inside the tire. I have a complete guide on how to fix a flat Onewheel tire.
• Tire replacement: Replacing the complete tire is possible to do yourself, although it requires the right tools and some patience.
• Loose bolts and hardware: Check the rails, bumpers and hub bolts periodically. A loose hub bolt can cause a clicking sound and should be fixed before continuing to ride.
• Bumpers and other external parts: These are relatively straightforward to replace and are a good first DIY repair.
• Footpad replacement: Replacing a footpad is mechanically simple, but the sensor should be tested carefully before riding.
• Cleaning and maintenance: Regular cleaning, checking hardware and inspecting the board can prevent some problems from becoming larger repairs. See my Onewheel maintenance guide for a more detailed checklist.

If you are not sure what is wrong with the board, start with the Onewheel Troubleshooting Guide. It covers several of the common problems and can help determine if you actually need to repair the board.

What I would leave to a repair shop

I would be much more careful with repairs involving the battery, controller or other electronics.

The battery pack contains a large amount of stored energy, and a mistake during a repair can damage the cells or create a safety problem. The same applies to troubleshooting the controller or other electronic components if you do not have the equipment and knowledge needed to diagnose the fault.

For example, the Onewheel error codes include failures related to the accelerometer, controller, hall sensor, battery temperature and motor temperature. Some of these problems cannot be fixed simply by replacing an external component.

For these types of problems, I would either contact Future Motion or find a repair shop with experience working on Onewheels.

Diagnose before replacing parts

One of the easiest ways to waste money on a repair is to start replacing parts before finding the actual problem.

If your board is showing an error code, check the Onewheel error code list first. If the problem is related to the footpad sensor, motor or another specific part, there may already be a known way to diagnose the problem.

The Onewheel is a relatively simple machine from a mechanical perspective, but the electronics make some faults much harder to diagnose. Take the time to find the cause before ordering parts.

If the board is still under warranty, I would also contact Future Motion before opening it. There is little point in doing a repair yourself if the problem could have been covered by the warranty. See my Onewheel warranty guide for more information.

How to repair a Onewheel that is out of warranty?

If your board is too old, you have ridden too many miles, or made any modifications, then the board is out of warranty. 

Sending the board to Future Motion is the obvious first option that could come to mind. We don’t recommend it as the cost of getting it diagnosed, repaired, and sent back is high. Especially for us international customers. Second, if you ever have done anything to the board, battery modifications, or taped into a wire. The board is deemed “unsafe” and they won touch it. People have reported the same for nonstock tires.

The options that are left are:

1. Do it yourself (DIY): As an engineer, I love breaking things down and trying to fix things myself. Some of the most common failures of the boards can quite easily be fixed with someone that can handle a soldering iron. (Troubleshooting guide)
   If you don’t feel like trying to repair your $1,800 technical piece of equipment then the next recommendation is to look into a local repair shop.
   
2. Local repair shop: During the last few years there has been an explosion of local repair shops that also handles the Onewheel. Stokelife is a global network of personal electric vehicle repair centers that helps you find a shop near you.

How long is the Onewheel warranty?

Before ever sending in the board to Future motion make sure it’s under warranty.

Future Motion’s current warranty information has different coverage for different current models. Most Onewheels have a 1-year/2,000 km warranty for the board, while certain newer models such as the GT S-Series have a 2-year/2,000 km board warranty. Battery, tire and other wear components have separate limits.

Basically, everything will break the warranty and the stickers on the control box are really fragile so don’t even think about getting near it. Read more about the Onewheel Warranty over here.

Check the Warranty Before Repairing Your Onewheel

Before opening the board or paying for a repair, check if it is still covered by the Future Motion warranty.

The warranty depends on the Onewheel model and component. Current models can have different warranty periods, and components such as the battery, tire and footpads have separate coverage from the main board.

Modifications, physical damage, water intrusion and improper maintenance can also affect warranty coverage.

If you think the problem could be covered, contact Future Motion before attempting the repair yourself. This is especially important if the problem involves the controller, battery or other electronics.

I would also avoid relying on the warranty information in older Onewheel articles because Future Motion has changed the warranty terms for some newer models.

Independent Onewheel Repair Shops

Future Motion is not the only option if your Onewheel needs repair. There are several independent repair shops that specialize in Onewheels and other personal electric vehicles.

For riders in the USA, the ERide Repair Network has a directory of independently owned repair shops. The network currently includes several shops that specifically work on Onewheels.

There are also independent repair options in Europe. Ride On Experience in France has an Onewheel workshop offering diagnosis, tire and bearing changes, and other repairs. Voltride in Estonia also offers Onewheel repairs and maintenance, including tire replacement, mechanical repairs and out-of-warranty repairs.

Another option is FixMyPEV, which has a directory of independent repair shops and individual repairers working on Onewheels and other PEVs.

The availability of repair services can change, so I recommend contacting the shop before sending your board to confirm that they support your particular Onewheel model and the repair you need.

Future Motion Onewheel Repair

If your Onewheel is still under warranty, Future Motion should normally be your first option. Contact their customer service before sending the board in and let them diagnose the problem.

Future Motion also offers paid factory service for boards that are out of warranty. The available services depend on the model and currently include things like tire changes, battery replacements and bearing service.

The main problem for many riders is shipping. Future Motion currently has its authorized repair facility in California, so sending a Onewheel there can be expensive and time-consuming for international riders.

There is also another thing to consider. If the board has been modified, Future Motion may refuse service or the modification may affect warranty coverage. Contact them before shipping a modified board rather than assuming they will repair it.

For current service options and prices, check the official Future Motion service page rather than relying on the prices listed in this article.

IMPORTANT: Don’t send in your board if you have anything on the board that isn’t stock. Any modifications, battery mods, tire changes that are not stock or upgrades might render your board “not safe to work on” and they will deny you the service. Basically, you will need to pay them for back around shipment for nothing.

Onewheel Customer Service number

For example, their current listed services include:

These prices are current listings and can change, so I would avoid hardcoding a large price table into the article unless you plan to maintain it.

How Much Does Onewheel Repair Cost?

There is no single price for Onewheel repair. A tire change is a very different job from replacing a battery, controller or motor bearing.

Future Motion currently lists individual factory services for several models. For example, its service listings include tire changes, battery replacements and bearing services, with prices varying between models.

An independent repair shop will have its own labor rates and parts prices.

The total cost usually depends on three things:

1. What component has failed
2. Whether the replacement part is available
3. How much labor is required

For international riders, shipping can also become a substantial part of the total cost. Future Motion currently states that its authorized repair facility is in California, which makes this particularly relevant outside the USA.

For this reason, I would get a repair quote before shipping an older Onewheel across the country or internationally.