Common Mobility Scooter Problems

Do you know the reasons why so many people regret buying their mobility scooters? Don't be one of them. The followings are some problems that disability scooter users complained about.. When you're heading to the dealer remember them so you won't regret the purchase.

1. Difficult to assemble and dissemble
If you travel frequently a scooter that is easy to break down and put together is a must. Too many people bought a handicap scooter and found out later that it's too big for their van and too hard to disassemble. Some models requires good amount of muscle power and dexterity to disassemble. So if you're a mobile person make sure you get a scooter that is easy to disassemble and assemble ON YOUR OWN. External help may not always be available at all times.

2. Too heavy
This is also major negative point for people who travel a lot. If your car/van is not equipped with a scooter lift or ramp then getting the scooter in and out of the car would be tremendously annoying. All scooters are heavy but some are much heavier than the others (for example bariatric/heavy duty scooters). Even after you break it down into pieces some parts are still quite heavy. The heaviest part could weight up to 50 lbs. Can you lift a piece that heavy on your own? Can your caregiver lift a piece that heavy on his/her own?

It is actually not the manufacturers fault for a scooter to weight so much since the frame and other parts required to make it work are indeed heavy. The best solution is to get yourself a scooter lift or at least a ramp.

3. Defective/broken batteries
Before you spend your hard-earned cash make sure you ask about the warranty and especially about the batteries warranty. Though not many experienced it some are unlucky enough to find the batteries broken after a while. Furthermore the batteries are not covered in the warranty so they have to buy a new one.

4. Seat too narrow/wide
This can be easily avoided if you measure the comfortable seat width prior to buying the scooter. Seat that is too narrow will make it tough for you to get in an out. And you won't have a comfortable ride either.

5. Hard suspension
Where will you use the scooter? Ask this question before you go buying one. All scooters will do just fine when you're riding on a smooth surface. But what would happen when you find rough/irregular road surfaces along the way to the places want to go to? If possible ask the dealer for a test ride or find customer reviews for the scooter models you're interested in online and see if it's comfortable enough to ride on rough roads.

6. Low clearance
Not a problem when you're going on roads and other smooth surfaces. But what if you need to pass curbs, door jambs, thresholds, uneven sidewalks, stones and speed bumps? What will you do when you go up a ramp and meet the flat surface at the top? Clearance that is too low will require you to get off the scooter and lift it over the curbs/threshold/ramp or you cannot go through. If you force it you'll bump the base of the scooter and might damage whatever installed there.

7. No/weak horn
It's dangerous to ride a mobility scooter outdoor without a horn. And a horn with low power is pretty useless to. Maybe you won't send a person to the afterlife if you hit him with your handicap scooter but you can still inflict serious injuries. When you find yourself if a middle of a crowd you will understand how important a loud horn is. A strong horn is important to a mobility scooter just as it is to cars and motorcycles.