Before a motorized wheel chair can be sold, they must pass stringent government tests. For this reason, all models of motorized wheel chairs are reliable and safe.
Over an eighteen-month period, six different types of motorized wheel chairs were tested on a stringent obstacle course. When the study ended, data proved that all types passed the tests easily. No model proved to be extremely more reliable than other for the tests, though some did gain respect for their models’ design.
There are things to watch for when purchasing a motorized wheel chair, however. Battery life can be an important factor. Batteries tend to come with either fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five hour charges. This time frame allows the user that specific number of hours of use before the battery fails. You must be able to recharge the motorized wheel chair fully every evening. A battery can take up to fourteen hours to recharge. If you will need a lot of time between charges, you will want a motorized wheel chair that can last a longer period of time between charging.
Some people prefer to purchase used motorized wheel chairs. These practices is fine, but before you commit to the purchase, check with the government’s recall bureau to make sure there is not a problem with the model you have selected. In 2002, Invacare redesigned some of their motorized wheel chairs to correct a minor problem. A recall on all 1998 to 2000 motorized wheelchairs was broadcast and a repair kit was issued to all owners.
Invacare also pulled all of their 1995 or earlier motorized wheel chairs from the market. In fact, Invacare is one of the best manufacturers. They are constantly checking and rechecking older models to ensure the motorized wheel chair models still meet their strict approval standards. Invacare has one of the highest reliability ratings out there.
This is the only recall for motorized wheel chairs on the boards for the past ten years. As you can see, if only one recall exists for the past decade, motorized wheel chairs are certainly safe and reliable. Do not hesitate to purchase a motorized wheel chair if the need is there!
