Gogoro S2 steering column failure sparks five-year legal dispute

A legal and technical dispute has persisted for five years following an accident involving a Gogoro S2 electric scooter in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. On December 31, 2020, a rider experienced severe vibrations followed by the sudden breakage of the steering column and frame, leading to a crash.

The core of the controversy lies in conflicting forensic assessments regarding the cause of the structural failure. A domestic assessment by the Automobile Repair Industry Association suggested the breakage was caused by severe external force. Conversely, an analysis by the Japanese third-party institution JFE Techno-Research, utilizing SEM scanning electron microscopy and EDX, argued that the fracture was related to manufacturing processes and material failure in the welding area.

While criminal proceedings concluded with a non-prosecution disposition, the case has moved into civil litigation. The owner's family continues to challenge the judicial process, questioning how conflicting professional opinions are weighed when determining product defects versus external impact.