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Last Updated on 01/10/2026 by Sarah Sarsby
BHTA member Permobil has issued a Field Safety Notice, dated 8 July 2026, concerning certain M5 Corpus power wheelchairs. The manufacturer is carrying out a voluntary field correction after identifying that a function intended to prevent driving in specific seating conditions was missing from the affected firmware.
The notice covers a limited number of wheelchairs manufactured between 19 January 2024 and 19 May 2025 with Power Platform firmware versions 1.27 through 1.57.
Permobil identified the issue on 12 May 2025. In affected wheelchairs, the firmware did not include the intended drive inhibit logic, meaning that driving was not blocked under a particular combination of backrest angle, seat tilt, and user weight.
The intended function prevents the wheelchair from moving when the backrest angle is greater than 150° and the tilt angle is greater than 10°, for a user weighing between 100 kg and 136 kg.
According to the notice, all other drive inhibit and lift restrictions remain active.
The missing function may create an unstable condition when the specified backrest angle, tilt angle, and user weight conditions occur together.
If a user drives an affected wheelchair backwards over a step transition in these circumstances, there is a potential risk of minor injuries, including bruises, contusions, cuts, and abrasions.
If the wheelchair tips over while occupied, more serious injuries may occur, including fractures, head injuries, back and spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries.
At the time of issuing the notice, Permobil reported that it had received no complaints or reports of injury or illness associated with the issue.
The affected product is the Permobil M5 Corpus power wheelchair operating Power Platform firmware versions 1.27 through 1.57. The notice identifies this M5 Corpus Power Platform model as part number 120032.
The product details and installed firmware version should be checked to establish whether an individual wheelchair requires corrective action.
Permobil instructs dealers with affected wheelchairs to notify impacted users immediately, explain the driving precautions, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to complete the corrective action described below.
Users should drive only in Indoor mode, at slow speed, on flat ground when the seat is lifted. They should not drive with the seat lifted on slopes or over obstacles.
Users with questions about their wheelchair or the corrective action should contact their provider or Permobil Customer Support on +46 60 787 90 60 or at customer_support_se@permobil.com.
Permobil has developed firmware version 1.57.1 to restore the intended drive inhibit function. The correction can be completed through a remote firmware update or, where necessary, an in-person service visit.
Appendix 1 of the notice provides the complete instructions for checking the installed Power Platform (PP1) firmware through fleet management using the wheelchair’s serial number, determining whether further action is needed, installing the latest version, and confirming completion.
For an automatic update, the wheelchair requires a cellular signal and must be connected to its charger and a wall socket, then switched off using the joystick panel.
Once the process starts, the wheelchair switches on automatically and displays progress on the joystick screen. The notice instructs users not to switch it off or use it during this process. The wheelchair switches off automatically when the installation is complete and can then be switched on again.
The notice should be shared with everyone who needs to be aware within an affected organisation and with any organisation to which potentially affected devices have been transferred.
Permobil asks recipients to maintain awareness of the notice and resulting action for an appropriate period to support the effectiveness of the correction. The manufacturer states that the relevant competent authorities have been notified.
Device-related incidents should be reported to incident.report@permobil.com.
For full product identification details, required actions, and technical instructions, read the Permobil Field Safety Notice.
