FDA PRODUCT CODE · CLASS I
IOR — Wheelchair, Mechanical
A mechanical wheelchair is a manually operated device with wheels that is intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. FDA interprets mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position to mean the device type is intended to provide mobility to individuals who have mobility impairments and/or require an assistive device for mobility.
What these counts are not
Clearance and recall counts are SPEQ’s aggregation of FDA’s own published records for the code. A recall count is a measure of history, not of a device’s safety, neither number is an FDA rating, and SPEQ is not affiliated with the FDA.
What this classification requires
Every statement below is FDA’s own classification record for this product code, quoted from the device classification field reference. The SPEQ reading beneath each one is SPEQ’s interpretation of what it means for the work, and is not FDA text.
510(K)
SPEQ READINGA premarket notification under 21 CFR Part 807 Subpart E is the route for this code. The submission argues substantial equivalence to a legally marketed predicate, so the engineering question is which predicate the design can actually be compared against, and the evidence question is what testing supports that comparison.
Class I (low to moderate risk): general controls
SPEQ READINGGeneral controls carry the whole regulatory burden here — registration, listing, labelling, adverse-event reporting and prohibitions against adulteration and misbranding.
Device is eligible for The Voluntary Malfunction Summary Reporting Program
SPEQ READINGMalfunctions for this code may be reported in periodic summary form rather than as individual MDRs under 21 CFR Part 803. Eligibility is a property of the product code; using it is a decision the manufacturer makes and must be able to justify.
Not exempt due to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)/Quality System
SPEQ READINGThe full Quality Management System Regulation (21 CFR 820, incorporating ISO 13485:2016) applies, and is what an FDA inspection of this device will be conducted against.
Device is not implantable
SPEQ READINGNo implant-specific expectations attach from the classification itself.
Device is not used for life sustaining purposes
SPEQ READINGNo life-sustaining designation attaches to this code.
Device is a candidate for a third party review program
SPEQ READINGAn Accredited Person may conduct the 510(k) review instead of FDA. FDA still makes the clearance decision — third-party review changes who reviews, never who decides.
Other product codes under 21 CFR 890.3850
One regulation usually governs several product codes. These share this code’s regulation, and therefore its classification basis.
21 CFR 890.3850 — Mechanical wheelchair
The classification regulation for this product code, as published by the Office of the Federal Register. This is the regulation text itself — no SPEQ interpretation appears in it.
(a) Identification. A mechanical wheelchair is a manually operated device with wheels that is intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position.
(b) Classification. Class I (general controls).
Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21. 21 CFR is a work of the United States Government and is in the public domain. SPEQ read this section on October 22, 2026. CFR is amended continuously, so verify against the source before acting on it: read 21 CFR 890.3850 on eCFR →
Recent clearances
Recent recalls
There is the potential for the height adjustable handle to dislodge due to failing locking mechanisms on specific identified chairs.
There is the potential for the height adjustable handle to dislodge due to failing locking mechanisms on specific identified chairs.
The bolts, which secure the handles, on the Crocodile (size 3) could break, causing the handle to dislodge.
Silver Star Brands is recalling the Transport Chair and Rollator in One because they have received several reports of the wheel assembly failing resulting in damaged wheels..
The wheels on Tracer IV wheelchairs (Tracer IV 24" seat width, 450 lbs. weight capacity manual wheel chair) were warped and wobbled when rolled.
There is a remote possibility for the plastic latch to deform over the lifetime of use. When this happens there is the possibility for the seat to become dislodged from the base. And when not using the positioning strap, there is a risk that the occupant could slide out of the seat and sustain inju
The wheelchairs may not meet the specifications of WC-19 (crash testing), therefore the WC-19 verbiage and corresponding logo are removed from the flyers on the Gunnell Rehab Series of Wheelchairs (GRSW).
The potential exists for the wheel to rotate freely despite engagement of hub brake.
Source: FDA device classification, 510(k)/PMA, and recall datasets. Recall entries count distinct FDA recall numbers, so one recall event affecting several products appears as several entries. Browse every product code SPEQ tracks →