Peloton is recalling its Tread+ and Tread treadmills, less than a month after fighting with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) over the agency’s “urgent warning” about the potential dangers of the treadmills and request for a recall of the machines. The warning urged consumers to stop using the treadmills after they were linked to the death of one child and the injuries of 29 others.
On Wednesday, the company said that it will offer full refunds for the treadmills, which cost $4,295, and will stop selling them. The recall comes with an apology from Peloton CEO, John Foley, who said that the company “made a mistake” in fighting the commission’s request for a recall.
The commission issued the warning and recall request because it had received 72 reports of children, pets, and other objects being pulled under the treadmill. Twenty-nine of those reports involved children who were injured by the treadmill, including children with broken bones, brain injuries, and cuts. One six-year-old child died from his injuries. The potential dangers of the exercise machines were highlighted in a video showing a child being pulled under a Pelton treadmill which was posted to YouTube.
For those that want to keep their treadmill, Peloton is working on software improvements that will automatically lock the Tread+ after use and require a four-digit passcode to unlock it. This will be offered to customers in the coming weeks. The company has also offered to move customers’ treadmills to a locked room.
In the meantime, customers should unplug the treadmill and stop using it.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to a Peloton treadmill, please call our defective product attorneys at (630) 527-1595 for a FREE evaluation of your claim. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
