Thousands of Peloton treadmills have been recalled nationwide, following reports of multiple child injuries and at least one death.
125,000 Peloton Treadmills Involved
Peloton announced the recall of its treadmills on May 5, 2021. Approximately 125,000 Peloton treadmills are involved in the recall, including both the company’s Tread+ model and its cheaper Tread model, which has not yet been released in the United States. The move comes in the wake of one child’s death and at least 70 other injuries tied to Peloton treadmills.
In March, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) began an investigation into the Tread+-related death of a child. The CPSC issued an “urgent warning” for users of Peloton treadmills shortly afterward. The agency said it was aware of at least 39 accidents at the time, including “multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned, and pulled under” Peloton treadmills.
In its announcement, the CPSC featured a video of a small child becoming pinned under a powered-on treadmill when it lifts off the ground. The agency also released details of other similar incidents, including a child who was hurt while an adult was using the device and “pets and objects” getting sucked beneath treadmills, suggesting “possible harm to the user if the user loses balance as a result.”
Recall Delayed Nearly a Month
Despite this warning, Peloton at first took the unusual step of refusing to recall its treadmills, saying at the time that the CPSC’s statements about the dangers of Peloton treadmills were “inaccurate and misleading.” CEO John Foley now claims to regret that decision.
“I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the CPSC’s request,” said Foley. “We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize.”
Foley also insisted that Peloton will work with the CPSC to “set new industry safety standards for treadmills” because it has a “desire and a responsibility to be an industry leader in product safety.”
Consumer Reports had characterized Peloton’s initial lack of response to the CSPC’s warning as “outrageous.” After the company announced its recall of Peloton treadmills, the nonprofit consumer watchdog group called it “welcome news,” but still insisted that the delay left customers in danger.
“The CPSC took a strong and principled stance for safety, and clearly that’s what made Peloton come to the table and agree to offer a full refund,” said William Wallace, the manager of safety policy for Consumer Reports. “It shouldn’t have required so much time and effort to get this product recalled.”
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