iPeloton has become a household name and a popular home exercise brand over the past few years. However, in May 2021, Peloton announced a voluntary recall of more than 125,000 Tread+ treadmill machines over safety concerns.
One month prior to this recall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning to consumers about the dangers of the Peloton Tread+ exercise machines after multiple instances of small children and a pet were injured beneath the machine. This followed an investigation into safety concerns after the death of a six-year-old child was reported by Peloton in March 2021.
The injuries from the Tread+ include being sucked under the back of the machine, becoming trapped or pinned, and suffering from abrasions, fractures, and even death. CPSC said this is due to Peloton’s unique belt design that uses individual rigid rubberized interlocked slats, which creates a wider gap between the belt and the floor, leaving room for things to be pulled under.
In April, Peloton fought the CPSC on the need for a recall, telling customers there was no reason to stop using the treadmills. Peloton CEO John Foley apologized in May, saying “Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s request that we recall the Tread+. We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize.”
In addition to the recalls, two class-action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of consumers injured by Peloton Tread+ exercise machines. The lawsuits allege that some children and pets have been trapped under the machine while it was running, due to a design flaw making it unsafe to children. They also allege that Peloton failed to tell investors that its Tread+ product could injure or kill children and pets.
Peloton announced that they will refund the machine, which costs $4,295, and are working on a mandatory software update that will automatically lock the Tread+ after each use and require a unique password to be used to unlock the machine. They’re also working with the CPSC on additional modifications to address the hazards of the belt design.
This marks the second major recall for Peloton after they voluntarily recalled clip-in pedals for 27,000 bikes in October 2020 in response to reports that they were breaking off mid-ride after 120 reports of breakage and 16 customer injuries.
All states have a statute of limitations for filing lawsuits. If you or someone you love has been injured due to a Peloton Tread+ machine, it is important to contact an experienced defective products attorney as soon as possible after the incident. This will avoid deadlines that may limit your ability to the sue the manufacturer.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2021/CPSC-Warns-Consumers-Stop-Using-the-Peloton-Tread
