The recall of Peloton’s Tread+ and Tread treadmill products due to safety concerns is a major reversal from its initial warning to consumers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced that Peloton issued two separate voluntary recalls of its Tread+ and Tread treadmills.
Consumers who have purchased either treadmill should immediately stop using it and contact Peloton for a full refund (or other solution as described below).
Peloton has also stopped the sale and distribution of the Tread+ and continues to work on additional hardware modifications. The CPSC previously warned consumers about the Tread+ in April.
This response comes after a 6-year-old child died after the Tread+ pulled them under the rear of the treadmill. In addition, consumers reported 72 incidents of adult users, children, pets, or objects being pulled under the rear of the treadmill. These include 29 reports of injuries to children such as second- and third-degree abrasions, broken bones, and lacerations.
The brand and the CPSC also issued a separate recall of the Tread, which involved a faulty touchscreen attachment.
In the United States, Peloton only sold the Tread as part of a limited invitation-only release. This took place from about November 2020 to about March 2021. The company is currently working on a repair for Tread owners in the coming weeks.
“I am pleased that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Peloton have come to an agreement to protect users of the Peloton Tread+ and Tread products,” said Robert S. Adler, acting chairman of the CPSC.
“The agreement, which the Commission voted this morning to accept, requires Peloton to immediately stop selling and distributing both the Tread+ and Tread products in the United States and refund the full purchase price to consumers who wish to return their treadmills.”
Adler said the agency and the brand worked together for weeks to arrive at the agreement to recall and refund the treadmills.
“Today we have taken steps to prevent further harm from these two products,” he said.
Peloton Tread+ Recall
According to the recall, consumers should immediately stop using the Tread+ and contact Peloton for a full refund until Nov. 6, 2022. Consumers who return the Tread+ treadmill after that date will receive a partial refund. Peloton is offering consumers who do not want a refund the option of moving the Tread+ free of charge to a room where children or pets cannot access the treadmill.
The brand is also implementing software improvements to the product to automatically lock the Tread+ after each use and prevent unauthorized access by assigning a four-digit passcode that will be required to unlock the Tread+.
Consumers can contact Peloton toll-free at 844-410-0141 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekends. Or visit www.onepeloton.com and click “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.
Peloton Tread Recall
While the Peloton Tread recall is much smaller than that of the Tread+, the CPSC still urges those who may have one to seek a remedy. This recall involves Peloton Tread treadmills with model TR02.
The recalled Tread has a running space of 59 inches, a 23.8-inch HD touchscreen console, and a non-slatted running belt. The model number TR02 is printed on a black sticker located on the end cap in the front of the treadmill deck. The treadmills have a touchscreen and are black with the Peloton logo on the monitor and the side rails.
In this second recall, the firm is aware of 18 reports of the touchscreen loosening and six reports of the touchscreen detaching and falling. No injuries have been reported in the U.S. There have been reports of minor injuries such as abrasions, minor cuts, and bruises in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled treadmills and contact Peloton for a full refund. Peloton is offering consumers who do not want a refund the option of waiting for a free inspection and repair that will secure the touchscreen to the treadmill to help prevent future incidents. The CPSC and Peloton will update the public when they decide on a timeline.
Peloton’s CEO John Foley called the recall of both products “the right thing to do for Peloton’s members and their families.”
“I want to be clear, 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. Today’s announcement reflects our recognition that, by working closely with the CPSC, we can increase safety awareness for our Members,” Foley said.
“We believe strongly in the future of at-home connected fitness and are committed to work with the CPSC to set new industry safety standards for treadmills. We have a desire and a responsibility to be an industry leader in product safety.”
