CPSC Issues Peloton Tread+ Warning
Peloton is facing its second major product safety issue in just six months as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an urgent warning to consumers of a dangerous issue involving the company’s Tread+ exercise machine. The warning is related to multiple incidents of small children and a pet being injured after becoming entrapped, pinned and/or pulled under the rear roller of the machine. In all so far, there have been 39 recorded injuries and one death. This comes on the heels of Peloton issuing a recall affecting some 27,000 bikes in the fall due to a pedal malfunction.
Peloton, founded in 2012 with an aim to bring fitness into the home through sales of equipment directly to consumers, saw its popularity explode in 2020 due to gyms across the country being closed during the pandemic. While the fall Peloton recall was a voluntary one, despite the CPSC’s newest alert, Peloton is reportedly resisting a recall, calling the government’s communications “inaccurate and misleading.” In a statement posted on the CPSC website, Peloton claims that the Tread+ “comes with safety instructions and warnings to ensure its safe use.” However, other news reports quoted officials saying the danger posed by the Tread+ “doesn’t happen with other treadmills” and is a “different hazard pattern than is typically seen.”
The CPSC is advising owners of the Tread+ to:
- Stop using the machine if there are small children or pets at home or use the product only in a locked room to prevent access to children and pets while the treadmill is in use.
- Keep all objects, including exercise balls and other equipment, away from the treadmill.
- Unplug the machine when not exercising and store the machine safety key away from the device and out of reach of children.
- Report any Peloton Tread+ incidents to the CPSC by visiting www.SaferProducts.gov or calling the CPSC’s hotline at 800-638-2772.
Some of the most trusted items in your home can cause injury if the products or their parts malfunction. If you have an incident you would like to discuss with an attorney in Philadelphia who is experienced in product liability litigation, please contact us.