FILE - This Nov. 19, 2019 file photo shows a Peloton logo on the company's stationary bicycle in San Francisco. Safety regulators are warning people with kids and pets to immediately stop using a treadmill made by Peloton after one child died and nearly 40 others were injured.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Peloton and safety regulators announced a recall of all of the company’s Tread+ and Tread treadmills, over safety concerns and the death of at least one child.
The company’s CEO issued the announcement, apologizing for not following the recommendations of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and recalling the treadmills sooner.
In a joint statement, Peloton and the CPSC said customers affected by the recall of the treadmills should stop using them immediately. They can then contact the company for a full refund “or other qualified remedy.”
The CPSC urged Peloton to recall its treadmills in mid-April, amid reports of dozens of children, pets and objects being pulled under the
machine, causing injuries and at least one death involving a child. At the time, Peloton pushed back against the concern, calling the CPSC’s statement “inaccurate and misleading.” The company said so long as users kept children and pets away from the machine at all times, turned it off when not in use and removed the safety key, it posed no danger.
But the CPSC pointed out at least one case of a child injury happened while a parent used the treadmill, suggesting it poses a danger even with a parent present.
Wednesday’s announcement and apology represents a reversal for Peloton. The release, posted to the CPSC website, included statements from both Peloton CEO John Foley and acting CPSC chairman Robert S. Adler.
“The decision to recall both products was the right thing to do for Peloton’s Members and their families,” Foley said. “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.”
Adler said the commission voted Wednesday morning to accept the agreement.
“The agreement between CPSC and Peloton is the result of weeks of intense negotiation and effort, culminating in a cooperative agreement that I believe serves the best interests of Peloton and of consumers. I would like to thank the CPSC technical staff who have worked tirelessly to protect consumers and to warn the public. Today we have taken steps to prevent further harm from these two products.”
If you own a Peloton Tread+, safety regulators ask that you stop using it immediately and take steps to ensure children and pets cannot access the device.
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 online at www.onepeloton.com, and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information.
The CPSC posted the following video to YouTube in its initial recommendation about Peloton in April. Some viewers may find the video disturbing.
