Peloton Recalls Treadmills Due to Safety Concerns
Updated: Aug 21, 2021
Peloton has recently recalled its two treadmill models, the Tread and Tread+, after multiple accidents and the death of a six-year-old child.
A Peloton Tread+ in use Credit: Peloton
The recall was due to safety concerns on both Peloton treadmills, especially with the Tread+, which had caused numerous accidents, including the death of a 6-year-old child in March 2021. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated that the accidents caused by the Tread+ involved adults, children, pets and other unspecified objects, with 29 children receiving second and third-degree abrasions, broken bones and lacerations.
Peloton CEO John Foley expressed his regret in not immediately recalling the treadmills when the CPSC previously requested it in a joint statement released on 5 May 2021. “We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologise,” Foley said.
The commission released a warning to consumers about the danger of Peloton’s Tread+ machine in April 2021. The warning came a few weeks after the death of the six-year-old child mentioned earlier.
Note: The linked video below may be highly disturbing to some viewers; we urge you to proceed with caution if you choose to watch it.
The warning came with a video that shows a toddler being accidentally pulled into the rear of a Peloton treadmill while the toddler was playing behind it.
A Peloton Tread electric treadmill Credit: Peloton
The Peloton Tread is also being recalled due to the treadmill’s touchscreen console’s propensity to detach and fall. In addition to the recall, the company is developing a repair for the Tread’s touchscreen console and hopes that the CPSC will approve of the repair soon.
To know which Peloton treadmill you’re using, you can check the black sticker located on the end cap in front of the treadmill deck. The black sticker contains the Peloton treadmill’s model number. TR02 is the number for the Peloton Tread, while the TR01 is for the Peloton Tread+.
The Tread+, on the other hand, will be receiving software improvements to automatically lock the treadmill after each use to prevent unauthorised access. To unlock the Tread+ and use it again, users will have to enter a four-digit passcode.
The interior of Peloton’s headquarters in New York Credit: manciniduffy.com
The CPSC stated that consumers can contact Peloton for a full refund until 6 November 2022, if they wish to do so.
Consumers who want to refund their Tread+ after 6 November 2022 will only receive a partial refund instead. Customers who don’t want a refund can instead have Peloton move their Tread+ to a room where children or pets cannot access the treadmill, free of charge.
Regardless, Peloton strongly recommends consumers stop using their Peloton treadmills in the meantime, especially the Tread+. However, if you wish to use your Tread+, the CPSC recommends following these measures:
Only use the treadmill 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.
When not in use, unplug the treadmill and store the safety key away from the device and out of reach of children.
Written by John Paul Joaquin