Peloton Recalls Treadmills Following Child Death and 70+ Injuries Reported

After initially denying the Consumer Product’s Safety Commission’s (CPSC) recommendation that it recall its treadmills, Peloton announced on Wednesday that after more consideration it would be complying with the request after all. The recall includes about 125,00 of Peloton’s Tread and Tread+ machines. The CPSC reported that there have been over 70 injuries tied to these treadmills, including multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned or pulled under the device, and one such incident resulting in the death of one six-year-old child. In another reported incident, a three-year-old boy was found trapped under a Peloton treadmill by his father. The child was not breathing and had no pulse. He survived with significant brain injuries. 

Peloton CEO John Foley stated, “I want to be clear. Peloton made a mistake in our response to the CPSC’s request. We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize.”

The recall is estimated to cost the exercise equipment company $165 million. That’s nearly three times the profits the company made in 2020, according to the net income report of $63.6 million published by Peloton.

Home Gyms With Peloton Treadmills Can Cause Significant Injuries

This change of heart from Peleton’s CEO comes after Foley first published two notes on the Peloton website in which he reassured customers that there would be no recall. In the notes, he urged customers to follow the warnings and safety instructions that are set by Peloton for use of the treadmill. This includes warnings to keep children and pets away from Peloton exercise equipment at all times and to double-check that the space around the Peloton equipment is clear before beginning a workout. Users are also instructed to remove the safety key and store it out of reach of children or anyone else who should not have access to the Peloton exercise equipment. 

CPSC chairman Robert Adler also made a statement on Wednesday, calling the recall the “result of weeks of intense negotiation and effort, culminating in a cooperative agreement that I believe serves the interest of Peloton and of consumers.” 

Peloton Initially Refused To Work With CPSC

The relationship between Peloton and CPSC was not all smooth-sailing. CPSC released a video showing two small children playing on a powered-on treadmill. As one of the children walks away, the other child gets dragged and pinned under the treadmill. Fortunately, the child was able to pull himself out from underneath, but the video is a jarring wake-up call to parents and consumers. The agency also released details of other incidents, including another child being injured while an adult used the exercise machine and pets and other objects being sucked beneath the treadmill. CPSC suggested that this spells danger even for adults using the machine correctly, as the space beneath the treadmill is unusually large and unguarded.

Peloton issued a statement denying CPSC’s claims, calling them “inaccurate and misleading.”

Now that Peloton has reversed its previous stance, Foley said they will work with CPSC to “set new industry safety standards for treadmills” because the company has a desire and a responsibility to be an industry leader in product safety. 

If You Have A Peloton Treadmill In Your Gym, Stop Using It Immediately

As Peloton announced its voluntary recall of the treadmills, CPSC published details on its website to help Peloton treadmill buyers figure out what to do next.  CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the recalled treadmills and to contact Peloton for a full refund, which will be available until November 6, 2022. After that time, only a partial refund will be available. Alternatively, Peloton is offering its customers the option to move their treadmills free of charge to a different room that is not available to children or dogs. They are also implementing software improvements that will automatically lock the treadmill after each use and prevent unauthorized access by requiring a 4-digit passcode to unlock it. 

Gym Accidents Happen Too Frequently

Peloton is not the only company to deal with exercise equipment-reported injuries and subsequent recalls.  CPSC reported that there were 22,500 treadmill-related injuries in the U.S, in 2019 and 17 deaths between 2018 and 2020. The fact that this death was of a young child combined with Peloton’s high profile has undoubtedly contributed to the media attention. The company picked up steam during quarantine as more people looked for at-home fitness solutions. After the huge success of its bike, the company sought to diversify by adding two treadmills to its lineup. Before the news of the child’s death broke, the treadmill was due to be released in the U.S.in May. 

According to CPSC, the cause of Peloton’s treadmill-related injuries is different than what they have seen in the past. Joe Martyak, director of communication for CPSC told WIRED that some of the factors contributing to injuries are Peloton’s “unique slatted belt, a lack of a guard at the rear, and a large clearance underneath the treadmill.” Regardless, Peloton equipment and other gym equipment can cause severe accidents and injuries.

Contact an Experienced Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from gym equipment, it’s important to talk to a professional personal injury lawyer. Our top-rated Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help you determine whether you have a valid claim and help you to recover the damages you’re owed. We have offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, El Segundo, San Diego, and Riverside, where we proudly help Southern California residents with their gym accident representation. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our attorneys, please call 888-848-5084.