More than 2 million exercise bikes from Peloton are being recalled due to worries that the seat component could break while in use and cause harm to users.
Owners have been urged to cease using the bikes right away and get in touch with Peloton for a free repair.
Following the bike’s seat detaching while in use, the company has received multiple claims of injuries, including “a fractured wrist and lacerations.”
Bikes sold from January 2018 through May 2023 are affected by the recall.
The recall was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission of the US government on Thursday, warning owners that the bike model PL-01 poses a danger of injury.
Out of the 2,160,000 bikes sold as of 30 April, 35 incidents of “seat posts breaking” were found, according to a statement from Peloton.
“As part of our commitment to product safety, we are voluntarily recalling the seat post of affected units to provide a free replacement seat post,” the business stated.
After gyms were shuttered to stop the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic, the popularity of Peloton bikes skyrocketed. The Peloton website states that the entry-level bike costs $1,445 (£1154).
However, the reseller of at-home workout equipment has survived scrutiny over the years. On Thursday, the company’s stock fell more than 8% as a result of news of the most recent voluntary recall.
The business received criticism in 2019 for an advertisement showing a spouse giving his wife an exercise bike for the holidays.
The woman in the advertisement adds, “A year ago, I didn’t realise how much this would change me,” before chronicling her journey with fitness. The campaign was called “sexist” and even “dystopian” by detractors on social media, and the outcry caused the company’s stock to crash.
A youngster later died and more than 70 individuals reported injuries, prompting the firm to recall their treadmill model.
Then, in a startling turn of events, Mr. Big, a beloved character from the HBO series Sex and the City, passed away unexpectedly after a heart attack while using a Peloton cycle. According to CNN, the announcement shattered both the company’s stock price and its fan base, which dropped by more than 75% in 2021.
Later that year, John Foley, the co-founder and CEO of Peloton, announced his resignation as the company tried to turn around its declining business.
