Peloton Tread Recall: Peloton Officially Recalls Its Treadmill

Published May 5, 2021 09:22AM

After reports of injuries and one death, Peloton announced today that it is issuing a recall of both its Tread and the Tread+. This is a reversal of the company’s previous decision to simply warn consumers about potential dangers.

If you currently own a Tread or Tread+, Peloton and the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced in a joint statement that “consumers who have purchased either treadmill should immediately stop using it and contact Peloton for a full refund.” The company is also offering a repair that will be available to customers “in the coming weeks.” The software improvements will automatically lock the Tread+ after use and require a four-digit passcode to unlock it, the commission said.

In April, the CPSC recommended a recall after dozens of injuries and one child death, but Peloton pushed back, saying that runners could continue using their treadmill safely, so long as children and pets were kept out of the room. Last month, the commission released a video of a child getting trapped under the back of the machine and struggling to free himself.

The CEO of the company apologized for not acting sooner. “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+,” CEO John Foley said in the statement. “We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize.”

Peloton’s treadmill is designed differently than most other models, with an “unusual” belt design that uses individual rigid rubberized slats or treads that are interlocked and ride on a rail. The back is also farther from the ground than many models, making it easier for things to maneuver in between the belt and floor.

On Facebook, owners expressed disbelief and dismay about the news, which was not communicated to them directly through Peloton, but instead through news stories and releases.

The company updated its Instagram late this morning with more information about what Tread and Tread+ owners can do. The Tread+ is being offered at a full refund until November 2022, and owners are encouraged to stop using the equipment. If you do not want to return your Tread+, Peloton is offering to move it, free of charge, to a room with no children/pet access, as well as the software safety update mentioned above.

The Tread, which was never as widely available and has about a 1/10 of the units, is also available for a full refund. If you do not want to return and refund your Tread, Peloton will come out and secure the touchscreen, but the company encourage users to also stop using the Tread until such a fix can be rolled out (timing appears uncertain at this point.)

Yes, Peloton Really Just Recalled All Its Treadmills