US Consumer Product Safety Commission issues warning to stop using Peloton Tread+

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning to stop using the Peloton Tread+.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the danger of popular Peloton Tread+ exercise machine after multiple incidents of small children and a pet being injured beneath the machines. The Commission has found that the public health and safety requires this notice to warn the public quickly of the hazard.

The urgent warning comes less than a month after Peloton itself released news of a child’s death by a Peloton Tread+ and CPSC’s announcement of an investigation into that incident.

The agency is continuing to investigate all known incidents of injury or death related to the Peloton Tread+.

To date, CPSC is aware of 39 incidents including one death. CPSC staff believes the Peloton Tread+ poses serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death. In light of multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned, and pulled under the rear roller of the product, CPSC urges consumers with children at home to stop using the product immediately. This video demonstrates the hazard to children posed by the Tread+. [Warning, video content may be disturbing to some viewers.] It is believed that at least one incident occurred while a parent was running on the treadmill, suggesting that the hazard cannot be avoided simply by locking the device when not in use. Reports of a pet and objects being sucked beneath the Tread+ also suggest possible harm to the user if the user loses balance as a result.

Peloton has posted a rebuttal of the commission’s claims on its website.

Peloton was shocked and devastated to learn in March that a child died while using the Tread+. Within a day of learning this news, Peloton notified CPSC. While preparing its report to CPSC, Peloton learned through a doctor’s report to CPSC’s public database that a child had experienced a brain injury. Peloton spoke to the family who reported that and the child is expected to fully recover. Not wanting to delay in notifying Members, on March 18, 2021, Peloton’s co-founder and CEO John Foleysent an urgent reminder directly to Tread+ Members to follow the critical warnings and safety instructions that accompany the Tread+, which state that children, pets, and objects should be kept clear of the Tread+ at all times. Members were also reminded to remove the Safety Key and store it out of the reach of children when an adult is not using the Tread+. As hoped, this message received widespread attention, further reinforcing this vital safety message. Following this message, Peloton received additional reports of incidents that had previously occurred. Peloton promptly reported the additional incidents to CPSC and provided all subsequent details that CPSC requested, with the limited exception of certain personally identifiable information that a few Members explicitly requested Peloton not volunteer. In order to protect these Members’ privacy, Peloton honored those requests and did not provide that information to the CPSC until it was compelled by subpoena to do so.

The importance of following Peloton’s safety warnings and instructions is abundantly clear in the video that CPSC included in its unilateral press release. In particular, Peloton instructs Members to remove the Safety Key when the Tread+ is not in use, precisely to avoid the kind of incident that this video depicts. When the Safety Key is detached as instructed, the Tread+ cannot be turned on. The Tread+ includes safety warnings and instructions in several places, including in the user manual, in a safety card left on top of the Tread+ tray on delivery, and on the product itself.

The CPSC has posted these guidelines if you own a Peloton Tread+

• Stop using the Peloton Tread+ if there are small children or pets at home. Incidents suggest that children may be seriously injured while the Tread+ is being used by an adult, not just when a child has unsupervised access to the machine.
• If consumers must continue to use the product, CPSC urges consumers to use the product only 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 Tread+ and store the safety key away from the device and out of reach of children.
• Report any Peloton Tread+ incidents to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov or to CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.

The Washington Post broke the news last night.