Peloton markets its Tread+ machine for family-friendly exercise, but the treadmill contains design flaws that make it particularly dangerous for young children, including one child who was killed after becoming trapped under the machine, according to a proposed class action filed Tuesday in California federal court.
Peloton Interactive Inc.’s Tread+ has been the subject of numerous complaints following the child’s death and reports of injuries to dozens of other children, according to the complaint filed by Shannon Albright, and the company has since been under investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The CPSC on April 17 told consumers to stop using the Tread+ if they have small children or pets, but Peloton rejected the warning and asserted that its treadmill is perfectly safe.
The CPSC’s investigation found that there had been at least 39 incidents, including one death, related to the Tread+ machine.
Albright said she and the proposed class should either be given refunds or new machines that are not dangerous to children and pets. She said Peloton knew or should have known that its Tread+ is defective and should not have sold and marketed it as safe for use by families.
The defects that make the machine dangerous include its lightweight, the tread’s exposure on both the top and the bottom of the machine, the large clearance between the floor and exposed thread, the lack of sensors to detect a child or pet that might be trapped and dragged under the machine and the lack of an effective shut-off mechanism.
Albright wants to represent a nationwide class of people who bought either a Peloton Tread or a Tread+. The suit alleges violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and false and misleading advertising, among other claims. It seeks injunctive relief, restitution, statutory and exemplary damages, attorney fees and litigation costs.