Are You in the Peloton Biker Gang? Check Your Model, Stat—It Might Have Been Recalled

Before, during, and since the pandemic, millions have been initiated into the Peloton biker gang. But the convenience of having your own stationary bike at home with livestreaming classes, as opposed to going to a studio with its own bikes, also comes with a risk: That any problems with the Peloton product end up being your problem.

That’s now the case for more than two million people who bought Peloton Original bikes sold between January 2018 and May 2023. On Thursday, Peloton and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of the Peloton Original model due to safety problems with the bike’s seat. There have been 35 instances of the seat breaking, posing a fall and injury risk. One person reported a fractured wrist, while others had bruising and lacerations.

This isn’t Peloton’s first rodeo with a recall. In 2021, Peloton announced a full recall of the Peloton Tread+, after a child died in a related accident and there were dozens of other incidents.

In that case, Peloton offered full refunds for the Tread+. But the Peloton bike recall just has to do with the bike’s seat, which can be removed and replaced. Peloton will provide affected bike owners with a replacement seat for free. If you qualify, all you have to do is place the order here, and you can easily install it yourself.

The recall only affects Peloton Original models in the U.S., not Peloton Bike+ owners or Peloton owners abroad. If you’re not sure what model you have, you can check “the label located on the inside front fork (near the flywheel),” says Peloton. If it says “PL-01” on that label, you’re eligible for the free replacement. Other characteristics of the affected bike include a red “P” logo followed by a white “Peloton” brand name on the bike’s frame, and a non-swiveling display.

Of course, the Peloton bike recall isn’t great news for the brand, which has struggled as the world has opened back up after the height of the pandemic, and people have become less enamored of their at-home fitness options. It might be time for Peloton to do some rethinking, and, at the very least, some engineering soul searching.