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Peloton is again selling its $2,500 treadmill with 3 key changes since the company faced recalls and reports of injuries

Ben Gilbert   

Peloton is again selling its $2,500 treadmill with 3 key changes since the company faced recalls and reports of injuries
  • Peloton's luxury treadmill line, the Tread and Tread+, were both recalled in May.
  • The latter was recalled after the death of a child and several reports of injuries.
  • The new version of the Tread, which starts at $2,500, is said to be safer than the previous model.

In May, Peloton recalled both versions of its treadmills: the Tread and the Tread+.

The reason for both recalls was safety.

In the case of the $2,500 Tread, "the touchscreen console on the Tread can detach and fall, posing a risk of injury to consumers," Peloton said. In the case of the $4,500 Tread+, one user reported that their child was killed by the treadmill and several other users reported injuries while using the machine.

Now, on August 30, Peloton is re-introducing the Tread with "safety features integrated into the experience," the company said on Tuesday.

On the new version, the nearly 24-inch touchscreen is more carefully secured to the treadmill so that it doesn't detach and potentially injure the user, the company said.

The new Tread also includes two additional features: a safety key and a tread lock. The safety key enables runners to quickly come to a stop. The tread lock requires users to enter a four-digit safety pin to operate the machine. The lock was previously available only to paying "All Access" subscribers, but now it's accessible on every treadmill that Peloton sells.

Anyone who bought a Tread prior to the recall is eligible for a free repair, the company said. "The repair ensures that the touchscreen will remain securely attached to the Tread," the statement said.

Read more: I studied how Peloton mastered the hybrid setting. Here's what it can teach leaders about keeping employees happy and engaged no matter where they work.

Peloton was initially resistant to recalling its treadmills, and insisted they were safe to use. The company has not yet re-released the more expensive Tread+ since recalling it in May.

"The Peloton Tread+ is safe for use at home when operated as directed and in accordance with our warnings and safety instructions," Peloton spokesperson Jessica Kleiman told Insider in April.

But federal regulators in the US insisted that Peloton take steps to correct the situation. "This doesn't happen with other treadmills," an official told The Washington Post at the time.

Peloton later apologized and issued a recall of both the Tread and Tread+ treadmills.

"Our goal is to be the go-to fitness solution and the largest and safest home fitness brand in the world," Peloton CEO and cofounder John Foley said in a press release. "We've worked hard to make sure the new Tread truly earns its spot in Members' homes."

Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

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