Total Gym® 1000 and the Total Gym® Pro model exercise machines
CPSC Recall #02-160 — May 15, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-160 |
| Recall Date | May 15, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 310,000 |
| Manufactured In | Taiwan, Thailand, and China |
Where It Was Sold
| Sporting good stores |
| websites |
| catalogs |
| and direct sales sold this exercise machine nationwide from June 1997 through October 2001 for between $180 and $200. |
Product
Total Gym® 1000 and the Total Gym® Pro model exercise machines
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Fitness Quest Inc., of Canton, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 310,000 Total Gym exercise machines. The handles on these exercise machines can detach during use and the cable attached to the handles can break, resulting in injury to the user.CPSC and Fitness Quest have received about 400 reports of the handles and cables on these exercise machines breaking, resulting in 30 reports of injuries, including lacerations and abrasions.The recall involves the Total Gym® 1000 and the Total Gym® Pro model exercisers with serial numbers DK000001 through DK129350, models with the serial number prefixes XO or SM, and models without serial numbers. The serial number is located on the underside of the machine's glide board. The glide board rolls on an inclined track as the user pulls the hand cords or pushes at the base. These exercisers were manufactured in Taiwan, Thailand, and China.Sporting good stores, websites, catalogs, and direct sales sold this exercise machine nationwide from June 1997 through October 2001 for between $180 and $200.Consumers should stop using these exercisers immediately and contact Fitness Quest to order a free repair kit. For more information, contact Fitness Quest at (800) 321-9236 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.fitnessquest.com.Total Gym models sold on television infomercials are not included in this recall.
Hazard
The handles on these exercise machines can detach during use and the cable attached to the handles can break, resulting in injury to the user.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Fitness Quest have received about 400 reports of the handles and cables on these exercise machines breaking, resulting in 30 reports of injuries, including lacerations and abrasions.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these exercisers immediately and contact Fitness Quest to order a free repair kit.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.