E-Force Cross Trainer
CPSC Recall #96-182 — August 6, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-182 |
| Recall Date | August 6, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | About 300,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Retailers and infomercials sold the E-Force machines from March 1995 through June 1996 for about $180 to $249. |
Product
E-Force Cross Trainer
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, CSA Inc. of South Easton, Mass., is announcing the voluntary recall of about 300,000 E-Force Cross Trainer exercise machines. The machine's welds may crack or break, resulting in injuries to consumers. CSA has received 54 reports of people who experienced neck, shoulder, and ankle injuries from using the exercise machines with cracked or separated welds. The silver metal exercise machine resembles a bicycle without wheels. "E-FORCE Cross Trainer" is written on black plastic guards on both sides of the machine, beneath the seat. To operate the machine, consumers pull the handlebars, which rocks the seat forward. This safety retrofit program involves only E-Force Cross Trainers and not the E-Force Rider or E-Force Sport. Retailers and infomercials sold the E-Force machines from March 1995 through June 1996 for about $180 to $249. Consumers should stop using the machines immediately and destroy or discard the product. Firm is out of business.
Hazard
The machine's welds may crack or break, resulting in injuries to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
CSA has received 54 reports of people who experienced neck, shoulder, and ankle injuries from using the exercise machines with cracked or separated welds.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the machines immediately and destroy or discard the product. Firm is out of business.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.