Mountain bike seat posts

CPSC Recall #95-031 - November 30, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-031
Recall DateNovember 30, 1994
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 186,700

Product

Mountain bike seat posts

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of its ongoing investigation of injuries associated with mountain bikes, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the following three companies are announcing the recall or retrofit of about 186,700 mountain bike seat posts. The seat posts have clamp bolts under the seat which may break or fracture, depending on the make and model, resulting in loss of bicycle control and serious injury to the rider. Since the summer of 1994, the companies and CPSC have received at least 25 reported incidents of seat post breakage, resulting in 17 claimed injuries. The following companies are participating in this recall: COMPANY MAKE/MODEL DISTRIBUTION DATES PROBLEM Specialized Bicycle Components Morgan Hill, CA (800) 214-1468 Polygon PM-215 Delta DP127; & DP510 8/93-11/94 130,000 units Cracking or fracturing of the seat post clamp bolt. Cannondale Corp. Georgetown, Conn. 800-BIKEUSA Polygon PM-215 1994;1994 1/2; 1995 models 42,753 units Cracking or fracturing of the seat bolt. Fisher Bicycle A Division of the Trek Bicycle Corp. Waterloo, Wis. 800-879-8735 Polygon PM-215 on Advance & Rangitoto - Gary Fisher models 8/93-12/93 14,000 units Cracking or fracturing of the seat bolt. CPSC and the companies urge consumers to stop using bicycles that have these model seat posts and immediately contact the manufacturer or a local authorized dealer. Owners of recalled seat posts will receive instructions to take their bikes to the place of purchase for a FREE repair and replacement seat post clamp bolt assembly.

Hazard

The seat posts have clamp bolts under the seat which may break or fracture, depending on the make and model, resulting in loss of bicycle control and serious injury to the rider.

Incidents & Injuries

Since the summer of 1994, the companies and CPSC have received at least 25 reported incidents of seat post breakage, resulting in 17 claimed injuries.

Remedy Instructions

CPSC and the companies urge consumers to stop using bicycles that have these model seat posts and immediately contact the manufacturer or a local authorized dealer. Owners of recalled seat posts will receive instructions to take their bikes to the place of purchase for a FREE repair and replacement seat post clamp bolt assembly.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, 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 (Replace, 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.