Rowing Action Exerciser

CPSC Recall #90-115 - June 20, 1990

Recall Summary

Recall Number90-115
Recall DateJune 20, 1990
Remedy TypeDispose, New Instructions, Repair
Units AffectedApproximately two million

Product

Rowing Action Exerciser

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Dynamic Classics, Ltd. of New York City, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced a repair program for its spring exercisers called the "Rowing Action Exerciser." Early models of the exerciser were involved in injuries resulting mainly from the spring breaking or the footbar separating during use. Some two million exercisers of the earlier model were sold nationwide from 1984 to August 1987. Approximately 60 incidents have been reported to CPSC and the firm, most of which involved a broken spring or a footbar assembly coming apart. Consumers have experienced bruises, cuts and lacerations to the face and other parts of the body when the handlebar or spring struck the user. Incidents showed that the spring of the Rowing Action Exerciser, if extended too far to withstand the stress, could snap. Dynamic Classics is offering owners of the older models a free retrofit kit, which is designed to prevent the spring breaking and the footbar separating. The retrofit kit includes a safety cord to prevent over-stretching and over-stressing the spring, metal brackets to prevent over-stressing the spring loop, and a new extended footbar to prevent separation. Rowing Action Exercisers sold after August 1987 do not need retrofitting. They can be identified by metal brackets already attached to the top and bottom of the spring and a safety cord installed inside the spring. Earlier models had no brackets and a longer safety cord. Consumers should immediately discontinue the use of older models of the Rowing Action Exerciser, which do not have metal brackets attached to both ends of the spring. Consumers should call Dynamic Classics, Ltd. toll-free at 1-800-284-8492 to receive a retrofit kit. Consumers may also write to: Dynamic Classics, Ltd., 95 Mayhill Street, Saddle Brook, NJ 07662. Consumers no longer using the older Rowing Action Exerciser or not wishing to repair the device should discard the exerciser so no one else may use it.

Hazard

Early models of the exerciser were involved in injuries resulting mainly from the spring breaking or the footbar separating during use.

Incidents & Injuries

Approximately 60 incidents have been reported to CPSC and the firm, most of which involved a broken spring or a footbar assembly coming apart. Consumers have experienced bruises, cuts and lacerations to the face and other parts of the body when the handlebar or spring struck the user. Incidents showed that the spring of the Rowing Action Exerciser, if extended too far to withstand the stress, could snap.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately discontinue the use of older models of the Rowing Action Exerciser, which do not have metal brackets attached to both ends of the spring. Consumers should call Dynamic Classics, Ltd. toll-free at 1-800-284-8492 to receive a retrofit kit. Consumers may also write to: Dynamic Classics, Ltd., 95 Mayhill Street, Saddle Brook, NJ 07662. Consumers no longer using the older Rowing Action Exerciser or not wishing to repair the device should discard the exerciser so no one else may use it.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, New Instructions, 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 (Dispose, New Instructions, 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.