A MAJOR fitness company has issued a recall for its adjustable dumbbells after injuries were reported.
The dumbbells were once sold at Costco, and millions could be impacted by the recall.
They were also available at Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and via Amazon.
Johnson Health Tech Trading and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall for BowFlex 552 adjustable dumbbells and 1090 adjustable dumbbells.
But some are blasting Johnson Health Tech for not providing enough payback.
B-OW-FLEX
The Bowflex products are adjustable, but its weight-switching ability has come with an unfortunate side effect.
“The weight plates can dislodge from the handle during use, posing an impact hazard,” Bowflex explained in its recall notice.
Johnson Health Tech Trading, which took over Bowflex in 2024, told Fox Business that the faulty dumbbells predate its ownership of Bowflex.
“Over 95% of the more than 3.8 million BowFlex dumbbell models subject to this voluntary recall were sold during a twenty-year period by Nautilus Inc., which is no longer in business,” the company said.
“Despite having no obligation to do so, Johnson Health Tech Trading is stepping up to provide a remedy to customers who purchased recalled dumbbells from Nautilus,” it said.
Nautilus had received hundreds of reports of plates dislodging from sold units.
111 of those incidents included an injury like “concussions, abrasions, broken toes or contusions,” a CPSC report said.
The recall applies to products sold between May 2004 and May 2025.
WHAT TO DO
If you have one of the covered products, CPSC suggests that you stop using it.
Johnson Health Tech Trading is contacting all known purchasers directly, according to CPSC.
If you are not contacted but still believe you qualify, you can reach out to Johnson Health or Bowflex directly.
Consumers can request a refund in the form of a replacement unit, a voucher, or a one-year membership to the JRNY fitness app. However, the recall may not cover the full value of either the original purchase price, or the purchase price for a full replacement.
To check if the recall applies to you, look for a serial number on the tray holding the dumbbells.
A list of qualifying serial numbers is available on CPSC’s website.
Some may be able to qualify for full refunds via voucher.
REELING OVER RECALL
Many fitness buffs found the offerings by Johnson Health Tech to be lacking.
“I got offered $60 voucher,” one said on Reddit. “The new set is $429 and after taxes and the shipping they will likely charge would be over $500 so the $60 voucher basically turns into a 14% coupon while I am left without the product I purchased.”
“This company is turning a safety recall into an opportunity to sell new products,” another complained. “This is disgraceful.”
MORE RECALLS
Paying attention to product recalls can keep you safe — and provide an opportunity for benefits.
Recalls can be especially urgent when they involve food.
Contaminated eggs were recently recalled after being sold at Walmart and Safeway.
A popular medicine was recently recalled due to a fungus contamination incident.
