Citing eight reported incidents, safety experts say the public should "immediately stop using" these machines from a recognizable brand.
If you’re looking to burn calories, boost heart health, or build muscle, rowing machines—whether used at home or in a gym—can help you work toward many fitness goals. And, because these machines also provide a low-impact, full-body workout, the Cleveland Clinic says rowing can be safe “for people of all fitness levels.” Yet if your at-home rowing machine is made by the popular fitness equipment brand NordicTrack, here’s a warning ahead of your next sweat sesh: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that 44,800 units of a particular NordicTrack machine have been recalled throughout the U.S. due to a fire hazard.
On October 16, the safety organization announced that the iFIT NordicTrack Model NTRW19147 Rowing Machine is now under recall after multiple reports that the screen console can overheat, smoke, and ignite in flames. Though no injuries have been reported so far, “there have been eight reported incidents including two reports of fire, six reports of smoking or melting, and at least $6,000 in property damage,” the CPSC states.
NordicTrack is among the most popular gym equipment brands, known for making treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and other products designed for home gyms. “As of April 2022, NordicTrack was the most common brand of treadmill owned by individuals in the United States,” notes market research firm Statista.
The defective items were reportedly sold nationwide at in-person retailers Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Nebraska Furniture, and ABT stores. They were also sold online at the NordicTrack website, as well as Amazon. The products were sold between November 2018 and April 2022, retailing for roughly $1,700. An additional 700 units were also distributed in Canada.
The machines—described as “black, gray and white”—have model numbers printed on a decal attached to the rower base. Model numbers associated with this recall are:
- NTRW19147.0
- NTRW19147.1
- NTRW19147.2
- NTRW19147.3
Additionally, the machines have the words “NordicTrack” printed in black letters on the machine’s front legs of the machine, and the code “RW900” printed in white letters on the machine’s back legs. The CPSC link also includes a product image.
According to the CPSC, “Consumers should immediately stop using and unplug the recalled rowing machines. Consumers should contact iFIT to arrange for a free home repair by an authorized technician in the form of a replacement screen console.” iFit Inc. of Logan, Utah, is the listed importer.
The report lists the following ways for consumers to contact iFIT: “toll-free at 833-680-4348 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, email at ntrw19147-recall[at]ifit.com or online at www.nordictrack.com/product-recalls or www.nordictrack.com and click on ‘Voluntary Recalls’ at the bottom of the page for more information.”
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
