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Nautilus Agrees To Pay $950,000 Civil Penalty
Company was slow to report issues with Bowflex machines
Apr 14, 2005 | Kansas City Star
Nautilus Inc. has agreed to pay a $950,000 civil penalty to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for failing to give timely reports on injuries and safety defects on some Bowflex exercise machines.Nautilus waited years in some cases to notify the commission about issues with some machines. There have been 85 injuries, including lacerations and chipped teeth, because of problems with the backboard bench, seat pin and incline-support bracket on various Bowflex models, commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said.
Under federal law, manufacturers, distributors and retailers must inform the commission immediately about potential safety hazards with their products. Nautilus, based in Vancouver, Wash., recalled about 800,000 Bowflex Power Pro and Ultimate fitness machines in January and November 2004. The Power Pro has been discontinued.
Nautilus, which also makes Schwinn and StairMaster fitness equipment, also didn't report a June 2000 design change to the Power Pro, the commission said. Companies must report product design changes related to a safety defect, Wolfson said.
Bowflex Defects
