Recall: "Total Gym" Exercise Machines Recalled by Fitness Quest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2002 Release # 02-160

Fitness Quest Recall Hotline: (800) 321-9236 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058

CPSC, Fitness Quest Inc. Announce Recall of "Total Gym" Exercise Machines

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Fitness Quest Inc., of Canton, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 310,000 Total Gym exercise machines. The handles on these exercise machines can detach during use and the cable attached to the handles can break, resulting in injury to the user.

CPSC and Fitness Quest have received about 400 reports of the handles and cables on these exercise machines breaking, resulting in 30 reports of injuries, including lacerations and abrasions.

The recall involves the Total Gym® 1000 and the Total Gym® Pro model exercisers with serial numbers DK000001 through DK129350, models with the serial number prefixes XO or SM, and models without serial numbers. The serial number is located on the underside of the machine's glide board. The glide board rolls on an inclined track as the user pulls the hand cords or pushes at the base. These exercisers were manufactured in Taiwan, Thailand, and China.

Sporting good stores, web sites, catalogs, and direct sales sold this exercise machine nationwide from June 1997 through October 2001 for between $180 and $200.

Consumers should stop using these exercisers immediately and contact Fitness Quest to order a free repair kit. For more information, contact Fitness Quest at (800) 321-9236 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's web site at www.fitnessquest.com.

Total Gym models sold on television infomercials are not included in this recall.