NordicTrack Lawsuit Claims Defective Treadmill Design Resulted in Injuries

Woman indicates she suffered severe injuries to her head, face and body after repairs to a defective NordicTrack treadmill caused it to malfunction.

A newly filed lawsuit alleges that repairs made to a NordicTrack treadmill failed to fix the device, and instead led to a violent malfunction that sent its owner flying forward at full speed.

The complaint (PDF) was originally brought by Deborah Sher in New York State Court on June 12, naming iFIT Health and Fitness Inc. and NordicTrack Inc. as defendants. However, the case was removed by the defendants to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on November 21, citing diversity jurisdiction.

NordicTrack sells a line of home treadmills that feature connected workout technology through the iFIT training platform. The machines include touchscreens that stream guided classes and can automatically adjust speed and incline based on the workout. Models range from compact and foldable units for smaller spaces, to heavier-duty versions with expanded incline and decline settings.

Although NordicTrack and other home treadmill brands are generally viewed as safe, recent incidents have raised broader concerns about the hazards posed by certain exercise equipment. 

More than 150,000 Peloton Tread+ treadmills were recalled in May 2021, following reports of the death of a child who was pulled under the machine’s gears. Prior to the Peloton recall, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warning prompted a Peloton class action lawsuit to be filed over problems with the affected treadmills’ design.

Gyms using similar machines have also been named in recently filed lawsuits over unexpected malfunctions and serious injuries. In October, a Planet Fitness lawsuit claimed that a cable on a Life Fitness Universal machine snapped without warning, propelling a Pennsylvania man into a nearby leg raise/dip station. He suffered a fractured rib, fractured vertebra and a collapsed lung as a result.

In the NordicTrack treadmill lawsuit, Sher claims she was severely injured on January 23, 2024, when her treadmill suddenly malfunctioned, rapidly accelerating to top speed and throwing her face-first onto the moving belt. She says she was using the machine with due care when it jolted without warning, causing injuries to her head, face and body.

According to the complaint, the treadmill had shown signs of trouble long before the incident. Sher contacted iFIT and NordicTrack in March 2023 after the software console froze, and a remote update rendered the screen completely unresponsive. The companies agreed to send a replacement console, and a certified technician installed it in early May 2023, who was instructed to inspect the machine and lubricate the belts at that time.

Sher alleges that these repairs failed to address the underlying problems and may have contributed to the later malfunction. The lawsuit claims the treadmill contained design defects, manufacturing flaws and improperly installed mechanical and software components, including the replacement console.

The filing further states that NordicTrack and iFIT had prior notice of these defects but failed to adequately test the equipment, warn consumers or issue a recall. Sher argues the companies breached their duty of care by allowing a defective treadmill to remain in use and by failing to provide effective repairs or identify safer alternatives.

“As a direct and proximate consequence of Defendant’s defective design of the subject product(s), defective design of the replacement parts, defective installation of the replacement parts, inadequate repair, Plaintiff suffered conscious pain and suffering by way of permanent and severely injured as well as physical, emotional, and psychological trauma.”

— Deborah Sher v. iFIT Health and Fitness Inc. and NordicTrack Inc.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict product liability, negligence, negligent repair and breach of warranty. Sher is seeking compensation for permanent physical injuries, emotional trauma, medical expenses, lost wages and other damages.

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