A class action lawsuit has been filed against Johnson Health Tech Trading, Inc. and Johnson Health Tech Retail, Inc., alleging that certain adjustable dumbbells sold under the BowFlex brand are defective and that the defendants’ recall efforts have been insufficient.
The complaint concerns approximately 3.8 million BowFlex-branded adjustable dumbbells sold in the United States between 2004 and 2025. The products at issue, the Model 552 and Model 1090 dumbbells, allegedly have a design defect that can cause weight plates to dislodge during normal use. As of June 2025, there have been at least 349 reports of malfunctions, with injuries including broken toes and concussions.
In response to these incidents, the defendants initiated a recall in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). According to the complaint, the recall offers full refunds or replacements only to consumers who purchased the dumbbells after April 23, 2024. Purchasers before that date are offered prorated vouchers and a one-year subscription to a fitness app. The plaintiff alleges that this remedy does not adequately address the safety issues or the cost of replacing the product.
The lawsuit claims that the defendants engaged in deceptive marketing and failed to implement an adequate remedy for the alleged defects. The complaint seeks restitution and compensatory damages for all affected purchasers and requests a court-supervised recall program.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Philip J. Furia and Jason P. Sultzer of Sultzer & Lipari PLLC, along with Russell Busch, Nick Suciu, and Trenton R. Kashima of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Civil Action No. 2:25-cv-03435.