Bowflex Dumbbells Lawsuit: Dangerous Design, Faulty Recall Alleged

Case Overview: A class action alleges Bowflex adjustable dumbbells (552 and 1090 models) have a dangerous defect where weight plates can dislodge during use, and that the recall remedy is inadequate.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who purchased Bowflex 552 or 1090 adjustable dumbbells.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

A class action lawsuit is taking aim at Bowflex and its parent company Johnson Health Tech, claiming the companies knowingly sold dangerously defective adjustable dumbbells that injured hundreds of users and failed to make things right with an effective recall.

According to the lawsuit, Bowflex’s adjustable dumbbells, specifically the 552 and 1090 models, which have been sold nationwide for over two decades, can dislodge during use, posing a major safety risk. 

More than 3.8 million units were sold before a June 2025 recall advised customers to stop using them immediately. The companies had received over 300 reports of plates falling off, including more than 100 injuries like concussions, broken toes, and serious bruises, according to the complaint.

Despite acknowledging the problem, the companies offered only product replacements, digital memberships, or store credit—no refunds, which consumers say this isn’t good enough, especially for those who’ve lost trust in the brand or discarded the weights out of fear.

Bowflex Dumbbells Accused of Defective Design

Duke Douglas of South Milwaukee, who filed the proposed class action lawsuit, says he bought the recalled dumbbells through Amazon for nearly $400. He only learned about the defect after purchasing, and says he never would have bought them if he had known the risks. 

The lawsuit alleges that Bowflex failed to include any warning about the defect in its advertising or packaging, and that Douglas has since stopped using the weights due to safety concerns.

Recall Deemed Insufficient by Consumers

In the complaint, Bowflex and Johnson Health Tech allegedly had reason to know about the dumbbells’ issues long before the recall. The companies reportedly monitored customer complaints and warranty claims for years, and internal testing flagged safety concerns early on. 

But despite receiving scores of consumer complaints (some even posted on federal safety databases), they didn’t act until hundreds more came forward with similar reports.

The lawsuit calls the recall an inadequate public gesture designed to limit financial liability rather than meaningfully address the defect. The lawsuit also criticizes the company’s refusal to issue cash refunds and its decision to offer only replacement products or vouchers, leaving many consumers without a real remedy.

Fitness Gear Industry Faces Product Safety Concerns

Bowflex isn’t the only fitness brand under legal fire. Other companies have also faced lawsuits over allegedly dangerous workout equipment. In March, Tzumi Electronics recalled its FitRx SmartBell XL dumbbells after dozens of users reported sudden weight dislodgements and injuries. 

Matrix Training Cycles was sued over faulty stationary bike seats that drop mid-use, and Peloton paid a $19 million penalty in 2021 after delays in reporting injuries tied to its Tread+ treadmill, which was linked to a child’s death.

In his lawsuit, Douglas wants to represent anyone in the United States who purchased any of the Bowflex dumbbells.  He is suing for unjust enrichment, fraud, and violations of the Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and is and is seeking injunctive relief, damages, fees, costs, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Douglas v. Johnson Health Tech Trading, Inc. et al.
• Case Number: 3:25-cv-00500-wmc
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Brittany S. Scott (Smith Krivoshey, PC)

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