Trek Bicycle is recalling nearly one million bicycles in the U.S. and Canada after the company has confirmed three injuries resulting in a front quick release lever that opens too wide.
The Waterloo, Wisconsin-based bicycle corporation says some 900,000 of the affected bikes are located in the U.S., while another 98,000 are in Canada. The recall is issued for all bikes with model years 2000 to 2015 that have disc brakes and a front quick release lever that can open up to 180 degrees and can get caught up in the front disc brake. This, Trek Bike says, can potentially lead to an accident if an improperly adjusted quick release lever hits the disc brake, resulting in a sudden stop or the rider's loss of control over the bicycle.
"Any Trek bicycle equipped with disc brakes and a front quick release lever that can open beyond 180 degrees and contact the disc brake assembly is affected," says [pdf] Trek. "If you are unsure whether your bicycle has this combination, please take it to your local Trek retailer for a free inspection."
The recall was announced after three injuries have been confirmed, says Trek, including one that involves a rider becoming permanently paralyzed. The other two accidents caused facial injuries in the first rider and a fractured wrist in the second one.
The affected bicycles were sold in Trek stores and local retailers from September 1999 through April 2015. Bikes that have front quick release levers that do not open a full 180 degrees are not part of the recall, Trek says.
All customers with affected Trek bikes are encouraged to visit their local Trek retailer for a free replacement of the front quick release lever and free installation. Customers will also receive a $20 coupon that they can use to purchase any Bontrager product redeemable until Dec. 31, 2015.
"We want to make sure anybody who owns a Trek with a quick release and front disc brakes gets their bike to a Trek retailer for a free inspection," Trek says. "Any bike found with this kind of quick release and disc brake combination will have the quick release changed for free on the spot - it takes less than five minutes."
The recall was announced with the cooperation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Customers who have questions and want to contact Trek may do so directly by calling the company's safety and recall hotline at 800.373.4594.
