PlainRecalls

CPSC, Pacific Cycle, LLC Announce Recall to Repair Ally Cat Tandem Bicycle Accessories

Reported: November 14, 2001 Initiated: November 14, 2001 #02040 About 2,500 units

Pacific Cycle, LLC, of Madison, Wis. issued this CPSC recall on November 14, 2001. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 2,500 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The hitch connecting the tandem accessory to the host bicycle can fail, causing the tandem accessory to become unstable…. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #02040) was formally reported on November 14, 2001. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Pacific Cycle, LLC, of Madison, Wis. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 2,500 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The hitch connecting the tandem accessory to the host bicycle can fail, causing the tandem accessory to become unstable, which poses the risk of injury to riders. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should stop using these bicycle accessories immediately and call Pacific Cycle for a free replacement hitch and instructions. In addition, L.L.Bean Inc., which sold these bicycle accessorie… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 25 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 2,500

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

The "Ally Cat" tandem bicycle accessory consists of a wheel, seat, pedals, and handlebars, and attaches to the host bicycle by a hitch. The recalled "Ally Cat" has the model number AC 100, AC 200, or AC 300, which is located on the top tube in products sold by independent bicycle retailers or L.L.Bean Inc. The accessories were sold at Wal-Mart Stores under the name "Mongoose Ally Cat," with the Mongoose name appearing on the down tube of the accessory. There is an aluminum sleeve on the hitch between the host bicycle and the accessory. "Ally Cat" bicycle accessories with nylon or plastic sleeves on the hitch are not included in this recall.

Reason for Recall

The hitch connecting the tandem accessory to the host bicycle can fail, causing the tandem accessory to become unstable, which poses the risk of injury to riders.

Remedy

Consumers should stop using these bicycle accessories immediately and call Pacific Cycle for a free replacement hitch and instructions. In addition, L.L.Bean Inc., which sold these bicycle accessories by catalog, will contact each of their known purchasers to provide the needed replacement parts.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 02040
Date reported November 14, 2001
Date initiated November 14, 2001
Recalling firm Pacific Cycle, LLC, of Madison, Wis.
Units affected About 2,500
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 2,500 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
The "Ally Cat" tandem bicycle accessory consists of a wheel, seat, pedals, and handlebars, and attaches to the host bicycle by a hitch. The recalled "Ally Cat" has the model number AC 100, AC 200, or AC 300, which is located on the top tube in products sold by independent bicycle retailers or L.L.Bean Inc. The accessories were sold at Wal-Mart Stores under the name "Mongoose Ally Cat," with the Mongoose name appearing on the down tube of the accessory. There is an aluminum sleeve on the hitch between the host bicycle and the accessory. "Ally Cat" bicycle accessories with nylon or plastic sleeves on the hitch are not included in this recall.. Recalled by Pacific Cycle, LLC, of Madison, Wis.. Units affected: About 2,500.
Why was this product recalled?
The hitch connecting the tandem accessory to the host bicycle can fail, causing the tandem accessory to become unstable, which poses the risk of injury to riders.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should stop using these bicycle accessories immediately and call Pacific Cycle for a free replacement hitch and instructions. In addition, L.L.Bean Inc., which sold these bicycle accessories by catalog, will contact each of their known purchasers to provide the needed replacement parts.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on November 14, 2001. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 02040.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (02040) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).