PlainRecalls

Life Fitness Recalls PowerMill Climber Due to Fire Hazard

Reported: September 27, 2018 Initiated: September 27, 2018 #18235 About 11,800 units

Life Fitness, of Rosemont, Ill. issued this CPSC recall on September 27, 2018. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 11,800 units are affected. The recall was issued because: Electrical arcing can occur if liquid enters the power receptacle at the front of the climbers, resulting in sparking a…. 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 #18235) was formally reported on September 27, 2018. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Life Fitness, of Rosemont, Ill. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 11,800 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Electrical arcing can occur if liquid enters the power receptacle at the front of the climbers, resulting in sparking and smoking, posing a fire hazard. 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 immediately stop using the recalled PowerMill climbers and contact Life Fitness for instructions on receiving a free repair. All known purchasers are being contacted directly by the … — 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 8 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 11,800

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

This recall involves Life Fitness PowerMill climbers models PMA, PFB, PMD, PFD, PMH, and PFH. The model letters appear at the front of the serial number on the bottom right of the unit, on the inside of the "step-up" support. The climbers were manufactured and distributed from 2014 through 2018. Life Fitness is printed on the side panels of the machines. The climber machines have a moving mechanical staircase (similar to an escalator) with rotating steps between two handrails.

Reason for Recall

Electrical arcing can occur if liquid enters the power receptacle at the front of the climbers, resulting in sparking and smoking, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PowerMill climbers and contact Life Fitness for instructions on receiving a free repair. All known purchasers are being contacted directly by the firm.

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 18235
Date reported September 27, 2018
Date initiated September 27, 2018
Recalling firm Life Fitness, of Rosemont, Ill.
Units affected About 11,800
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 11,800 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
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?
This recall involves Life Fitness PowerMill climbers models PMA, PFB, PMD, PFD, PMH, and PFH. The model letters appear at the front of the serial number on the bottom right of the unit, on the inside of the "step-up" support. The climbers were manufactured and distributed from 2014 through 2018. Life Fitness is printed on the side panels of the machines. The climber machines have a moving mechanical staircase (similar to an escalator) with rotating steps between two handrails.. Recalled by Life Fitness, of Rosemont, Ill.. Units affected: About 11,800.
Why was this product recalled?
Electrical arcing can occur if liquid enters the power receptacle at the front of the climbers, resulting in sparking and smoking, posing a fire hazard.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PowerMill climbers and contact Life Fitness for instructions on receiving a free repair. All known purchasers are being contacted directly by the firm.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on September 27, 2018. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 18235.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (18235) 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).