Horizon T101-05 Treadmill Recall

A consumer recall is being issued in both Canada and the United States for Horizon T101-05 treadmills. According to a corporate statement issued to us directly, “Customer safety is our number one priority. That is why Horizon Fitness has issued a voluntary recall for T101-05 folding treadmills due to unexpected speed changes, posing a fall hazard. The T101-05 treadmill owners should contact Horizon Fitness for a free USB with software repair. The software repair takes less than two minutes and can be downloaded directly from our website.”

The current T101-07 Go Series model is unaffected as is the rest of the Horizon lineup available for purchase. The software update should fix the problem.

A popular unit, the Horizon T101-05 treadmills have been tagged in 874 reports where the machine unexpectedly changed speed, or simply stopped. These reports include 71 alleged injuries, including bruises, abrasions, and two broken bones, according to a statement issued by the company. Customers would have purchased these between March 2018 and October 2022 at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Johnson Fitness and Wellness stores, www.HorizonFitness.com, www.Amazon.com, www.DicksSportingGoods.com, and www.JohnsonFitness.com. The treadmill price ranged from $600 to $1,000.

The Horizon T101 is actually one of our favorite low-budget treadmills. A smaller unit with a 20″ x 55″ tread belt and 2.5 HP motor, it brings 30 built-in programs and offers heart rate monitoring by way of dual grips in the handlebars. The good news is, it’s believed that the free software upgrade can remedy the problem. If that’s indeed the case, it’s certainly worth the call to have fixed for free. Not many treadmills in the $650 range bring a 10% incline and Bluetooth connectivity. Because the treadmill can be fixed with a simple download we’re not prepared to change our ratings on this treadmill just yet.

In the meantime, customers who are concerned can contact Horizon Fitness online and click “Safety Notices,” or call toll-free at 888-223-1045, or email retailrecall@johnsonfit.com for more information. For those unsure, check the side of the treadmill to see if “Horizon T101-05” is printed on the serial number. This should be near the power switch and the serial number starts with the letters “TM.” Only T101-05 folding treadmills are involved in this recall.

Imported by Johnson Health Tech Trading, these units were manufactured in China and Vietnam and are being pulled under Recall Number 23-026 issued October 27, 2022. This move impacts approximately 200,000 treadmills, including some 7,000 sold in Canada.

This Horizon recall reminds us a bit of the Peloton Tread+ recall which impacted the other end of the pricing spectrum in terms of machines. As with any recall, consumers are advised to follow the manufacturer’s advice.