Shimano faces an $11.5 million penalty after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) concluded the company failed to promptly report a defect in its 11-speed road cranksets.
The regulator claims Shimano received “thousands” of warranty claims globally between 2013 and 2022, alongside reports of injuries “including bone fractures, joint displacement, and lacerations”.
According to the CPSC, Shimano possessed information that “reasonably supported the conclusion that the bicycle cranksets contained a defect which could create a substantial product hazard,” but did not immediately report this to the commission as required.
The penalty follows a large-scale recall announced in 2023, which saw a reported 2.8 million 11-speed Shimano cranksets returned globally as part of an inspection and replacement programme.
Affected cranks commonly saw the compound bonding the two cast halves fail, leading to delamination and potential crank failure.
In addition to the civil penalty, the settlement requires Shimano to maintain internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act.
The company has also agreed to submit annual reports on its compliance programme, internal controls and audits.
The settlement has been provisionally accepted by the CPSC and remains subject to public comment.
A Shimano representative told Bicycle Retailer and Industry News the company could not comment beyond what was included in the public settlement.
