Shimano Pays $11.5M Penalty for Delayed Reporting of Bicycle Cranksets
Summary
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Shimano has agreed to pay an $11.5 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report defective bicycle cranksets that posed a crash hazard. The settlement resolves charges that Shimano knowingly delayed reporting information about defects that could cause serious injury or death.
What changed
Shimano, Inc. and its U.S. subsidiary have agreed to pay an $11.5 million civil penalty to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to resolve allegations of knowingly failing to immediately report defective bicycle cranksets. The CPSC found that Shimano possessed information indicating a substantial product hazard or unreasonable risk of serious injury or death from its 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech II Bicycle Cranksets (Models Ultegra FC-6800 and FC-R8000, and Dura-Ace FC-9000, FC-R9100, and FC-R9100P) between 2013 and 2022, during which time they received thousands of warranty claims and dozens of reports of personal injuries globally. Despite this knowledge and making multiple design changes, Shimano did not immediately report the issues.
This settlement, which is provisionally accepted by the CPSC and subject to public comment, requires Shimano to pay the $11.5 million penalty and implement enhanced internal controls and procedures to ensure future compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. The company must also submit annual reports on its compliance program. Regulated entities, particularly manufacturers, should review their reporting obligations under the CPSA and ensure robust internal processes are in place to identify and report potential substantial product hazards promptly to avoid significant civil penalties.
What to do next
- Review internal controls and procedures for product hazard identification and reporting.
- Ensure timely reporting of any known defects that could create a substantial product hazard or unreasonable risk of injury or death.
- Consult legal counsel regarding specific reporting obligations under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
Penalties
$11.5 million civil penalty
Source document (simplified)
Shimano Agrees to Pay $11.5 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Bicycle Cranksets that Posed a Crash Hazard
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- Copy link Release Date: March 16, 2026
- Recalled Shimano Ultegra FC-6800 Crankset WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that Shimano, Inc., of Japan, and Shimano North America Holding, Inc., of Irvine, California, have agreed to pay an $11.5 million civil penalty. The settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by CPSC, resolves CPSC’s charges that Shimano knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law, that its 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech II Bicycle Cranksets, Models Ultegra FC-6800 and FC-R8000 and Dura-Ace FC-9000, FC-R9100, and FC-R9100P, contained a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to consumers.
Between 2013 and 2022, Shimano received thousands of warranty claims relating to the bicycle cranksets and dozens of reports of consumers globally sustaining personal injuries while using the bicycle cranksets, including bone fractures, joint displacement, and lacerations, due to falls from bicycles, contact with the broken cranksets, and impact with the ground. During this time, Shimano, Inc. made nine overall manufacturing and design changes that resulted in over twenty-five individual changes to the bicycle cranksets to mitigate the potential for the cranksets to separate and break. Despite possessing information that reasonably supported the conclusion that the bicycle cranksets contained a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, Shimano did not immediately report to the Commission.
The Commission and Shimano North America Bicycle, Inc. jointly announced a recall of the 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech II Bicycle Cranksets on September 21, 2023. The press release announcing the recall stated that the firm had received at least 4,519 incidents of cranksets separating, and six reported injuries, including bone fractures, joint displacement, and lacerations.
In addition to the $11.5 million civil penalty, the settlement agreement requires Shimano to maintain internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), including enhancements to its compliance program. Shimano has also agreed to submit annual reports regarding its compliance program, internal controls, and internal audits of the effectiveness of compliance policies, procedures, systems, and training.
The Commission has provisionally accepted the settlement agreement, subject to public comment. Liana G.T. Wolf, a Senior Trial Attorney in the Division of Enforcement and Litigation, represented the Commission in this enforcement action.
Release Number 26-327 About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
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