The recall was issued last week by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) and involves 68,000 models sold in the United States and 6,822 sold in Canada by Trek and its subsidiary Electra, alongside select aftermarket replacement wheels. Trek also confirmed that 2,196 bikes delivered to retailers in Europe have been affected by the issue.

The recall affects five bikes with model years between 2024 and 2026, and sold between August 2023 and August 2025: Trek’s Precaliber 12, 16, and 20 children’s bikes, as well as Electra’s ‘pixie blue’ Sprocket 1 16” kid’s bike, and the Electra Townie Rental 1 Step Thru e-bike (in blue). In Europe, only the Precaliber 12 is affected.

“We do not have as many bikes affected as other markets due to model specification differences and supplier assembly changes per model,” a Trek spokesperson toldBikeEurope.

Trek also announced that if customers had a wheel replaced on one of the aforementioned bikes, they may also be included in the recall.

Electra Townie (credit: Electra)

According to the recall notice, the coaster brake present on the five models, a rear wheel brake engaged by pedalling backwards, does not adequately lubricate the internal surfaces with grease. This potentially accelerates wear or damage, preventing the brake from working and “causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle”.

No incidents or injuries surrounding the faulty brake have been reported, however, though the USCPSC notice did describe the defect as a “crash hazard”.

Trek has advised consumers to “immediately stop using the recalled bicycles with coaster brakes” and to take them to an authorised retailer for a new replacement wheel, free of charge. Retailers have also been given recall replacement instructions and a poster to display.

“Trek is recalling a limited number of these bicycle models because the grease inside the coaster brake assembly does not adequately lubricate the internal surfaces, which can lead to faster wear and damage to the brake,” Trek wrote in a statement.

“If the coaster brake does not work properly, the pedals may spin backward without resistance, and the rider may not be able to stop the bicycle. Do not ride an affected bicycle until it has been brought to an authorised Trek or Electra retailer for repair.”

> Trek issues safety recall notice covering bikes and handlebars

In a bid to incentivise owners to take their affected bikes to get them repaired, Trek is offering any affected customers a $20 goodwill store credit voucher which can be used to purchase Electra, Trek, or Bontrager items.

The same incentive is in place in Europe, where the voucher is worth €20. Retailers will also be compensated €15 for repairing the affected bikes. That means that, at €35 per bike, if the brand receives the “high claim response rate” it is aiming for, Trek could be spending almost €80,000 in damages in Europe alone, and a huge $1.36 million in the US, before the cost of replacing the parts is even taken into account.

“To encourage retailers and consumers to resolve this issue, we are issuing a consumer credit of €20 to spend in the store whilst the wheel is being replaced and compensating the retailer €15 for their labour on any bike affected they complete a claim for,” a Trek spokesperson said.