“The all-or-nothing demand would force Rad to shut its doors immediately”: Rad Power Bikes refuses recall of “hazardous batteries” despite public safety warning

Troubled e-bike company Rad Power Bikes is facing a crisis: a public safety warning from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urging users to immediately stop using certain batteries sold with popular models from the Seattle-based company. In response, Rad Power Bikes has refused to agree to a recall, and stated doing so would force the company out of business.

In its warning, gravely headlined “risk of serious injury or death,” the CPSC states that “hazardous batteries can unexpectedly ignite or explode … especially when the battery or the harness has been exposed to water and debris.” It states that it’s aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500, and that some of these occurred when the battery was in storage, and not in use or charging.

According to the CPSC, the battery model numbers are HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304, and they were sold with or as replacement batteries for the RadWagon 4, RadCity HS 4, RadRover High Step 5, RadCity Step Thru 3, RadRover Step Thru 1, RadRunner 2, RadRunner 1, RadRunner Plus, and RadExpand 5. The RadWagon 4 and RadRunner 1 were both rated highly by ebiketips reviewers, who very much didn’t experience the battery issues the CPSC is warning about. 

“Rad offered multiple good-faith solutions to address the agency’s concerns, including offering consumers an opportunity to upgrade to Safe Shield batteries at a substantial discount,” Rad Power Bikes said in a statement.

“CPSC rejected this opportunity. The significant cost of the all-or-nothing demand would force Rad to shut its doors immediately, leaving no way to support our riders or our employees.”

Rad Power Bikes is insistent that its batteries meet all relevant safety standards, including UL-2271 and UL-2849 – directives that the CPSC was meant to introduce in January 2025. It also states that its Safe Shield batteries are even safer, but that doesn’t mean that preceding models are necessarily unsafe.

This tussle with the CPSC is the latest in a series of blows against the brand, which is the largest in North America. In 2023, it settled a wrongful death lawsuit with a family whose 11-year-old daughter was fatally injured in a crash involving its RadRunner e-bike. Later in 2023 it stopped selling e-bikes in the UK and EU, citing its wish to maintain its “competitive edge.” And just two weeks ago, it sent an email to employees warning that the company could close in January 2026 if it can’t find additional funding or an acquisition deal.

The big question for Rad Power Bikes customers remains: if you have an affected battery, should you continue to use it? Probably not! CPSC is insistent that the battery should be removed and disposed “following local hazardous waste disposal procedures,” while Rad Power Bikes is not directly stating that it agrees with CPSC’s advice, instead stating that customers should “inspect batteries before use or charging and immediately stop using batteries that show signs of damage, water ingress, or corrosion.”

Affected consumers in North America can contact Rad Power Bikes via its website, while EU and UK customers can get in touch via the EU help centre.