Aventon Folding E-Bike Recall Lawsuit Investigation

Ride Aventon recalled about 2,300 Class 2 Sinch.2 folding e-bicycles after riders reported the bikes accelerating unexpectedly. The recall covers folding e-bikes in silver (Quicksilver) and blue (Sapphire), marked “Aventon” on the downtube and “Sinch.2” on the chain stay. CPSC announced the recall on January 4, 2024, and it remains an open recall with no closure notice found. The hazard is a loss of control after unexpected acceleration. Ride Aventon logged six such reports, with no injuries so far. Riders should stop using a recalled Sinch.2 and contact an authorized Ride Aventon dealer for a free repair, including a controller software update. This page covers which e-bikes are affected and what to do next.

Latest Aventon Folding E-Bikes Recall Updates

January 4, 2024: CPSC Announces the Sinch.2 Recall

The CPSC announced a voluntary recall of about 2,300 Ride Aventon Class 2 Sinch.2 folding e-bicycles on January 4, 2024. Riders had reported the bikes accelerating unexpectedly, according to the CPSC recall notice [1]. Ride Aventon’s own recall notice says it began contacting known purchasers of the Sinch.2 directly beginning in August 2023, months before CPSC’s formal announcement [2]. Ride Aventon offers a free repair through its authorized dealers.

Which Aventon Folding E-Bikes Are Affected?

The recall covers Ride Aventon’s Class 2 Sinch.2 folding electric bicycles, sold under the Aventon brand between April and August 2023. You can identify a recalled bike using the details below:

• Model: the recall covers Ride Aventon’s Class 2 Sinch.2 folding electric bicycle, a 500-watt pedal-assist e-bike with front and rear tires.
• Color: the recalled e-bikes were sold in two colorways, listed as silver (marketed as Quicksilver) and blue (marketed as Sapphire) in the CPSC notice.
• Markings: look for “Aventon” printed on the side of the frame’s downtube and “Sinch.2” printed on the chain stay near the rear wheel.
• Sale channel: the e-bikes were sold at bicycle stores nationwide. They were also sold online through retailers including BestBuy.com and Eriksbikeshop.com, according to the CPSC notice.
• Price: the recalled Sinch.2 e-bikes sold for about $1,800 each.
• Recall number: reference CPSC recall number 24-075 when you contact Ride Aventon or file a report about a specific bike with CPSC.

About 2,300 of these Sinch.2 e-bikes were sold in the United States. Ride Aventon and CPSC jointly announced the recall in January 2024.

Why Were Aventon Folding E-Bikes Recalled?

Ride Aventon recalled the Class 2 Sinch.2 folding e-bikes because the bikes can accelerate unexpectedly on their own. This defect can cause a rider to lose control and crash. The fix is a free software update to the bike’s controller, which Ride Aventon says corrects the acceleration problem. The recall notice does not describe the specific technical cause beyond the controller update. Ride Aventon’s recall page notes that outreach to known Sinch.2 owners started in August 2023, months ahead of CPSC’s January 2024 announcement. The recall remains open, and the free controller software update is the only listed remedy.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Ride Aventon has received six reports of Sinch.2 e-bikes accelerating unexpectedly. These reports cover the period from the bikes’ 2023 sale window through the CPSC’s January 4, 2024 recall notice. No injuries had been reported as of that notice. These six reports came directly from riders to Ride Aventon. The recall notice does not break them down by state or region. A report describes an event rather than a confirmed cause of a crash. Riders who were in a crash involving a Sinch.2 can still report the incident using the contact information below. This applies even if the crash was not reported to Ride Aventon or CPSC before now.

What Should Consumers Do?

Riders who currently own or ride a recalled Aventon Sinch.2 folding e-bike should take the following steps as soon as possible:

1. Stop riding the recalled Sinch.2 immediately and do not use it again until an authorized Ride Aventon dealer has fully repaired it.
2. Reach out to an authorized Ride Aventon dealer to schedule a free repair, which includes updating the bike’s controller software.
3. Keep the e-bike’s proof of purchase and any repair paperwork in case a dealer or CPSC asks to see it later.
4. Call Ride Aventon toll-free at 866-300-3311 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday), email info@aventon.com, or visit aventon.com/pages/recalls. You can also report an incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, even if the e-bike has already been repaired.
5. If a Sinch.2 crash left you hurt, seek medical care first and keep any records from that visit.
6. Follow CPSC’s general e-bike safety guidance: always wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet and never charge the battery unattended [3].

Legal Options

A CPSC recall does not automatically establish that Ride Aventon, the recall’s importer, is legally liable for a rider’s crash or injuries. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation‘s pending docket list does not include an Aventon or Sinch.2 matter. A claim tied to this recall would proceed as an individual case for now. Riders who were hurt in a crash involving a recalled Sinch.2 can have a lawyer review the facts of their case. A lawyer can review medical or repair records too, before the rider decides whether to pursue an individual claim. Related Articles:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I File a Lawsuit over the Aventon Sinch.2 E-Bike Recall?

You may be able to file a lawsuit over the Sinch.2 e-bike recall if you were hurt in a related crash. Filing deadlines are set by state law and vary by where you live and when the injury happened. A lawyer can advise on the deadline and your options.

What Should I Do If I Was Hurt in a Sinch.2 Crash?

After a Sinch.2 crash injury, keep the e-bike itself, your purchase receipt, and any medical records from the care you received. A lawyer can review those details together with the recall notice to advise you on your options going forward.

Were Any Aventon Sinch.2 E-Bikes Sold in Canada?

Yes, about 30 of the recalled Sinch.2 e-bikes were also sold in Canada, on top of the sales already covered above, Ride Aventon’s recall notice says. Health Canada noted the recall too, in its own press release. The same free controller-software repair applies to a Canadian-bought bike.

Where Was the Aventon Sinch.2 E-Bike Made?

The Aventon Sinch.2 e-bike was made in China. Ride Aventon, based in Brea, California, imports the bikes and runs the recall’s repair program. The CPSC notice does not name a specific overseas factory.

Is the Aventon Sinch.2 Recall a CPSC Fast Track Recall?

Yes, CPSC’s own recall notice lists the Aventon Sinch.2 action as a Fast Track Recall. CPSC uses that designation when it processes a recall together with a company. The notice does not explain the Fast Track process in further detail.

What Does CPSC’s Micromobility Information Center Say About Replacement Batteries?

CPSC’s Micromobility Information Center says e-bike riders should only use an approved replacement battery pack. Never use one with cells modified or reworked by unqualified people. The Sinch.2 recall does not involve the battery: CPSC traces its unexpected-acceleration hazard to the bike’s motor controller, which the free repair updates.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Ride-Aventon-Recalls-Sinch2-Folding-E-Bicycles-Due-to-Crash-and-Injury-Hazards
2. https://www.aventon.com/pages/recalls
3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Micromobility-Information-Center