Pacific Cycle E-Bike Fire Lawsuit Update: Injuries, Recall Status, and Legal Options

Pacific Cycle recalled about 1,700 Ascend Cabrillo and Ascend Minaret electric bikes after receiving reports of battery fires, including a second-degree burn. The recall was announced January 25, 2024, and remains open. The recall covers Ascend Cabrillo (models R7583BPS, R7585BPS) and Ascend Minaret (model R7586BPS) e-bikes. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s sold them from January through November 2023. An improperly assembled charging wiring harness can let the battery overheat and catch fire. Anyone who owns one of these e-bikes should stop riding it and unplug it right away. Then check the serial number at pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls. A confirmed bike qualifies for a refund or replacement option.

Latest Pacific Cycle E-Bikes Recall Updates

January 25, 2024: The Recall Is Announced

CPSC says in its recall notice that Pacific Cycle voluntarily carried out this recall [1]. The recall was filed under CPSC recall number 24-092. It covers the Ascend Cabrillo and Minaret e-bikes described above. CPSC’s notice traces the fire hazard to the wiring-harness defect explained in Why Were the Pacific Cycle E-Bikes Recalled below. It also directs owners to confirm their bike by serial number and describes the remedy detailed further down.

Which Pacific Cycle E-Bikes Are Affected?

The recall covers three models across two Ascend e-bike lines, identified by the model number on the seat-tube service label:

• Ascend Cabrillo, model number R7583BPS, sold in a sand color with a rear storage rack mounted over the back wheel
• Ascend Cabrillo, model number R7585BPS, sold in a gray color with the same rear storage rack as the sand model
• Ascend Minaret, model number R7586BPS, sold in black with red and gray accents, featuring a step-through frame style for easy mounting

The model number and the word “Pacific Cycle” appear together on the service label above the bottom bracket. “Ascend” is printed on the downtube, and “Cabrillo” or “Minaret” is printed on the chain stay. Each bike also carries a 13-digit serial number, confirmed against Pacific Cycle’s own safety notice at pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls [2]. The steps for checking it are listed in What Should Consumers Do below.

Why Were the Pacific Cycle E-Bikes Recalled?

Pacific Cycle recalled the Ascend Cabrillo and Ascend Minaret e-bikes because a wiring harness was not properly assembled. That harness manages charging of the lithium-ion battery. The flaw can let the battery overheat and catch fire. CPSC’s notice describes several reports of the battery catching fire, including one that caused a burn injury, covered fully in Reported Incidents below. Pacific Cycle carried out the recall voluntarily, in cooperation with CPSC, rather than under a mandatory recall order from the agency. CPSC’s notice does not explain how the improperly assembled harness first came to Pacific Cycle’s attention. It only says all three recalled model numbers share the same wiring defect.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

CPSC’s recall notice reports three battery fires linked to the Ascend Cabrillo and Minaret e-bikes, one of which caused a second-degree burn. No deaths were reported. The recall notice does not say when each fire happened or exactly where the affected bikes were located. It only says that Pacific Cycle received the three reports from the U.S. market before announcing the recall on January 25, 2024. A fire report to a manufacturer is not proof that every affected bike is dangerous. CPSC’s notice does not attribute the injury to a specific cause beyond the wiring harness defect described in the recall.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone who owns an Ascend Cabrillo or Ascend Minaret e-bike included in this recall should take the following steps right away:

1. Stop riding and immediately unplug the e-bike from its charger to remove the risk of the battery overheating while charging
2. Find the bike’s 13-digit serial number, engraved underneath the bottom bracket. Enter it at pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls to confirm the bike is part of the recall
3. Return a confirmed recalled bike to any Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s store to receive a full refund or a replacement Ascend Cabrillo or Minaret e-bike
4. Call Pacific Cycle toll-free at 877-564-2261, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or email customerservice@pacificycle.com with questions about the recall or a return
5. Keep the receipt or order confirmation from Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s. Keep photos of the bike too, in case the refund or replacement process raises questions

Legal Options

No verified public class action or settlement program has been identified for this product. The federal courts’ public list of pending multidistrict litigation cases includes no case for it [3]. A recall does not automatically mean Pacific Cycle is legally responsible for a battery fire or a burn injury. Responsibility depends on the specific facts of each case. Anyone hurt in a battery fire can still have the facts of their case reviewed individually by a personal injury lawyer.

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for a product-liability claim come from state law rather than one nationwide rule. They vary by where the injured person lives and by when the fire, the burn, and any diagnosis happened. A strong set of facts will not save a claim filed after its deadline passes. Anyone considering a claim over this recall should talk with a lawyer promptly to learn the deadline that applies to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Pacific Cycle’s Internal Reference Number for This Recall?

Pacific Cycle’s internal reference number for this recall is PC23-3837, separate from CPSC’s public recall number 24-092. Bass Pro’s in-store recall poster carried that reference number and was required to stay posted through May 30, 2024.

Can I Choose a Refund or a Replacement E-Bike?

Recalled Pacific Cycle e-bike owners can choose a refund or a replacement e-bike. Pacific Cycle’s own recall notice offers either the Ascend Cabrillo or the Minaret model. CPSC’s summary recall listing states the remedy simply as a refund. Pacific Cycle’s own notice confirms both options are available.

What Evidence Should I Keep After a Pacific Cycle E-Bike Fire?

The evidence to keep after a Pacific Cycle e-bike fire starts with the serial number and service label. Add your purchase receipt and photos of the bike and any damage. Also keep medical records for burn treatment and any messages with Pacific Cycle, Bass Pro, or Cabela’s about the recall.

Are Other Pacific Cycle or Schwinn Bikes Included in This Recall?

Other Pacific Cycle and Schwinn products are not included in this recall. Pacific Cycle’s own recalls page lists separate actions for a Schwinn child carrier and two Pacific bicycle models. It also lists Schwinn scooters, strollers, an infant helmet, and SR Suntour forks. None involve the Ascend e-bikes here.

What Should I Do If Pacific Cycle Does Not Honor My Refund or Replacement?

If Pacific Cycle does not honor a refund or replacement, CPSC’s recall notice offers a way to escalate it. Consumers use the agency’s own online form and describe the problem directly to CPSC.

Where Were the Recalled Pacific Cycle E-Bikes Made?

The recalled Pacific Cycle e-bikes were made in China. CPSC’s recall notice names Pacific Cycle Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin, as the importer. It names Bass Pro LLC of Springfield, Missouri, as the distributor that supplied stores with the bikes.

References

1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Pacific-Cycle-Recalls-E-Bikes-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
2. https://www.pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls
3. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/pending-mdls-0