Santa Cruz Bicycles Recalls Heckler 9 E-Bikes Over Battery Fire Risk

Santa Cruz Bicycles has issued a recall of its Heckler 9 electric bicycles due to a fire hazard associated with the lithium-ion battery. The company is advising customers to immediately stop using the bikes and disconnect the battery, which may overheat and cause a fire. The recall affects approximately 2,850 units sold in the U.S. and an additional 550 in Canada.

The electric bikes come with a 720W lithium-ion battery installed in a black case beneath the frame. The affected models are identifiable by “SANTA CRUZ” branding on the downtube and “Heckler” on the top tube and inner left chainstay. The bicycles were sold in a variety of colors, including Gloss Avocado Green and Maritime Gray, and were available at Santa Cruz dealers nationwide between October 2021 and January 2025, with prices ranging from $8,750 to $13,900.

To date, three incidents of fire involving the battery have been reported, causing property damage but no injuries. Santa Cruz Bicycles is offering customers a free replacement battery. Those who identify their bike as part of the recall are required to label the affected battery as “Recalled,” upload a photo to the company’s recall page, and dispose of it following local hazardous waste guidelines. Recalled lithium-ion batteries should not be discarded in regular trash or recycling due to fire risk.

The recall notice stresses that batteries must be handled properly and encourages consumers to contact their local household hazardous waste collection centers to confirm acceptance of the recalled items. Further instructions and the registration form for the replacement process can be found on the company’s website. The bikes were manufactured in the United States and distributed by Santa Cruz Bicycles LLC of Santa Cruz, California.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission press release

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