Published
June 21, 2026
If you ride a Rad Power e-bike, federal safety regulators want you to check your battery's model number now: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says certain Rad Power lithium-ion batteries can ignite — sometimes while sitting in storage — and the company has not agreed to a recall or refunds.
What Is This About?
On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a consumer warning urging people to immediately stop using lithium-ion batteries in certain Rad Power Bikes e-bikes because the batteries can overheat, ignite, and explode, posing a fire hazard with a risk of serious injury or death. The warning names battery model numbers RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, and HL-RP-S1304.A CPSC consumer warning is different from a standard recall. CPSC issues this kind of unilateral warning when, in the agency's account, it could not reach agreement with the company on an acceptable corrective action such as a recall with full refunds or free replacements. Rad Power Bikes, a Seattle-based company that is one of the largest direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the United States, has publicly disputed the agency's characterization of the batteries (its position is described below).
Status
CPSC Consumer Warning · No Recall
Issued November 24, 2025 · CPSC could not secure an acceptable recall, per the agency
Affected Batteries
Models RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, HL-RP-S1304
Sold on RadPowerBikes.com and at Best Buy and bike shops nationwide
Reported Fires
31 fires · ~$734,500 property damage
12 property-damage reports; some fires while not charging or in storage (per CPSC)
Is There a Refund?
No recall or refund offered
CPSC advises removing and safely disposing of the battery
Which Batteries Are Affected
CPSC's warning applies to Rad Power lithium-ion e-bike batteries carrying model numbers RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, and HL-RP-S1304. According to CPSC, the batteries were sold on RadPowerBikes.com and at Best Buy stores and independent bike shops nationwide for about $550 as replacement batteries, or between roughly $1,500 and $2,000 when sold together with an e-bike. CPSC says the batteries were manufactured in China and Vietnam. Owners should check the model number printed on the battery against the list above.CPSC says the hazard can be made worse when a battery or its harness has been exposed to water and debris, and that some reported fires happened when the battery was not charging, the e-bike was not in use, or the battery was in storage.
What CPSC Says To Do
CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the affected batteries. The agency advises removing the battery from the e-bike and disposing of it according to local guidelines for lithium-ion batteries or hazardous waste — not in household trash or curbside recycling — and says consumers should not sell or give the batteries away. Lithium-ion battery fires can be difficult to extinguish and can reignite, so CPSC and fire officials generally recommend storing and charging such batteries away from exits and combustible materials. For the agency's current guidance, see the official CPSC warning page linked in Sources below.Rad Power Bikes' Response
According to CPSC and multiple news outlets, Rad Power Bikes declined to agree to a voluntary recall, telling the agency that offering full refunds or replacements for all of the affected batteries would be financially ruinous; reporting has put the number of affected units still in circulation at roughly 50,000. In a statement posted on its website, Rad Power said it "firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the e-bike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC's characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe." The company has also said that during the agency's investigation it offered owners of RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304 batteries the option to upgrade to its newer "Safe Shield" batteries at a discount.Because there is no recall and no settlement, there is currently no claim form, refund program, or payout tied to this warning. This page is informational and is not legal advice. The company's statements above are presented as the company's own position; CPSC's findings are presented as the agency's. Whether any class action or other legal proceeding follows remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Rad Power e-bike batteries did CPSC warn about?
CPSC's November 2025 warning covers Rad Power lithium-ion e-bike batteries with model numbers RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, and HL-RP-S1304, sold on RadPowerBikes.com and at Best Buy stores and independent bike shops nationwide.Is there a recall or refund for the batteries?
No. CPSC issued a consumer warning rather than a recall because, according to CPSC, Rad Power Bikes declined to agree to an acceptable recall, including full refunds or free replacements. Rad Power has said it stands behind its batteries and disagrees with the agency's characterization; it has offered some owners a discounted upgrade to its Safe Shield batteries.What does CPSC say consumers should do?
CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the affected batteries, remove the battery from the e-bike, and dispose of it following local lithium-ion or hazardous-waste procedures. CPSC says not to sell or give the batteries away.How many fires have been reported?
CPSC says it is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. CPSC says some incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, not in use, or in storage.Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Rad Power Bikes battery fire warning
- CBS News — Rad Power Bikes e-bike batteries pose a serious fire risk, agency warns
- Bicycle Retailer and Industry News — CPSC issues battery safety warning after Rad Power said it can't afford a recall
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Status
CPSC Consumer Warning (No Recall)
Agency
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Date Issued
November 24, 2025
Affected Products
Rad Power e-bike batteries RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, HL-RP-S1304
Hazard
Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, ignite, and explode
Official Warning
CPSC.gov Warning
