The Recall Desk
ModerateCPSC·23757·Announced 2023-05-18

Shimano PRO Vibe Alloy Bicycle Stems Recalled for Crack and Injury Risk

Shimano is recalling about 400 PRO Vibe Alloy stems for road bicycles because the stems can crack and break during use, causing loss of control and crash risk. Two reports of cracking have been received in the U.S., but no injuries have been reported.

What this means for you

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: No CPSC classification was provided. The source explicitly states no injuries have been reported in the U.S. and the hazard is a risk of injury from a potential crash, making it theoretical rather than actual. This qualifies as a precautionary recall with no reported harm, placing it at Moderate (score 2) rather than High.

Plain-English summary

Shimano Europe B.V. is recalling PRO Vibe Stem (Alloy) model black bicycle stems for road bicycles, imported and sold in the United States by Shimano North America Bicycle Inc. About 400 units were recalled (an additional 90 were sold in Canada).

The recalled stems can crack and break while in use, which may cause the rider to lose control of the bicycle and pose a risk of injury from a crash. The stems have a silver 'V' logo on the faceplate and forward-facing mounting bolts. The firm has received two reports of the stems cracking in the U.S., though no injuries have been reported.

The stems were sold separately and installed by bicycle stores nationwide and online at Backcountry.com from May 2020 through June 2022 for approximately $130.

Consumers should immediately stop using bicycles with these PRO Vibe alloy handlebar stems and take them to the place of purchase or a Shimano authorized retailer. Retailers will determine if the stem is included in the recall and provide a free replacement stem with free installation. For more information, consumers can contact Shimano North America Bicycle at 800-423-2420 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday PT), email [email protected], or visit https://www.pro-bikegear.com/us/news/ or bike.shimano.com and click on 'Recalls' or 'News and updates'.

The recalled product

Product
Shimano PRO Vibe Alloy stems for road bicycles
Manufacturer
Shimano Europe B.V., of the Netherlands
Hazard
  • crack-breakage
  • loss-of-control
  • crash-injury
Affected units
400

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.