A significant safety recall has been announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission affecting approximately 24,000 VIVI e-bikes due to serious fire hazards. The July 17, 2025 recall targets defective 36-volt lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and potentially ignite, creating risks of injury or death.
These budget-friendly e-bikes, priced between $365 and $950, were sold between December 2020 and November 2023 through major online retailers. The affected VIVI models were widely distributed through Amazon.com, Walmart.com, eBay.com, Wish.com, Sears.com, Wayfair.com, Aliexpress.com, and directly from viviebikes.com.
These full-size e-bikes positioned themselves as affordable entry points into electric mobility, frequently appearing as online deals. Despite the recall issues, the industry continues to see strong growth with the e-bike market projected to reach $71.5 billion by 2030. Consumers should immediately check their model and serial numbers against the extensive list published in the recall notice.
Already, 14 overheating incidents and 3 battery fires have been directly linked to these defective units. While no injuries have been reported in the official notification, the risk remains substantial. For context, lithium-ion battery failures have caused six e-bike-related deaths in New York City alone during 2023.
The primary failure mechanism, thermal runaway, creates a dangerous chain reaction within failing battery cells. Though statistically rare—occurring in approximately 1 in 15,000 e-bikes—these incidents can be catastrophic when they happen.
The CPSC strongly urges owners to immediately remove batteries from affected models. Models affected by the recall include C26, MT20, Z3, H6 and several other popular VIVI e-bikes. Proper disposal remains critical; defective batteries should never be placed in standard trash or recycling. Instead, consumers should utilize household hazardous waste facilities or contact local authorities regarding specific disposal protocols.
This recall highlights persistent safety concerns with budget e-bikes featuring untested battery systems. While e-bikes represent a growing transportation segment with annual U.S. sales exceeding one million units, ensuring battery quality remains paramount.
Consumers balancing affordability with safety should verify that their e-bikes meet established safety standards and feature properly certified battery systems, particularly when purchasing through discount platforms.
