The popular home furnishings retailer IKEA is recalling a long list of IKEA dressers and chests because they can tip over if not properly anchored to the wall and pose a risk of serious injuries or death to children.
The deaths of six young children and reports of other kids injured in furniture tip over accidents have prompted IKEA North America and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to announce a recall of 29 million children’s and adult IKEA dressers in the United States. An additional 6.6 million units sold in Canada are also affected.
Following the deaths of two toddlers related to its MALM model dressers, IKEA and the CPSC reached an agreement in July 2015 that the company would offer a free wall-anchoring repair kit for its dressers and chests that did not comply with voluntary industry safety standards intended to prevent tip over of clothing storage units. The company was aware of three more children’s deaths related to other IKEA dressers that occurred in 1989, 2002 and 2007. In response to subsequent reports of injury and an additional child’s death when an unanchored MALM chest fell upon him in February, the company said on June 28, 2016 that it is offering either a repair kit or complete refund for the recalled dressers.
“Every two weeks a child in the U.S. is killed in a tip-over related incident involving furniture or TVs. Think about that. Every two weeks. And in that time hundreds more are injured, often seriously. These are tragic numbers,” said Elliot F. Kaye, chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “They include a 2-year-old boy from Pennsylvania, a 23-month old-boy from Washington, a 22-month-old boy from Minnesota, and three other children who lost their lives after an IKEA chest or dresser tipped over and on to them.”
The recall covers all IKEA children’s chests and dressers taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5 inches. They came in a variety of finishes and colors.
The list of recalled IKEA dressers and chests is extensive and consumers may have a difficult time identifying models manufactured prior to 1996 when they began carrying a label to identify IKEA, the model name and the manufacturing date.
Consumers who wish to keep their dresser or chest may order a free wall-anchoring repair kit that they may install themselves or request a free, a one-time in-home installation service by IKEA. Consumers can reorder the kits throughout the life of their chest and dresser.
Those who do not wish to keep the dresser or chest and desire a refund should bring the product back to the closest IKEA store or contact the company at (866) 856-4532 to have IKEA remove the chest or dresser from their home free of charge. IKEA is offering a full refund for dressers and chests manufactured between January 2002 and June 2016; a store credit for 50% of the original purchase price if the product was manufactured before January 2002; or a $50 store credit if the date stamp is unidentifiable.
Consumers should move any unanchored chests and dressers into storage or where children cannot access them until the they can be properly anchored to the wall or removed from the home.
“If you have or think you have one of these products, act immediately,” Kaye said. “It is simply too dangerous to have the recalled furniture in your home unanchored, especially if you have young children.”
While Federal law prohibits the sale of products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission, consumers should be aware that these products may be found for sale by individuals or second hand stores unaware of the recall.
To participate in the recall or for additional information, visit www.ikea.com/us/en/about_ikea/newsitem/062816-recall-chest-and-dressers or call (866) 856-4532.
List of Recalled IKEA Dressers and Chests
MALM Family | Sold Dates | Measurements |
MALM 3 | 10/2002 to 6/2016 | 31½” x 18⅞” x 30¾” |
MALM 4 | 6/2002 to 6/2016 | 31½” x 18⅞” x 39½” |
MALM 5 | 10/2002 to 4/2006 | 157/8” x 19” x 481/4“ |
MALM 6 | 6/2002 to 6/2016 | 31½” x 18⅞” x 48⅜” |
MALM 6 LONG | 11/2002 to 6/2016 | 63” x 18⅞” x 30¾” |
MALM 6 | 4/2006 to 6/2016 | 153/4” x 191/8” x 483/8“ |
In addition to the MALM Family of IKEA dressers, the following models are also subject to this recall.
FAMILY NAME | MODEL |
ALESUND | 4-drawers |
ALVESTA | 5-drawers |
ANEBODA | 3-drawers, 5-drawers |
ANGUS | chest of drawers |
ÅNES | 4-drawers |
ARUP | 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
ASKEDAL | 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
ASKVOLL | 5-drawers |
ASPELUND | 2-drawers, 3-drawers, 4-drawers |
BALSTAR | 6-drawers, 10-drawers |
BANKERYD | 3-drawers, 5-drawers |
BERGSMO | 8-drawers |
BIALITT | 3-drawers, 6-drawers |
BIRKELAND | 3-drawers, 6-drawers |
BJÖRKVALLA | 5-drawers, 6-drawers |
BJÖRN | 4-drawers, 6-drawers, 8-drawers |
BLIMP | chest of drawers |
BOJ | chest of drawers |
BOKSTA | 6-drawers |
BRETT | 3-drawers |
BRIMNES | 2-drawers, 3-drawers, 4-drawers |
BRUSALI | 3-drawers, 4-drawers |
BUSUNGE | 2-drawers |
DIKTAD | changing table/chest of drawers |
EDLAND | 2-drawers, 3-drawers, 5-drawers, 6-drawers |
ELIS | chest of drawers |
ENGAN | 2-drawers/2-door, 4-drawers |
ESKIL | 5-drawers |
FJELL | 4-drawers |
FJORD | 3-drawers, 5-drawers, 6-drawers, 7-drawers, 8-drawers |
FLATEN | 3-drawers, 5-drawers, 6-drawers, 7-drawers |
FRIDOLIN | 7-drawers, 11-drawers |
GUTE | 4-drawers, 6-drawers, 8-drawers, 10-drawers |
GRANAS | 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
HADDAL | 3-drawers, 4 drawers |
HAJDEBY | chest of drawers |
HEMNES | 2-drawers/1 shelf, 3-drawers, 5-drawers, 6-drawers stained pine, mirror chest |
HENSVIK | 3-drawers |
HERRESTAD | 4 drawers |
HOPEN | 4-drawers, 6-drawers, 8-drawers |
HOSTELAND | 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
HOLLEBY | chest of drawers |
HOVDA | double chest |
HURDAL | 3-drawers, 5-drawers (22 inches wide) |
KABIN | 4 drawers, 6 drawers, 8 drawers |
KIRKENES | 5 drawers |
KNOT | 3-drawers |
KOPPANG | 3-drawers |
KUSK | 3-drawers |
KULLEN | 5-drawers |
KURS | 3-drawers, 4-drawers, 6 drawers |
KVIBY | 4-drawers |
LEKSVIK | 2-drawers, 4-drawers, 5-drawers, 6-drawers, 7-drawers |
LO | 3-drawers |
LOMEN | 3-drawers, 2 drawers/2 door chest |
MAC | 5-drawers 6-drawers 8-drawers |
MAST | 6-drawers |
MAMMUT | 3-drawers, 4-drawers, chest of drawers |
MANDAL | 3-drawers, 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
MERÅKER | 4-drawers, 7-drawers |
MIDSUND | 5-drawers |
NATURA | 4-drawers, 5-drawers |
NARVIK | 3-drawers chest, changing table/chest of drawers, 5 drawers, 6-drawers |
NORDLI | 3-drawers, 4-drawers (15,7 inches wide) |
NORDNES | 10-drawers |
NORNÄS | 4-drawers/2-compartments |
NYVOLL | 3-drawers, 6-drawers |
OTTENBY | 5-drawers |
RANVIK | 5-drawers |
RAKKE | 5-drawers |
RAMBERG | 3-drawers |
RODD | 3-drawers, 5-drawers |
ROBIN | 3-drawers, 8-drawers |
RUSTIK | chest of drawers |
SALA | 3-drawers |
SANDEFJORD | 5-drawers |
STOCKHOLM | 4-drawers |
STRANDA | 4-drawers |
STUVA | chest of drawers |
SUNDVIK | changing table/chest of drawers |
SVEIO | 5-drawers |
STAVANGER | 5-drawers |
SYDVAST | 3-drawers, 6-drawers, 7-drawers |
TARVA | 3-drawers, 5-drawers, 6-drawers |
TASSA | 3-drawers |
TRANDUM | 3-drawers |
TORE | chest of drawers |
TOVIK | 3-drawers |
TRANDUM | 6-drawers |
TROGEN | 3-drawers, chest of drawers |
TROFAST | chest of drawers |
TRONDHEIM | 3-drawers, 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
TRYSIL | 3-drawers |
TYSSEDAL | 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
UNDREDAL | 4-drawers |
VARDE | 6-drawers |
VALLVIK | 3-drawers, 6-drawers |
VAJER | 4-drawers, 6-drawers |
VESTBY | chest of drawers |
VINSTRA | 3-drawers, 6-drawers |
VISDALEN | 7-drawers, 6-drawers |
VOLLEN | 3-drawers |