IKEA Reissues Dresser Recall After Death of 8th Child

IKEA is re-announcing its recall of chests and dressers following the death of another child. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the most recent child death occurred in May when a 2-year-old California boy was struck by and became entrapped under a MALM three-door dresser that had not been fastened to the wall.

The recent death now means that 8 children have died from injuries caused by recalled IKEA dressers since 1989. There have also been nearly 200 reports of MALM dressers tipping over, resulting in 91 injuries, and 113 reports of other dressers tipping, resulting in 53 injuries.

In response to the fatal incident, IKEA and the CPSC have re-announced the IKEA dresser recall initially issued in 2016, reminding consumers that certain dressers and drawers from the Swedish furniture company are unstable and prone to tip-overs when not properly anchored to the wall.

The recall affects over 17.3 million IKEA child and adult dressers and chests that do not comply with U.S. voluntary industry standards, including:

• MALM 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer, and three 6-drawer models sold between October 2002 and June 2016
• Children’s chests and dressers taller than 23.5 inches
• Adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5 inches

The recalled dressers were sold online and at IKEA retailers nationwide in a number of colors and finishes, with some models being sold as far back as 1985. Consumers can find more information about the recall, as well as the various models of recalled chests and drawers on IKEA’s website. Consumers are advised to stop using recalled dressers and chests immediately and to keep them away from children. IKEA has provided consumers with the option of receiving a full refund or a free wall-anchoring kit.

Defective Products & Victims’ Rights

Following its initial 2016 recall, IKEA devoted considerable time and energy to informing consumers and funding televised announcements regarding the recall and their efforts to address the issue, including the need for anchoring chests and dressers to a wall. However, new reports of tip-overs, injuries, and deaths show not only the profound dangers associated with their dressers but also the massive scope of ownership by U.S. consumers across the country and the devastating effects of inadequately designed products.

If you have purchased an IKEA dresser or chest, our legal team at Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky-Rubin & Whitman urges you to look further into whether your particular model has been recalled. If a recalled dresser has caused serious injury to you or your child, we are available to help you learn more about your rights and whether you may have grounds to pursue legal action over a defective product. For a free case evaluation, call 561-899-2100.