6 Child Deaths Lead to IKEA Recall of 29 Million Dressers

Following the deaths of several children from chests and dressers that have tipped over, IKEA is voluntarily recalling multiple versions of the furniture, the company says.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children.

IKEA operates 361 stores worldwide. Illinois has two stores, in Bolingbrook and Schaumburg.

The recalled MALM chests and dressers were manufactured and sold through June 2016 and include the 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and 6-drawer models, the company says. Other IKEA chests and dressers in this recall were sold at various times through June 2016; the recall affects about 29 million products.

For a list of chests and dressers affected by this recall, click here.

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Participating consumers can receive a full or partial refund or a free wall-anchoring repair kit.
Customers with a recalled chest or dresser that is not properly anchored to the wall should stop using it and place it in an area not accessible to children.

On its website, the company now has a page dedicated to offering tips on how to prevent tip-over accidents.
“Every two weeks a child dies in the U.S. from furniture, appliances or TVs tipping over, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. By working together, we can help prevent these tragedies and make the home a safer place,” IKEA’s website says.

In July 2015 the government announced a repair program for the MALM line spurred by two deaths:

● In February 2014, a 2-year-old boy from West Chester, Pennsylvania, died after a MALM chest tipped over and pinned him against his bed.

● In June 2014, a 23-month-old boy from Snohomish, Washington, died after he became trapped beneath a MALM chest that tipped over.

ABC News reports that six children have died from IKEA furniture that tipped over, with at least two lawsuits filed by parents whose children were killed. Since the repair program was announced, officials have learned of additional problems, including a February incident in which a 22-month-old boy from Apple Valley, Minnesota, died when a MALM chest fell on top of him, the government says.

In addition, IKEA received reports of 41 tip-over incidents involving the MALM chests and dressers, resulting in 17 injuries to children between the ages of 19 months and 10 years old.

For more information, call IKEA at (866) 856-4532 between 9 a.m. and midnight ET.

photo: IKEA USA