Huge Ikea furniture recall after six children killed

The recall, which only applies to customers in the US and Canada, is for several types of Ikea chests and dressers, including the Malm line.

In addition to the three deaths since 2014, Ikea had 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, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said.

The company says that all chests and dressers should be attached to a wall to prevent them from toppling over.

According to Ikea Canada, no deaths or injuries have been reported in Canada.

Customers who can not secure the furniture to a wall are advised to bring the pieces back to any Ikea location for a refund.

Millions of customers who bought chests and dressers sold by the popular Swedish furniture retailer could receive a refund after Ikea said Monday that it would immediately stop selling the wobbly products.

Last year, Ikea began offering anchoring kits to customers who purchased the dressers after regulators called them unsafe. According to the CPSC, “Consumers can install the kit themselves or IKEA will provide a one-time, free in-home installation service, upon request”. Those made between January 2002 and this month are qualified for a full refund. Opening one or more drawers full of heavy objects, or pulling on the front of the dresser, as a child would when attempting to climb up on it, could easily throw the furniture off balance, causing it to topple forward if it’s not secured to the wall. One of the children was killed about 27 years ago.

“It is clear that there are still unsecured products in customers’ homes”, Ikea said in a statement.

Now, after the third death in two years, Ikea and the CPSC have announced that MALM – and other models of tall dressers – are now being recalled. The furniture is prone to tipping over and has been linked to the deaths of several children. Furniture made before 2002 may be eligible for a partial store credit.

“We are announcing this USA recall today given the recent tragic death of a third child”, Ikea said in a statement Tuesday.

Kaye said IKEA is now working with CPSC to bring safer designs to the markets so that furniture is more stable.