Have You Been Denied A Refund For A Recalled IKEA Chest or Dresser?

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. Investigating Claims On Behalf Of U.S. Consumers Who Purchased Or Owned Recalled MALM Or Other IKEA Chests Or Dressers 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in conjunction with IKEA issued a voluntary recall notice on June 28, 2016 and again on November 21, 2017 regarding MALM and other IKEA chests and dressers that do not comply with the requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard (ASTM F2057-14).  The children’s and adult chests and dressers, according to the recall, are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in injuries or death to children.

The recalled children’s and adult chests and dressers include 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and three 6-drawer models, as well as other non-MALM models. 

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against IKEA US Retail LLC and IKEA North America Services, LLC

U.S. consumers who purchased or owned a chest or drawer included in IKEA’s recall notices should be aware that a class action lawsuit was filed on May 6, 2020 in United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, against IKEA US Retail LLC and IKEA North America Services, LLC alleging, among other things, that

[a]lthough IKEA promised a ‘full refund’ to all owners who requested a refund in connection with the recall, this was a mirage . . .. Most purchasers of the defective chests and dressers did not receive notice of the recall, as a consequence of IKEA’s decision not to contact purchasers directly by mail, email, text or other means. Further, plaintiffs and class members who were aware of the recall received no refund, even though Plaintiffs and many other consumers tried to return the defective and dangerous chests and dressers and sought the full refund promised under the voluntary recall. [Emphasis added.]

According to the class action complaint,

IKEA failed to develop communications concerning the recall that were effective in reaching purchasers of the defective and dangerous chests and dressers; instead, IKEA carried out an ineffectual and inadequate recall campaign that 1) most purchasers of the chests and dressers never became aware of, 2) failed to motivate purchasers to respond to the recall’s promise to provide a refund for recalled items returned to IKEA and 3) did not always provide the cash refund IKEA had promised in its announcement and re-announcement of the recall.[]

Additionally, IKEA failed to take necessary action to contact owners of its defective products as quickly as possible in order to hasten their removal from homes of American consumers, leaving millions of defective and dangerous chests and dressers accessible to consumers and their children.

IKEA failed to communicate accurate and understandable information in a timely and effective manner to the public about the defective chests and dressers, the hazards they presented to children, and the availability of refunds and wall-anchoring services. [Emphasis added.]

Recalled MALM And Non-MALM Chests and Dressers & IKEA’s Voluntary Product Recall Notices

The recalled children’s and adult chests and dressers include the MALM 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and three 6-drawer models and other non-MALM models. The recalled children’s chests and dressers are taller than 23.5 inches; recalled adult chests and dressers are taller than 29.5 inches. The MALM chests and dressers are constructed of particleboard or fiberboard and are white, birch (veneer), medium brown, black-brown, white stained oak (veneer), oak (veneer), pink, turquoise, grey, grey-turquoise, lilac, green, brown stained ash (veneer), and black. A 5-digit supplier number, 4-digit date stamp, IKEA logo, country of origin and “MALM” are printed on the underside of the top panel or inside the side panel.

To view recall details and information about other chest and dresser models subject to the recall, please click either “IKEA Reannounces Recall of MALM and Other Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard,” or “Non-MALM Chest/Dresser Models.”

To view IKEA’s recall notice dated November 21, 2017, please click “IKEA Reannounces Recall of MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-over Hazard; 8th Child Fatality Reported; Consumers Urged to Choose Between Refund or Repair.”

To view IKEA’s recall notice dated June 28, 2016, please click “Following an Additional Child Fatality, IKEA Recalls 29 Million MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard; Consumers Urged to Anchor Chests and Dressers or Return for Refund.”

U.S. purchasers or owners of recalled MALM and non-MALM chests or dressers obtained from IKEA that have been denied a cash refund for the recalled chests or dressers are encouraged to contact Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. by completing the form on the right or sending an e-mail to [email protected]. 

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.