Severity
Moderate
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
Reported: June 28, 2016 Initiated: June 28, 2016 #16204 About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada) units
The recall
Ikea North America, of Conshohocken, Pa. issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall — The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a serious….
- Moderate
- severity level
- About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada)
- units affected
- June 28, 2016
- reported
Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #16204 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.
Recall Insight
This CPSC action (record #16204) was formally reported on June 28, 2016. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Ikea North America, of Conshohocken, Pa. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada) units are affected.
The documented reason for this recall is: The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately stop using any recalled chest and dresser that is not properly anchored to the wall and place it into an area that children cannot access. Contact IKEA for a choice betwe… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC and NHTSA going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 10 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.
Where this recall sits in the database
Of 83,949 recalls in the database, 21,198 are high severity, 58,883 moderate, and 3,868 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.
Units Affected
About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada)
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product Description
The recalled children's chests and dressers are taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers are taller than 29.5 inches. The 29 million units of recalled chests and dressers include: MALM 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and three 6-drawer models and other children's and adult chests and dressers. 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, gray, gray-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. Since 1996, IKEA chests and dressers have been labeled to identify IKEA, the model name and the manufacturing date.
Reason for Recall
The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children.
Remedy
Consumers should immediately stop using any recalled chest and dresser that is not properly anchored to the wall and place it into an area that children cannot access. Contact IKEA for a choice between two options: refund or a free wall-anchoring repair kit. Consumers are entitled to a full refund for chests and dressers manufactured between January 2002 and June 2016. Consumers with chests and dressers manufactured prior to January 2002 will be eligible for a partial store credit. Consumers can order a free wall-anchoring repair kit. Consumers can install the kit themselves or IKEA will provide a one-time, free in-home installation service, upon request. Consumers can reorder the kits throughout the life of their chest and dresser.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- Ikea North America, of Conshohocken, Pa.
- Units Affected
- About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada)
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 16204 |
| Date reported | June 28, 2016 |
| Date initiated | June 28, 2016 |
| Recalling firm | Ikea North America, of Conshohocken, Pa. |
| Units affected | About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada) |
| Distribution | Not disclosed |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What product was recalled? ▼
The recalled children's chests and dressers are taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers are taller than 29.5 inches. The 29 million units of recalled chests and dressers include: MALM 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and three 6-drawer models and other children's and adult chests and dressers. 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, gray, gray-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. Since 1996, IKEA chests and dressers have been labeled to identify IKEA, the model name and the manufacturing date.. Recalled by Ikea North America, of Conshohocken, Pa.. Units affected: About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children's and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada).
Why was this product recalled? ▼
The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children.
What should consumers do? ▼
Consumers should immediately stop using any recalled chest and dresser that is not properly anchored to the wall and place it into an area that children cannot access. Contact IKEA for a choice between two options: refund or a free wall-anchoring repair kit. Consumers are entitled to a full refund for chests and dressers manufactured between January 2002 and June 2016. Consumers with chests and dressers manufactured prior to January 2002 will be eligible for a partial store credit. Consumers can order a free wall-anchoring repair kit. Consumers can install the kit themselves or IKEA will provide a one-time, free in-home installation service, upon request. Consumers can reorder the kits throughout the life of their chest and dresser.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on June 28, 2016. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 16204.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (16204) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product? ▼
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.
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Recall Context
Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.
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Data Sources
Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.
- Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
- Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
- Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
- Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)
Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).