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Step 2 Big Storage Chests

CPSC Recall #98-055 — January 11, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-055
Recall DateJanuary 11, 1998
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 350,000

Where It Was Sold

Toys R Us
Kmart and other retailers nationwide sold the toy chests from February 1992 to November 1997 for about $40.

Product

Step 2 Big Storage Chests

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Step 2 Company of Streetsboro, Ohio, is recalling about 350,000 Big Storage Chests for in-home repair of their lids. The lids of the toy chests can fall down onto a young child's head or neck, which could result in the child being entrapped and possibly strangled. CPSC and Step 2 are aware of 16 incidents where the lid fell onto a child's head or neck causing some minor injuries, such as scratches and bruised necks. The Step 2 Big Storage Chests™ are made of white plastic with a blue lid and have red handles at the top ends. The chests measure 19 inches wide by 33 inches long by 23 inches high. The Step 2 logo is imprinted on the front of the chests just below the lid. The chests have model numbers 7511 or 7211, which are located on the packaging box. Toys R Us, Kmart and other retailers nationwide sold the toy chests from February 1992 to November 1997 for about $40. Consumers should immediately stop young children from using these toy chests, and call Step 2 for a free lid support kit. The repair kit will stop the lid from closing all the way until closed by an adult. To order the kit or get more information, call Step 2 at (800) 347-8372 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

Hazard

The lids of the toy chests can fall down onto a young child's head or neck, which could result in the child being entrapped and possibly strangled.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Step 2 are aware of 16 incidents where the lid fell onto a child's head or neck causing some minor injuries, such as scratches and bruised necks.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop young children from using these toy chests, and call Step 2 for a free lid support kit. The repair kit will stop the lid from closing all the way until closed by an adult.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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