Eames Desk Units and Eames Storage Units
CPSC Recall #23-701 — October 6, 2022
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 23-701 |
| Recall Date | October 6, 2022 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 700 |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Herman Miller and Design Within Reach stores nationwide and online at store.hermanmiller.com |
| dwr.com and other websites from October 2020 through March 2022 for between $800 and $4 |
| 000. |
Product
Eames Desk Units and Eames Storage Units
Description
This recall involves Eames Storage Units (ESU) and Eames Desk Units (EDU). The units are made from wood and steel joined with metal fasteners. They were sold in two color schemes: natural color that includes tan, gray, white and black panels; and multicolor that includes tan, white, black, red, yellow and blue panels. The product number is printed on the label located on the bottom surface of the bottom panel, rear left of the Eames Storage Units (ESU) and Eames Desk Units (EDU) beneath the black Herman Miller medallion. The SKU number may appear on consumers’ product order confirmation. The violative tan panel is utilized in the following desks and storage units. Recalled Eames Storage/Desk Units Product Number SKU Number Tan Panel Description ESU150.ZCNC 294867 (1 high, 1 wide, zinc base, natural color) ESU150.BUNC 100074719 (1 high, 1 wide, black base, natural color) ESU100.ZCNC 281409 (1 high, 2 wide, zinc base, natural color) ESU100.BUNC 9046102 (1 high, 2 wide, black base, natural color) ESU100.ZCW9 194907 (1 high, 2 wide, zinc base, multicolor) ESU100.BUW9 100074720 (1 high, 2 wide, black base, multicolor) ESU201.ZCNC 294874 (2 wide, 2 high, zinc base, natural color) ESU201.ZCW9 100061150 (2 wide, 2 high, zinc base, multicolor) ESU201.BUNC 100074335 (2 wide, 2 high, black base, natural color) ESU201.BUW9 100074551 (2 wide, 2 high, black base, multicolor) ESU230.ZCNC 194891 (2 wide, 2 high, doors, zinc base, natural color) ESU230.ZCW9 277310 (2 wide, 2 high, doors, zinc base, multicolor) ESU230.BUNC 9046157 (2 wide, 2 high, doors, black base, natural color) ESU230.BUW9 100074331 (2 wide, 2 high, doors, black base, multicolor) ESU420.ZCNC 194877 (2 wide, 4 high, zinc base, natural color) ESU420.ZCW9 100158166 (2 wide, 4 high, zinc base, multicolor) ESU420.BU.NC 100159933 (2 wide, 4 high, black base, natural color) ESU420.BU.W9 10074559 (2 wide, 4 high, black base, multicolor) EDU10.ZC.NC 100074538 (open storage, zinc frame, natural color) EDU10.BU.NC 100074316 (open storage, black frame, natural color)
Hazard
The surface paint on the tan side panels of the desks and storage units contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled desks and storage units immediately. Contact MillerKnoll for either a full refund and free pickup of the desks and storage units, or to receive a free repair kit that includes a replacement panel requiring a screwdriver and a needle nose plier for consumers to install. MillerKnoll is contacting all purchasers directly.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
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 (Refund, Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.