Massive Above-Ground Pool Recall Issued After At Least 9 Child Drownings: CPSC

Officials warn the support straps on millions of pools have been used by children as ladders, allowing them to climb into pools unsupervised.

Federal safety officials have announced a recall that impacts more than five million above-ground pools sold nationwide, which may have dangerous design defects that led to the drowning deaths of at least nine children over the past two decades.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the above-ground pool recall on July 21, after multiple incidents between 2007 and 2022, where children as young as 22 months used exterior straps as footholds to climb into the pools and drowned.

The recalled pools were sold under popular brand names including Bestway, Coleman, Intex, Polygroup, Summer Waves and Funsicle, featuring compression straps that wrap around the vertical support poles to help keep the pool walls stable and upright.

However, safety officials warn that these exterior straps can double as climbing aids for young children, allowing unsupervised access to the water even when a ladder has been removed, posing a serious drowning hazard.

In addition to the nine deaths, the CPSC is also aware of at least three additional incidents from 2011 and 2012, in which children gained access to the pools by using the compression straps for climbing support.

The recall affects certain above-ground pools 48 inches or taller, with compression straps on the outside over vertical support legs, which were sold since 2002 at Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, The Home Depot, Big Lots, Costco and BJ’s, as well as online at Amazon, Wayfair, Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle and Summer Waves.

The recalled pools include the following products: 

• Bestway and Coleman Power Steel, Steel Pro and Coleman Power Steel models sold from 2008 to 2024
• Intex Metal Frame and Ultra Frame models sold from 2002 to 2012
• Intex Prism Frame and Ultra XTR Frame models sold from 2024 to 2025
• Polygroup Summer Wave, Summer Escapes, Funsicle, Sand n Sun and Blue Wave models sold from 2006 to 2025

The pools were manufactured in China and sold for $400 to over $1,000 depending on the size and model of the pool and the additional accessories. 

Consumers should immediately contact Bestway, Intex or Polygroup for a free repair kit containing a rope that attaches to the vertical support poles and replaces the compression strap’s structural support function. The repair rope should be secured before cutting and removing the compression strap.

While waiting for the repair kit, consumers should ensure children cannot access the pool unattended or should drain the pool until the repair is installed.

For more information, contact Bestway at 844-593-4003, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, via email at BWrecallsupport5516@sedgwick.com, or visit https://BWrecallsupport.expertinquiry.com.

Intex can be reached at 800-549-8829, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, via email at recallhelp@intexcorp.com, or online at www.Intexcorp.com/recall.

Polygroup can be contacted at 888-621-4137, Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. MT, via email at poolrecall@polygroup.com, or online at https://polygrouprecall.com.

Individuals who are experiencing issues with a recall, or believe a company is being non-responsive can use the CPSC recall complaint form.

Sign up for more recalls and legal news that may affect you or your family.