IKEA MALM: spare parts, known issues and repairs

The MALM chest of drawers is the best-selling IKEA furniture item in the bedroom segment. Launched in 2002, it has equipped tens of millions of homes. Its straight lines and modularity make it a staple. But behind this success lie documented structural weaknesses, a resounding safety recall in 2016, and proprietary hardware that makes reassembly after a move particularly difficult.

---

Which MALM model do you have?

Before searching for a part, identify your model precisely. Parts are not interchangeable between formats.

Model	Dimensions (W x H)	Structural feature
2-drawer chest	40 x 55 cm	Compact format, 1 column
4-drawer chest	80 x 100 cm	2 columns, center panel
6-drawer high chest	80 x 123 cm	2 columns, long center panel
6-drawer wide chest	160 x 78 cm	4 columns, 2 center panels

The 6-drawer high version receives the most reports. Its fine particleboard center panel separates the two columns along the entire height. Under repeated load from the drawers, it can crack longitudinally. A failed center panel renders the chest of drawers unusable and dangerous.

The bed range covers formats of 90, 140, 160 and 180 cm. Two families exist: the standard bed with slatted base, and the storage bed with hydraulic lift mechanism via gas springs. These springs wear out over time and eventually fail to hold the base open.

---

The 2016 recall: 29 million chests of drawers concerned

In June 2016, the US CPSC launched an official recall covering 29 million MALM chests of drawers sold between 2002 and 2016. Three children had died, crushed under chests of drawers that had tipped over. The problem: a significant height, a high center of gravity when the drawers are open, and no systematic wall attachment.

IKEA removed the non-compliant models and made the anti-tip kit mandatory in all boxes. A judicial settlement of $46 million was reached with the families.

What this changes in practice:

• Chest of drawers purchased before 2016: the kit may be missing. IKEA still provides it on request from customer service.
• Chest of drawers purchased after 2016: the kit is in the box. If it has not been installed, install it now.

A MALM not fixed to the wall with children in the home is a documented and avoidable risk.

---

Why can't MALM hardware be bought in a hardware store?

The MALM does not use standard ISO hardware. Its hardware relies on three specific components.

Eccentric cams (cam locks) are round metal discs that tighten the assemblies. A loose cam causes the panel to "breathe" and creates play throughout the structure.

Wooden dowels align the panels before tightening the cams. Classic trap: never hammer them in dry. The particleboard around the hole is fragile. Lightly coat the dowel with wood glue, position it by hand, then assemble the panels gradually, applying uniform pressure.

Torx head screws (T20 or T25) secure the drawer rails and safety legs. A Phillips screwdriver will not work and will damage the screw head.

---

How to solve common problems on an IKEA MALM?

The chest of drawers that tips over

An empty MALM is stable. Open two or three loaded drawers: the center of gravity shifts abruptly forward. On a slightly inclined floor, tipping can occur in seconds.

The MALM does not have a cutout for baseboards. There is therefore a space between the back of the furniture and the wall. The long screws in the anti-tip kit are designed to pass through this space. Depending on your wall, the choice of anchor changes:

• Solid wall (concrete, brick): quality nylon anchor (Fischer SX).
• Hollow wall (Plasterboard, drywall): metal expansion anchor type Molly. This is the only reliable option for holding a tipping chest of drawers.
• Hollow brick, cinder block: universal two-component anchor (Fischer Duopower).

The drawer that sags or whose bottom collapses

Two distinct causes:

Cause 1 — the cams have loosened. Load cycles loosen the assemblies. The sides of the carcass move imperceptibly. Solution: locate the eccentric cams on the sides of the furniture and turn them a quarter turn in the correct direction.

Cause 2 — the reinforcement bar is missing. Wide drawers have a gray metal transverse bar under the bottom. It prevents the bottom from flexing under the weight. If it was forgotten during assembly or has slipped, the bottom gradually collapses.

The MALM bed that creaks

The sources of noise are almost always friction. First, tighten the cams at the four corners of the frame. Then, rub a little paraffin (a candle is enough) on each point of contact between the slats and the metal supports. For a storage bed, if the gas springs squeak or no longer hold the base open, they are at the end of their life and must be replaced.

---

What you need to know before ordering a MALM spare part

Parts have changed over the versions. A 2024 part is not necessarily compatible with a 2009 chest of drawers. Have the article number (label on the furniture or on the original instructions) and the approximate date of purchase.

The most requested parts after a move: the wall attachment plate with its steel cable, bed frame screws, wooden dowels and drawer slides. PDF instructions and the catalog of available parts are displayed directly on this page.