July 30th, 2025 (Chicago, IL) – Various above ground pool brands have recalled over 5,000,000 48-inch and taller above ground pools due to a design flaw that has led to the deaths of 9 children. These pools, sold since 2002 by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, were recalled on July 21st, 2025.
Table of Contents
What Pools Are Affected by the Recall?
48-inch and taller above ground pools manufactured by Intex, Polygroup, and Bestway are affected by this recall. Below are the recalled models:
- Intex (2002-2012): Metal Frame Pools, Ultra Frame Pools
- Intex (2024-2025 – Walmart and Intex website): Prism Frame Pool, Ultra XTR Frame Pool
- Bestway/Coleman (2008-2024): Power Steel, Steel Pro, Coleman Power Steel
- Polygroup: Summer Waves (2015-2025), Summer Escapes (2006-2015), Funsicle (2023-2025), Sand n Sun (2008-2011), Blue Wave(2014-2025)
The recalled pools were sold at Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, The Home Depot, Big Lots, Costco and BJ’s and online at Amazon.com, Wayfair.com and Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle and Summer Waves websites.
Why The Above-Ground Pools Were Recalled
These above ground pools have been recalled because a serious design flaw led to children gaining access to the pool even after the ladder was removed. This flaw, a compression strap that goes around the outside of the pool and the pool legs, can be used as a foot hold, lifting children up high enough to gain access to the pool without a ladder. Without the ladder, children have no way of getting back out of the pool. Some children, believed to be 22 months to 3 years old, have drowned as a result.
This is a serious oversight by these well-known pool manufacturers, as removing the pool ladder should deny children access to the pool to keep them safe. However, with this strap creating a foot hold, tragedy can strike at any moment. Even if your household doesn’t have children in it, neighborhood kids can still sometimes gain access to your swimming pool without your permission. If they suffer injuries, you can be held liable under the attractive nuisance doctrine.
What Is the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine?
The Attractive Nuisance Doctrine imposes a duty to property owners to treat trespassing children as someone who was invited on the property. This means the property owner is expected to exercise a reasonable degree of care and eliminate any dangers on the property.
What Is Considered an Attractive Nuisance?
An “attractive nuisance” is anything on the property that can attract children onto the premises while posing a risk to their safety. This can include swimming pools and certain outdoor toys like swing-sets, monkey bars, or trampolines.
When you have an “attractive nuisance”, and a child enters your property with or without permission, and they are injured or killed, you can be held liable for their injuries or death if:
- You knew or should have known that children would likely trespass due to the “attractive nuisance”
- The children do not realize the risks involved with interacting with the “attractive nuisance”
- You knew or should have known that the “attractive nuisance” poses a safety risk
- You fail to exercise reasonable care to prevent injury or death to the children
Whether something is considered an “attractive nuisance” depends entirely on the circumstances surrounding the case. For example, you may not be held liable for a child’s injury on your property if you exercised reasonable caution and locked your gates to keep kids out of your yard and away from the “attractive nuisance.”
What Are the Companies Doing About the Issue?
The three companies – Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, are issuing a repair kit to affected individuals to remedy this issue. The repair kit consists of a rope that attaches to the vertical support poles at ground level and wraps around the pool. This rope will help maintain the structural integrity of the pool while preventing children from using it as a foot hold to gain unauthorized access to the pool.
Injured Because of a Recalled Pool? Here’s How a Product Liability Attorney Can Help You
If your child was injured or killed due to a faulty product design, like the pool straps in the case of the recalled pools, you need an experienced product liability attorney at Ankin Law on your side.
Injury Law Made Personal – That’s Ankin Law
We are available 24/7 for legal inquiries. Additionally, our attorneys offer free case reviews and a contingency fee structure, meaning you owe no legal fees unless we win your product liability case. Our trusted attorneys will ensure your rights are protected, while making sure you get fair and full compensation for your damages.
Contact Ankin Law today and get the help you deserve. Our attorneys are here for you.
