Incredibly grim reason why nearly 1.2 million coolers have been recalled

A major recall on cool boxes has been issued in several countries, following reports of almost 30 serious injuries related to them.

The 85-litre Flip & Tow Rolling Coolers from Igloo were first recalled in February, with 26 serious injuries among at least 78 reports of finger injuries. It seems the issue stems from the ease with which fingers can get trapped in the tow handle’s hinge.

While the recall was posted in the US, Canada and Mexico, the affected units have also been sold in the UK (Smith Collection/Gado / Contributor/Getty Images)

Igloo has now broadened the recall to cover almost 1.2 million units, with grim injury reports including fingertip amputations.

Other reports also mention bone fractures and serious lacerations, all coming from the cool boxes’ tow handles.

The recall affects the US, Canada and Mexico, but they’ve been sold in the UK too via Costco, so if you’ve bought one over here we’d recommend that you get in touch with Igloo.

By the time of the initial recall in February, there had been 12 reported finger injuries from the boxes. The recall applies to all Igloo 90-quart (85 litre) Flip & Tow Rolling Coolers sold between January 2019 and January 2025.

The cooler model that has been recalled (CPSC/US Government)

Affected units were all manufactured before January 2024, with the serial number printed on the bottom of the cooler indicating whether it’s part of the recall. The date of manufacture is printed in a circular pattern, and there’s an arrow pointing to the month and last two digits of the manufacturing year.

You can see full details of the recall on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website which reads: “The tow handle can pinch consumers’ fingertips against the cooler, posing fingertip amputation and crushing hazards.” It also lists every affected SKU and detailed guidance on identifying whether your unit is affected.

(PixelCatchers/Getty Images)

Despite the safety fears, the cool boxes have had a decent haul of positive reviews from customers. Of the 102 reviews left on Igloos’ website, the affected cool boxes have an average score of 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Nevertheless, issues were raised with the handles and general body design by some reviewers.

“This cooler succeeds in keeping things cold but the body design and quality of the plastic are poor,” said one two-star review.

“The handle to pull the cooler so you can roll it hits against thin plastic where it attaches to the cooler,” said another.

Costco’s UK website has five reviews for the affected boxes, with a 4.6 out of 5 average score. One called it the ‘best cool box ever‘, and added: “Extremely impressed it does exactly what it says in the specification.”

Another said: “This is a huge cool box, very sturdy and the handles feel secure, even when loaded with food. Kept food for 16 people on a hot beach cool all day using ice blocks. The middle smaller lid is great for reaching in and the seal is perfect.

Igloo produces a wide range of food and drink storage products (UCG / Contributor/Getty Images)

“The drink holders in the lid were very handy when making drinks. It is very big and almost fills the boot of my Audi A3. I am very pleased and it will make camping easier as we have somewhere decent to store chilled food now. 4/5 because it is much heavier than I expected.”

If you’ve got one, stop using it immediately and get in touch with Igloo at [email protected]. Enquiry forms are also available at www.igloo90qtrecall.expertinquiry.com and http://www.igloocoolers.com, although these may be US-specific.