CPSC, L.L. Bean Inc. Announce Recall of Director’s Chairs, Replacement Seats
Home product recall 05-561. Announced by CPSC on Apr 6, 2005.
- CPSC: stop using it
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own notice is on cpsc.gov.
The short answer
Announced by CPSC on Apr 6, 2005. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.
- Stop using it what CPSC tells owners to do now (needs attention)
- About 3,500 units, as CPSC gives them
- Reported injuries, in the notice (needs attention)
Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
The wooden dowels in the fabric seats are too small and can break or slide out of the fabric sleeves; the fabric seat can tear from the wooden seat frame; and the chair frame also can break at the backrest upright, the armrest and at the leg axis. These failures can cause the chair’s occupant to fall to the floor, and possibly sustain injuries.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What should you do?
Consumers should stop using the director’s chair and the padded replacement seat immediately and contact L.L. Bean to receive a full refund or an L.L. Bean gift certificate.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: Consumers should contact L.L. Bean toll-free at (800) 555-9717 anytime or visit the company’s Web site at www.llbean.com/recall for more information.
Which ones are recalled?
The recalled director’s chair is a folding chair with a solid natural-colored wood frame. They have cotton duck fabric seats and backs in navy, red, green and natural colors. The seats are padded and unpadded, and replacement padded seats were sold separately. The director’s chair measures 34 inches high, 24 inches wide and 19 inches deep with an 18-inch seat height. The replacement padded seats are navy red, green and natural canvas. The recalled director’s chair includes models XS78 and VU67and the recalled replacement seat includes model XS79, which can be found on the label underneath the seat.
About 3,500 units, as CPSC gives them.
Director’s Chairs and Replacement Director’s Chair Padded Seats.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
CPSC’s photos
CPSC shows 1 photo on its notice. Hearth Record doesn’t copy them; each opens on cpsc.gov.
Who made and sold it?
- Distributed by L.L. Bean Inc., Freeport, Maine.
- Distributed by Rio Brands, Philadelphia, Pa.
- L.L. Bean catalog, Web site and L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine, from February 2004 through September 2004, for $79 for the padded and $59 for the unpadded chair and $29 for the padded replacement seat.
- Made in China and United States, as the notice gives it.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Was anyone hurt?
L.L. Bean received 10 reports of the dowels breaking, two reports of the fabric tearing and four reports of frame breakage, which involve eight people falling from the chairs. There have been no reports of injury.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
- The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.
Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.