An estimated 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools have been sold in the United States and Canada. These pools are now under national recall due to grave safety hazards. On July 21, 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall alert. This rule was implemented after receiving complaints about and investigating nine drowning deaths associated with these pools. Fifty-three tragic incidents involving young children were reported between 2007 and 2022. The victims were all aged from 22 months to 3 years.
The recall affects nearly 5 million pools sold in the United States and at least 266,000 more sold in Canada. Every recalled pool stands 48 inches or taller and can lead to a serious drowning risk, especially if children aren’t closely monitored. Consumers should be able to readily identify these impacted products. Just look at the manufacturers listed on the brand/model names on the recall lists from CPSC and Health Canada.
Details of the Recall
Those recalled pools may have been purchased online or at nationwide retail stores such as Target, Walmart and Sam’s Club. These retail chains were Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Costco and online sales retailer Amazon. The pools have been originally sold since as early back as 2002, with some sales extending all the way through 2025. This long history of sales creates a dangerous liability at the risk to families who have their own pools.
The CPSC has repeatedly stated the necessity of adult supervision while using these pools, especially when young children are involved. The agency is encouraging all consumers who have one of the recalled pools to immediately stop using it. Refer to the recommendations provided in the recall announcement for proper disposal or return.
Impact on Consumers
The recall may pose a unique opportunity to impact millions of households throughout North America. Many other families have started using aboveground pools in the warming summer months. Here’s the bad news. Nonetheless, the safety of our youngest children must remain our number one priority. National safety advocates recommend that parents and guardians act quickly if they own one of the models listed.
No new deaths have been announced by Canada. At the same time, the CPSC continues to vigorously enforce and investigate the circumstances leading to the nine fatal deaths in the U.S. The agency has assured advocates that their focus is on making sure nothing like this happens again.
Response from Retailers
All the major retailers that sold these pools are working closely with the recall process. They should be including details about refunds or exchanges for consumers who bought affected models. As always, consumers need to diligently research the specific brand and model of their pool. That way they’ll know if their product appears in Department of Transportation’s official recall announcements.
