At Ikea there is a lot of fantastic stuff that has helped generations to make it both nice and practical at home. The Swedish furniture giant has put the Scandinavian style on the map, and all over the world Ikea is a must for everything from students and those who have just moved away from home to new cohabitants, growing families with children, the single person in the big city or the pensioner.
Some Ikea classics have increased in value today, and are being sold at record prices at auction houses.
READ MORE: The Ikea items you should NOT throw away – are worth a fortune today
But as in all large department stores, there are products that may not reach the top class. For example, what about a microwave that melts plates instead of heating food, a sofa that collapses after 24 hours and beds that break instantly?
Or are we tempted with a stove that “lives a life of its own”, a freezer that can’t be defrosted and safety guards that toddlers squeeze?
By mapping customer reviews on Ikea’s website has News24 compiled the furniture, white goods and other products with the worst customer ratings. We have gone for products that have at least three reviews. In cases where we have translated reviews from another language, it is mentioned in the text.
Disappointed after your visit to Ikea? Not all customers are satisfied with their purchases. Image source: AP Photo/Markus Schreiber/TT BildFINSMAKARE, wall-mounted kitchen hood, SEK 5,995
That something as innocent as a wall-mounted kitchen fan can create such strong reactions? Judging by the customer ratings, this kitchen hood is unfortunately a real bargain.
“The fan cannot be used, it either sucks and above all sounds like a jet plane. I think it’s terrible that this product is still around and that you don’t compensate those who bought it,” writes the signature Lena and adds that she is both disappointed and sad about the purchase.
Another unsatisfied customer writes that the fan “whistles something terrible”. “Also, you can’t see the buttons if you don’t have perfect night vision. I have to turn on the flashlight in my phone to find the button to turn it on. Absolutely amazing?”, the person wrote further.
Others have also reacted to it sounding very loud. “Unusable due to noise. Do not use the fan, do not go for the noise. Worst purchase ever” and “Very disappointed as the fan is very loud. NOT recommended!” are second impressions.
The cooker hood FINEMAKARE. Image source: IkeaFINSMAKARE, combi microwave with hot air, SEK 7,995
A microwave and oven in one, also with “touch control and other smart functions”. Does it sound too good to be true? Yes, at least according to the majority of customer reviews.
“If you want an expensive bad oven this is excellent,” wrote one person. “Worst ever!” wrote another customer who had had his youngster repaired with superglue. Another customer also says that he had to glue the oven together.
“Totally worthless to use for heating food. Food boxes melt and the food burns to coals” and “Plates get blazing hot but the food is ice cold” are other reviews. Another person writes that he suffered burns from using the oven.
The oven FINE MAKER. Image source: IkeaKIVIK corner sofa, SEK 13,195
It should be added here that many customers are satisfied with the sofa – but those who are dissatisfied are so disappointed. A Ann-Sofie writes that the sofa is worn out in just one year and that the chaise longue leans so much that the sofa cannot be sat on. “So regret this purchase…”, she writes.
“Gets sucked in right away. We’ve had the sofa for 2.5 months and some cushions get sucked right in and we shouldn’t talk about the corner seat,” writes another.
“I’m sooo disappointed with the sofa which I think is just rubbish,” reads another review.
The sofa KIVIK. Image source: IkeaPÄRUP 3-seat sofa with chaise longue, SEK 6,995 and PÄRUP 4-seat sofa
The sofa PÄRUP seems to have more in common with old-fashioned torture devices than with a comfortable sofa to relax on. At least if the reviews are to be believed.
“Lost its shape after only a month or so. The cushions are already sunken and with a permanent “pit”. The shell part is bent in the middle of a hard edge and not the least bit comfortable to sit in. Super dissatisfied,” writes a disappointed customer. “The couch collapsed immediately,” writes another. Perhaps a common problem with the sofa PÄRUP.
Another customer had problems with the sofa already after two weeks when the cushions and filling collapsed completely. “You feel the ribs under the ass, it hurts. Is this normal?” the person wondered.
Even the 4-seater variant of PÄRUP seems to pose problems for some customers. Several have noticed how the sofa has become worn out in less than two weeks. “Worst sofa I’ve had. After a month, the cushions both look and feel like they’re worn down” and “We haven’t had the sofa for 14 days and the cushions are worn down” are other reviews.
The sofa PÄRUP is heavily sawn. Image source: IkeaBESTÅ, storage combination, SEK 2,600
The BESTÅ cabinet is a big disappointment for several customers. “If you buy this product, don’t expect a stable piece of furniture where the doors and drawers are straight”, “So wobbly and sideways. So disappointed, spent a lot of time and energy to no avail. I am so dissatisfied” are some of the reviews.
For the customer Anton BESTÅ almost cost him his marriage.
“It took me a whole day and almost my marriage to put this cabinet together. And yet the doors and drawer fronts are crooked. It’s a Rubik’s Cube trying to get the fronts to fit together nicely. And the cabinet is rickety and wobbles back and forth at slightest touch. My 98-year-old great-grandmother was more stable than this fake cabinet. Nah, stay away,” he writes in his review.
BESTÅ is called a “cheat construction” by an unsatisfied customer. Image source: IkeaUTRUSTA, lock for kitchen drawers, SEK 49
“Children are curious and can use your kitchen in ways you could never imagine. With this lock, you easily stop them from getting into cupboards and drawers – without limiting their natural curiosity”. This is how Ikea sells the latch for kitchen drawers. But several customers write in their reviews that their smaller children have squeezed badly on the latches.
“In addition to older children (age 3) basically understanding the latches and being able to open them, babies can easily pinch their fingers, and this has happened repeatedly,” the signature reads Sophie. Another customer writes that his children can still open the drawers and injure their fingers.
The UTRUSTA locking guards have left several customers dissatisfied. Image source: Ikea LAGAN, integrated dishwasher, SEK 3995
This dishwasher may not be a bestseller. “Stopped working right after the warranty expired. Is that why it only has a 2 year warranty. Very bad machine,” writes the signature Jorgenand another customer describes a veritable nightmare with constant beeping from the dishwasher, doors that won’t open and the dishes not getting clean.
LAGAN – a dishwasher that doesn’t clean the dishes? Image source: IkeaÖSTVEDA, integrated dishwasher, SEK 6,995
Another dishwasher that drives customers crazy instead of making everyday life easier is ÖSTVEDA.
One person writes that the dishwasher broke after the first use, another testifies about how the dishes do not get clean and that the dishwasher beeps endlessly. “So terribly disappointed with this machine, feels cheap and plastic” and “a real disappointment” are other comments.
ÖSTVEDA broke right away for a customer. Image source: IkeaISANDE, fridge/freezer, SEK 8,995
Plastic boxes that break, freezers that cannot be defrosted and paint that wears off. Yes, that is some of the criticism that the poor ISANDE fridge has received when customers who were sad about the fridge reviewed it.
ISANDE has not received any directly top reviews. Image source: IkeaSMAKLIG, induction hob, SEK 4,995
The induction hob SMAKLIG is one of Ikea’s best sellers. But several customers are far from satisfied. “Cooking may not always have been fun before, but now it’s a pain,” writes the customer Pia and adds that she regrets not reading the reviews before.
Other customers testify that the stove gets scratched easily, that the touch function does not work and a Maria writes that the stove “lives its own life”.
“For the last few months, the plates continue to boil, even though I turn the control down to the minimum (either immediately, or after a few minutes). I have to stand and watch the stove when I cook, it can’t be trusted”.
“The controls react to if a pan comes close and sometimes they live their own life,” writes another disappointed customer. Another customer describes that, despite several complaints and visits by technicians, she is still stuck with a stove that does not work as it should.
“The water takes 20 minutes to boil. The plates turn off. The food is no more than cooked on the maximum setting. All of a sudden the food burns”
“Completely useless pour. Choose another one. If I could I would change straight away, had it for 4 weeks” and “Drives me crazy” are other reviews.
SMAKLIG is a bestseller – but many customers are disappointed. Image source: IkeaSCHEFFLERA ARBORICOLA, pot plant, SEK 199
This plant is very beautiful with its braided trunk – but not many specimens seem to survive. “Died after about 2 weeks”, “Green stems quickly turned black and drop all leaves”, “It started dropping leaves after about 2 weeks and now it is dying” are some reviews.
Others write that the plant began to lose its leaves as soon as they happened to touch the pot, and someone has brought home both pests and rotten specimens.
The majority of those who have reviewed the plant write that it dies within two weeks. Image source: IkeaFALKERSLEV, carpet, SEK 2,495
Ikea promises a lot of shine with this viscose rug, which is available in beige, light gray and dark grey. But unfortunately it has been the root of much disappointment. A customer writes that she spilled a glass of water on the carpet – which was then completely destroyed.
“Deplorable carpet that won’t hold furniture on it,” reads another person’s review.
Other customers complain that the carpet fluffs a lot, and that the carpet cannot withstand much as the smallest drop of water changes the color of the carpet.
The rug FALKERSLEV seems very delicate…Image source: IkeaBESTÅ, shelf, SEK 1,375
An upset customer questions how it is even possible that this piece of furniture is “even allowed to be sold”. “Terribly unstable. IKEA – I’m really surprised, this must still be a big mistake? You need to recall this shelf and compensate your customers! So disappointed!”.
Some customers have also reacted on the American, Danish, Finnish and Norwegian markets. From translated reviews, it appears that customers chose to return it because it was too wobbly.
The BESTÅ shelf. Image source: IkeaTÄRNKULLEN, upholstered bed frame, SEK 2,895 (translated reviews, editor’s note)
In Canada, this bed was not a success. There, more users have expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the bed frame. One person writes that the bed “broke in two” and another writes that the only thing he can recommend about the bed is…not to buy it
TERNKULLEN has raised the ire of Canada. Image source: Ikea