YETI Is Recalling Almost 2 Million Coolers And Other Products

YETI, which was founded by brothers Ryan and Roy Seiders in 2006, was intended to fill a void in the marketplace. The Austin-based brothers, both avid outdoorsmen, were weary of coolers that didn't last as long as they expected or didn't actually keep things cold. As they explain on YETI's website, they wanted a cooler "that simply wouldn't break."

When the Seiders put their first YETI coolers on the market in 2006, they cost way more than anything from a competitor, running between $250 to $300 apiece — an unheard-of price tag for an ice chest. However, the company has been wildly successful, becoming something of a lifestyle brand and even earning a mention in Chris Jansen's country song, "Buy Me a Boat." In 2022, The Motley Fool pointed out that a potential weakness of the brand, which in 2021 sold $552 million worth of coolers and $832 million in drinkware, was that YETI products are so durable that customers don't have to replace them very often.

YETI's success in delivering coolers that stand the test of time makes it even more surprising that on March 9 the company announced the recall of nearly 2 million of its soft-shell coolers and gear. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that 1.9 million YETI soft-sided coolers and gear cases are being recalled because the magnets in the closures can become detached. If ingested, there's a chance the magnets could attach to one another, become lodged in the digestive system, and cause "perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, and death."

Four products are included in the recall: the YETI Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler, Hopper M30 1.0 Soft Cooler, Hopper M30 2.0 Soft Cooler, and the SideKick Dry Gear Case. YETI has received 1,399 reports where these magnet-lined closures have either degraded or failed. If you own one of these products, stop using it immediately and contact YETI for a replacement of equal or greater value or a refund via a YETI gift card for the purchase price plus $25. The coolers and gear, which have come in a variety of colors, were sold online and at a number of retailers between March 2018 through January 2023. If you have questions about the recall, call YETI toll-free at 833-444-3151, seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT.