ᐅ MALM drawers come out of the cabinet even when secured – what can be done?

Hello everyone,

I have an issue with my Malm dressers from IKEA: despite the built-in drawer stops, the drawers sometimes come completely out when I pull them too far. It seems the stop mechanism either doesn’t engage properly or there may be a defect in the hardware. Has anyone experienced this or found a reliable way to prevent it? The main concern is to be able to open the drawers smoothly without worrying that they might suddenly fall out and possibly damage the floor.

Do you have any tips or tricks to fix this problem? Thanks for your input!

I am familiar with this problem. Often, thoroughly cleaning the guides and, if necessary, readjusting them helps. If the locking mechanism is damaged, the corresponding plastic components need to be replaced.

Hello Martyn34,

I understand that this is very frustrating. MALM drawers have small stops in the rail guides designed to prevent the drawer from being pulled out completely. If these stops are worn or damaged, the drawer will simply come out.

My advice: First, carefully check the stopper module on the drawer slide. These parts are usually available as inexpensive spare parts. If you’re not sure whether you can assess the damage yourself, you might find a short video on YouTube showing how to clean or replace the stopper helpful.

Also, make sure the rails are clean and free of debris to ensure smooth operation.

If you want, feel free to write again, otherwise I can help you step-by-step.

GiRoyce schrieb:
If these stops are worn or damaged, the drawer will simply fall out.

That could indeed be the case, as one of the catches feels a bit loose. However, I haven’t ordered any replacement parts yet because I want to be sure that this is the cause.

JUHAU schrieb:
Completely clean the slides and, if necessary, readjust them.

Could you briefly explain how to perform this adjustment? Do you need to unscrew the entire rail? And are there spring mechanisms involved that need to be considered?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Adjusting the drawer lock on MALM dressers: The lock consists of a plastic stopper attached to the metal track. With extended use, this stopper can break or become loose.

To properly adjust the track, fully pull out the drawer, loosen the screws on the track, align it so that the “anti-fall” lock sits correctly on the runner, and then retighten the screws.

There are no spring mechanisms involved here. It is important to keep the tracks clean and not ignore any damage to the stopper. If parts are broken, it is advisable to order replacement parts from IKEA or third-party suppliers, as plastic stoppers can become brittle over time.

I wonder if the problem might also be due to overloading the drawers. The maximum load capacity is often underestimated, which leads to increased wear on the locking mechanism.

Martyn34 schrieb:
It seems the lock is not engaging properly, or maybe the mechanism is faulty.

Has the load on the drawers been checked? This could be the root cause, causing both wear and malfunction of the lock.

Alternatively, it might be worth considering retrofitting additional locking devices if the standard mechanism is insufficient.