Bestway Accused of Selling Unsafe Pools That Put Children at Risk

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Bestway sold defective above-ground pools that allowed children to climb in unsupervised, violating safety promises and putting families at risk.

Consumers Affected: U.S. buyers of Bestway’s Coleman Power Steel, Power Steel, and Steel Pro pools sold between 2008 and 2024.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Bestway, a global manufacturer of above-ground pools and other leisure products, falsely advertised the safety and simplicity of its popular pool models, a new lawsuit claims. 

Consumers allege that the company’s Coleman Power Steel, Power Steel, and Steel Pro pools were marketed as durable, family-friendly, and easy to set up, but instead posed serious drowning risks.

According to the complaint, customers bought the pools expecting a safe and reliable summer staple. But they later learned, through a recall notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, that the pools’ external strap could act as a foothold, allowing children to climb into the water unsupervised. 

Fixing the issue, the lawsuit says, required draining the pool, ordering a repair kit, and spending significant time and effort modifying the strap, costly steps that undercut Bestway’s “easy to use” promise.

Parents Claim They Were Misled by “Easy To Use” and “Family-Safe” Advertising

Two consumers, Shannon Gannon of Indiana and Pete Piceno of California, filed the proposed class action after purchasing the pools from major retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club. 

Both say they followed the setup instructions and expected a safe experience for their families, only to later discover that the pools were defective and subject to recall.

The lawsuit claims that Bestway knew about the safety issues for years before disclosing them and continued to advertise the products as safe for children. The plaintiffs argue they never would have purchased the pools, or would have paid less, had they known the truth.

Recall Required Costly Repairs and Failed To Prevent Continued Sales

Bestway, headquartered in the U.S. with manufacturing operations in Hong Kong, continues to list the recalled pools on its website, despite the July 2025 recall. The company’s promotional materials show children playing in the pools and emphasize safety, but the lawsuit says the recall undermines those assurances. 

The complaint also highlights the extra burden on consumers, especially parents, who bought the pools expecting convenience and instead faced time-consuming and potentially unsafe repairs.

Other Manufacturers Under Fire For Safety Lapses

The lawsuit against Bestway is part of a wave of consumer actions targeting companies over allegedly defective products. Furniture maker Lucid was recently sued over collapsing bed frames that injured users, while LG faces litigation over stoves with faulty knobs that can accidentally turn on. 

Fitness brand Matrix and dental company Straight Smile are also dealing with lawsuits over products accused of causing physical harm despite recalls.

Piceno and Gannon aim to represent all U.S. consumers who purchased the recalled Bestway pools between 2008 and 2024 and were harmed by the alleged defects. 

They are suing for breach of warranty and violations of state consumer protection laws, seeking damages, legal fees, and other costs. In plain terms, they’re asking the court to hold Bestway accountable for selling unsafe products and misleading buyers about their safety.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Piceno, et al. v. Bestway Usa Inc., et al.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-12315
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District Of California 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Luke Landers (Hilgers Graben PLLC)

Did you or your family own a Bestway or Coleman Power Steel pool? Share your experience with these products in the comments below.