At LEGO: Zero product recalls, but some discreet changes ...

With each publication of financial results, LEGO regularly prides itself on having had no product recalls since 2009. A manufacturer generally recalls a product when it is affected by a major malfunction or presents a proven risk for user safety. Apart from a remote control Power Functions who overheated in 2009, LEGO has therefore never had to recall a product, that is to say organize its return at its own expense for exchange, repair or refund.

And yet, many sets undergo discreet modifications during their "commercial" life, to correct problems related to the playability or the resistance of the model and even sometimes to make up for simple errors of an aesthetic nature.

I'm not going to list all the LEGO sets here that have undergone inventory and instruction changes over the years, but I do offer some recent significant examples:

The set that immediately comes to mind when approaching the delicate subject of design flaws is the benchmark LEGO Ideas 21303 WALL-E : On the initial model released in 2015, the neck of the little robot had an obvious stability problem.

If LEGO initially quickly kicked in by denying the existence of the problem, the set was nonetheless withdrawn from sale so that its contents could be modified and a new improved version was marketed a few weeks later.

At the same time, LEGO pledged to send a free modification kit, or "Rework Bag"containing parts and instructions to all buyers of the original version who request it. No reminder, all is well.

Another set released in 2015 that was the subject of a somewhat chaotic launch due to a design flaw: The reference 76039 Ant-Man Final Battle, based on the film Ant-Man and which features Ant-thony, the ant who comes to the aid of the superhero on duty.

The giant ant in the LEGO version had obvious problems with stability and mobility. 12 pieces later, the problem was solved. Once again, LEGO undertook to send to purchasers of the first version who requested it a modification kit with parts and instructions. No reminder for this box either.

Going back in time, we find another set that has been significantly modified without the manufacturer recalling the boxes already on the market: The reference 79104 The Shellraiser Street Chase released in 2013 in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles range.

The first version of the main vehicle supplied was affected by an obvious design problem with its internal structure causing the vehicle to be destroyed at the slightest manipulation. Many disappointed customers manifested and LEGO has logically decided to face it.

The set has been modified (Original version of the instructions / New modified model) and LEGO once again offered unhappy customers a modification kit to resolve the issue. No recall for this set, the initial version of which was far from meeting the quality criteria touted by the manufacturer.

These three sets are just a few examples of boxes affected by obvious design flaws that have been subject to subsequent modifications without being recalled by the manufacturer.

Many other sets undergo more or less significant changes in their inventory without customers being informed, for example the LEGO Creator set 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van launched in 2011 and whose roof was reinforced in 2013.

The changes made are sometimes inspired by feedback from dissatisfied customers or by aesthetic adjustments last minute and they usually go unnoticed, unless you compare scrupulously the different versions of the instruction booklets available for download.

LEGO does not communicate or little about these modifications and it is generally up to the customer to come forward by contacting the manufacturer to obtain success. Fortunately, information circulates quickly and many sites regularly relay these "incidents", the seriousness of which is after all very relative.

The fact remains that these defects directly affect the playability of the product, extensively praised on the packaging. By choosing not to communicate openly on each of these issues, LEGO thus avoids scratching its image as a demanding manufacturer of high-end products.

And it is therefore up to the end customer to be content with a product that sometimes does not keep all of its promises or to take the steps with the brand's customer service to hope to obtain something to correct the problem.

Who among you systematically asks for the modification kits offered by LEGO to correct the defects of a set? Did you do this for the sets mentioned here?