Little Giant ladder recall covers about 3.7 million: check for the orange QC sticker first

What was recalled

CPSC's notice, dated November 5, 2026, is titled "Little Giant Recalls Ladders with Rapid Locks Due to Risk of Serious Injury from Fall Hazard." It covers about 3,662,000 ladders. The company is Little Giant Ladder Systems, LLC, of Springville, Utah, and the ladders were made in the United States, China, Mexico and Malaysia.

Rapid Locks are the black or orange locks on each ladder leg that slot into the rungs when you change the ladder's height. The hazard, in CPSC's words: "The ladders can suddenly retract if the Rapid Locks are not fully engaged, posing a fall hazard to consumers."

Little Giant has received 25 reports of ladders retracting, including 19 reports of injuries. Three were head injuries, which CPSC says included traumatic brain injury, skull fracture and concussion; 16 were other injuries such as fractures, cuts and bruising. The company has also had 39 reports of Rapid Locks not working properly.

The ladders were sold at Lowe's, Costco and other stores nationwide, and online at Lowes.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com, LittleGiantLadders.com and other websites, from December 2015 through October 2026, for about $100 to $1,000. A ladder bought almost 11 years ago can be included.

How to check your ladder, step by step

Do this with the ladder on the ground, closed or standing open on a level floor, and nobody on it.

• Read the side of the ladder. CPSC says the brand name Little Giant and the model name are printed there. If it isn't a Little Giant, this recall doesn't cover it.
• Match the model name. The 11 recalled models are Adjustable Fortress 2.0, Conquest 2.0, Dark Horse 2.0, Epic, King Kombo XT, Leveler, MegaLite, MegaLite+, Multi, Quantum and Vector.
• Find the Rapid Locks. They are black or orange and sit on each ladder leg, where the leg slides to set the height.
• Look at the rail just above the Rapid Locks for an orange rectangular sticker marked "QC". The notice says only ladders without that sticker are included in the recall.
• If the model matches and there is no QC sticker, stop using the ladder and go to the next section.
• If you can't read the model name, or you aren't sure about the sticker, don't climb it until you have checked with Little Giant.

If your ladder is recalled: the repair kit

CPSC says consumers "should stop using the recalled ladders immediately" until they review the information at www.littlegiantladders.com/pages/recalls, or through the QR code on the ladder, and contact Little Giant for a repair kit containing warning labels and instructions.

The labels go on the ladder. The notice says they advise you to check that the Rapid Locks are properly engaged before every use and to keep the locks lubricated. Follow the kit's instructions for that.

If a Rapid Lock still doesn't work properly after you have followed the instructions and lubricated it, contact Little Giant for an evaluation. If the lock still fails after that, the notice says the company will offer a choice of a replacement ladder of the same or an equivalent model, or a refund. The refund ranges from a depreciated value based on the purchase date up to the full price for ladders bought within the past 12 months.

You can reach Little Giant toll-free at 866-201-9069, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, or online at www.littlegiantladders.com/pages/recalls, or at www.littlegiantladders.com by clicking RECALLS at the top of the home page.

What about other Little Giant ladders?

The notice names 11 models with Rapid Locks and excludes ladders that already carry the orange QC sticker. A Little Giant model not on that list isn't covered by this recall, but that doesn't mean it has been checked or cleared: it simply isn't part of this notice.

Wherever you bought it, including Amazon, the model name on the side and the sticker above the lock are what count. You can search CPSC's full list of recalls at cpsc.gov/recalls for any other ladder or tool you own.

Using any ladder safely in the meantime

Fall season brings gutters, holiday lights and smoke alarm batteries, so plenty of households will reach for a ladder. A recalled one stays out of use until you have followed the steps above. For any other ladder, OSHA, the federal workplace safety agency, gives these rules on its portable ladder safety card:

• Read and follow all labels and markings on the ladder, and inspect it before every use. OSHA says a damaged ladder must be taken out of service until it is repaired or discarded.
• Keep three points of contact when you climb: two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand. Face the ladder and keep your body near the middle of the step.
• Use a ladder only on a stable, level surface, and never stand it on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to gain height.
• Don't use the top step or rung as a step unless the ladder was designed for it, and don't use a stepladder folded flat or partly closed.
• On an extension ladder, make sure all locks are properly engaged, set the base a quarter of the working length out from the wall, and don't stand on the top three rungs.
• Know the ladder's load rating, and count the weight of your tools along with your own.

What not to do

Don't keep using a recalled ladder "just for one quick job" while you wait for the kit. CPSC says to stop using it immediately until you have reviewed Little Giant's information and contacted the company.

And you don't need to buy a new ladder because of this recall. The remedy starts with a repair kit for the ladder you have, and a replacement or refund is offered only if a lock still fails after Little Giant's evaluation. If your ladder isn't one of the 11 models, there is nothing to return. If you're up a ladder to change smoke alarm batteries this fall, our smoke alarm placement guide covers where they should go.