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Little Giant recalled about 3.662 million Rapid Lock ladders after fall injuries. Here’s how to check for the orange QC sticker, get the free repair kit, and what replacement or refund covers.
Mai
If you own a Little Giant multi-position ladder with Rapid Locks, stop using it until you’ve checked for an orange “QC” sticker and contacted the company. On Nov. 5, 2026, Little Giant Ladder Systems recalled about 3,662,000 ladders sold since late 2015 because the Rapid Locks can fail to stay engaged and the ladder can suddenly retract, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The company is sending a free repair kit with warning labels and instructions; ladders that still don’t lock properly after that evaluation can qualify for a replacement or a purchase-date-based refund.
These ladders are common in garages, sheds and contractor vans for painting, roof cleanup, gutter work and attic access. Here’s how to tell whether yours is included, what the remedy covers, and a few ladder-safety habits worth keeping even after the kit arrives.
The recall covers Little Giant ladders with Rapid Locks — the black or orange locking pins on each ladder leg that slide into the rungs to set the height. The CPSC says 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 injuries: three head injuries (traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, concussion, vision loss, hearing loss and cognitive impairment) and 16 other injuries such as joint or bone fractures, lacerations and bruising. The company also logged 39 reports of Rapid Locks not working properly, per the CPSC notice.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Little Giant said it identified “a very small number of instances out of the more than 3.6 million rapid lock ladders sold since 2015 in which the locks had not been properly engaged before use,” and started a voluntary recall with the CPSC “out of an abundance of caution.”
Affected model names, printed on the side of the ladder next to the Little Giant brand, are:
Important exclusion: ladders that already have an orange rectangular “QC” sticker on the rail above one of the Rapid Locks are not part of this recall. If you see that sticker, you’re outside the recall — but you should still check that every lock is fully engaged before each climb.
The ladders were sold from December 2015 through October 2026 for about $100 to $1,000 at Lowe’s and Costco (stores and websites), Amazon.com, LittleGiantLadders.com and other retailers, according to the CPSC. They were manufactured in the United States, China, Mexico and Malaysia and imported by Little Giant Ladder Systems, LLC, of Springville, Utah. CPSC recall number: 27-067.
This is not an automatic full refund for every owner. Follow the kit steps first; replacement or refund comes only after the lock fails the evaluation.
A locking pin that isn’t fully seated is dangerous on any multi-position ladder, not just these models. While you’re waiting for labels — or after you’ve affixed them — treat every climb as a fresh check.
Visually confirm that each Rapid Lock (or equivalent pin) is fully through the rung and that the ladder length can’t collapse under your weight. Tug the rails before you climb. If anything feels loose or sticky, stay off the ladder until it’s fixed or replaced.
Use the A-frame or extension configuration the manual allows for that task, keep the angle roughly 4:1 on extension setups, and never stand on the top cap of a stepladder. For roof or gutter work, a stabilizer or stand-off keeps the rails off fragile edges.
Set feet on firm, level ground — not soft soil, wet decking or uneven pavers. Wipe rungs before you climb if they’re dusty or damp, and skip outdoor climbs in high wind or ice. If you’re mid-project around the house, our guides on the DREO space heater recall and the Harkla sensory swing recall are useful reminders that hardware failures often show up only after years of normal use.
Move tools, hoses and kids’ toys out from under the ladder. Have a spotter for taller setups, and never overreach sideways — climb down and move the ladder instead. For broader ideas on reducing fall and tip-over risks indoors, see our piece on creating a safe, stylish and practical family-friendly home.
November’s CPSC list also includes other household items. If you own portable heaters or ceiling-mounted kids’ swings, check the DREO and Harkla notices linked above. You can search any product you own at CPSC.gov/Recalls and report a problem at SaferProducts.gov. Kitchen owners should also check the Gourmia air fryer oven recall, which covers about 176,000 Target-sold GTF7530 ovens whose French doors can slam shut on hot pans.
About 3,662,000 ladders with Rapid Locks, sold from December 2015 through October 2026.
Ladders with an orange rectangular QC sticker on the rail above a Rapid Lock are excluded from this recall. You should still confirm locks are fully engaged before every use.
No. The first remedy is a free repair kit with labels and instructions. Replacement or a purchase-date-based refund is offered only if a Rapid Lock still fails after lubrication and Little Giant’s evaluation. Full purchase price is available for ladders bought within the past 12 months.
Contact Little Giant at 866-201-9069 or through its recall page, and you can also file a report at SaferProducts.gov so CPSC has the incident on record.
No. The CPSC says to stop using recalled ladders immediately until you’ve reviewed the recall information and completed the remedy steps.
Featured image: An aluminum extension ladder leaning against a garage (not a Little Giant product), shown for illustration. Photo by MarkTraceur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
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