302,000 Cosco Kitchen Steppers Recalled After Safety Bar Failures and Injuries

A product designed to make kitchens safer has instead caused dozens of injuries — and now more than 300,000 units are being recalled.

According to an August 2025 announcement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dorel Home Furnishings, based in Indiana, is recalling approximately 302,000 Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Steppers due to a defect in the safety bar. Instead of protecting users, the safety bar can detach or break during use, potentially causing sudden falls and serious injuries.

The recall comes after 34 incident reports, including two head injuries linked to the defect.

What Is the Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper?

The Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper is a folding step stool designed to help people safely reach high cabinets, shelves, and appliances in the kitchen. It features:

• Two wide steps for stability

• A safety bar on the back, marketed as a key safety feature

• Multiple color options: white/gray, green, navy, and blue

• The Cosco logo on the handle

The product was sold between February 2021 and July 2025 for $56–$70 at major retailers, including:

• Home Depot

• Lowe’s

• Target

• Walmart

• BJ’s Wholesale Club Stores

The product was also sold online at:

• Amazon.com
• Wayfair.com
• Overstock.com

Why the Recall Was Issued

The recall was triggered by a defect in the safety bar — the very part meant to prevent accidents. The safety bar can detach or break, especially under normal use. When that happens, users can suddenly lose balance and fall backward, often without time to brace themselves.

The 34 reports received by Dorel Home Furnishings included falls from standing height and impact injuries from the stool collapsing unexpectedly. The CPSC confirmed that two victims suffered head injuries.

How to Identify the Recalled Product

The recall applies to specific model numbers, found on a label located on one of the stepper’s arms:

• 11349WHG1E

• 11349GRN1E

• 11349NVY1E

• 11349WHG2

• 11349GRN4

• 11349GRN12

• 11349WHG12C

• 11349WHG12W

• 11349WHG4F

• 11349CBWH4T

If your product matches one of these model numbers, stop using it immediately.

What Consumers Should Do

Dorel Home Furnishings is offering a free repair kit that includes a sliding locking mechanism to secure the safety bar and prevent it from detaching or breaking.

Steps to take:

1. Locate the model number on your product.

2. Contact Dorel:

   • Phone: 1-888-628-3778 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET)

3. Stop using the step stool until the repair is complete.

4. Keep the product away from children in the meantime.

Why This Recall Matters

While a kitchen step stool might seem like a low-risk household item, defects in such everyday products can cause serious injuries. Head injuries, concussions, and even fractures can result from a fall off just two steps — particularly for children, older adults, or people with balance issues.

This recall is part of a troubling trend we’ve seen in dangerous household products — where a product designed for safety ends up posing hidden dangers because of a manufacturing or design flaw.

Other Kitchen and Household Product Hazards We’ve Covered

At KBD Attorneys we’ve investigated, written about and handled cases involving dangerous and defective kitchen products and home goods. Some examples include:

• Pressure cookers that explode due to faulty lid seals

• Blenders and food processors with blade assemblies that detach mid-use

• Coffee makers that overheat and cause burns

Each of these products, like the Cosco Kitchen Stepper, was intended to make kitchen tasks safer or easier — but when manufacturers cut corners or fail to catch defects before release, consumers can pay the price in hospital bills, pain, and long-term injuries.

Legal Rights After an Injury from a Defective Product

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product like the Cosco Kitchen Stepper, you may be entitled to compensation through a product liability claim. These cases hold manufacturers, distributors, and sometimes retailers accountable for releasing unsafe products into the market.

Potential damages in a product liability case can include:

• Medical expenses (ER visits, surgeries, rehab)

• Lost wages if the injury prevents you from working

• Pain and suffering

• Long-term disability costs if injuries have lasting effects

Importantly, you do not need to prove that the manufacturer intended harm — only that the product was defective and caused your injury.

Steps to Take If You Own This Product

If you own a Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper:

1. Stop using it immediately.

2. Document the product — take photos showing the model number, defect, and condition.

3. Preserve the product — do not throw it away; it could be important evidence if an injury claim is necessary.

4. Seek medical attention if you have already been injured.

5. Contact an attorney experienced in defective product cases.

Our Commitment to Consumer Safety

Our firm is committed to protecting consumers from dangerous and defective products. We monitor CPSC recalls and investigate injuries caused by unsafe household goods, toys, tools, and appliances.

Our attorneys have the resources to:

• Investigate whether a defect was due to design flaws, manufacturing errors, or lack of proper warnings.

• Determine whether other consumers have been harmed in similar ways.

• Pursue claims against all responsible parties to secure fair compensation.

We believe manufacturers must be held accountable when their products fail — especially when they are marketed as safety-enhancing devices.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective kitchen step stool, appliance, or other household product, you have legal rights.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Visit our website to learn more about our work on dangerous and defective product cases.

You don’t have to face medical bills and recovery alone — we are here to help.

Sources:

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall Notice – August 2025

• MLive News Coverage: Kitchen device meant to improve safety recalled after causing numerous injuries

• Cosco Products