302,000 Cosco Kitchen Steppers Recalled for Safety Bar Failures Causing Falls and Head 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 normal use, increasing the risk of sudden falls and serious injuries.

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

Why the Cosco Kitchen Stepper Recall Was Issued

The Cosco Kitchen Stepper was recalled due to a safety bar defect that can cause sudden falls and serious injuries. Factors contributing to the recall include:

• Safety bars that detach or break during normal use
• Loss of balance when the bar fails unexpectedly
• Falls from standing height with no time to brace
• Head injuries reported to the CPSC
• Risk to children, older adults, and users with balance issues

Injuries Linked to the Cosco Kitchen Stepper Recall

When the safety bar on the Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper detaches or breaks, users can lose balance without warning. Because the bar is designed to provide stability while stepping up or down, its sudden failure can cause the user to fall backward or sideways from standing height.

These falls often happen too quickly for a person to brace themselves, significantly increasing the risk of serious injury. Reported and foreseeable injuries linked to the Cosco Kitchen Stepper recall include:

• Traumatic head injuries
• Concussions and brain injuries
• Broken wrists, arms, or shoulders
• Hip fractures and mobility-limiting injuries

Children, older adults, and individuals with balance or mobility issues face an even higher risk of severe harm when the safety bar fails during normal use.

What Is the Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper?

The Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper is a folding step stool designed to help adults safely reach elevated cabinets, shelves, and kitchen appliances. It features two wide steps and a rear safety bar that is marketed as a stabilizing support while standing.

The recalled step stools were sold in multiple color combinations, including white/gray, green, navy, and blue, and feature the Cosco logo on the handle area.

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

How to Identify the Recalled Cosco Kitchen Stepper

The recall applies to specific Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper models. Consumers can identify whether their product is affected by checking the model number printed on a label located on one of the stepper’s arms.

The following model numbers are included in the recall:

• 11349WHG1E

• 11349GRN1E

• 11349NVY1E

• 11349WHG2

• 11349GRN4

• 11349GRN12

• 11349WHG12C

• 11349WHG12W

• 11349WHG4F

• 11349CBWH4T

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

What Consumers Should Do If They Own This Product

Consumers who own a recalled Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper should take immediate action to reduce the risk of injury.

Recommended steps include:

• Stop using the step stool immediately.

• Locate the model number on the stepper to confirm it is included in the recall.

• Contact Dorel Home Furnishings to request the free repair kit, which includes a sliding locking mechanism designed to secure the safety bar and prevent it from detaching or breaking. (Phone: 1-888-628-3778 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET)

• Do not allow children to use or climb on the step stool until the repair has been completed.

• Store the product in a safe location away from children while awaiting the repair.

According to the manufacturer, the repair kit is intended to prevent the safety bar from detaching or breaking during normal use.

Product recalls involving safety components are taken seriously by federal regulators because failures can result in sudden falls, head injuries, and long-term harm.

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. Consulting an experienced product liability attorney early can help preserve evidence, identify all responsible parties, and protect your legal rights.

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