Quick answer
CPSC recall 26-661 covers about 1.77 million Louisville, Featherlite, Lite, and Century folding attic stairway ladders with gas struts because spreader bolts can break during use. Do not climb the ladder to inspect it. From the floor, look for gas struts and use a phone camera or zoom to capture the brand and model label on the inside of the attic door only if it is safely visible. Enter the model at the official recall portal or call Louisville Ladder at 888-679-5132. Affected U.S. owners receive a free kit with two replacement ¼-inch spreader bolts, washers, lock nuts, and installation instructions.
Safety before you start
Stop using the stairway ladder immediately until the official recall check and repair are complete. Do not climb it to read the label, stand underneath a moving ladder, test the suspect bolts, substitute hardware, or brace the assembly as a workaround. Keep children and other household members away. If the label cannot be read from a stable floor position, the stair is overhead, or the frame, hinges, struts, or ceiling opening are damaged, contact Louisville Ladder and use a qualified installer rather than attempting access or repair at height.
What you need
- Phone with camera and zoom
- Flashlight used from floor level
- Official attic-stairway recall portal
- Model number from the inside of the attic door, if safely visible
- Free manufacturer repair kit and its exact instructions for an affected unit
- Qualified installer if the work cannot be completed from a safe, stable position
Step-by-step
Stop access before you inspect
Tell everyone in the home not to use the attic stairway and keep the area below it clear. Do not take one last trip into the attic or climb the recalled stair to retrieve stored items.
Identify the gas-strut design from the floor
The U.S. recall applies to folding aluminum- or wood-frame attic stairs with gas struts. Look from a stable floor position for the black strut assemblies running beside the stair. Do not pull, push, or load the ladder to test them.
Photograph the label only if it is safely visible
CPSC says the brand and model number are on the inside of the attic door. Use phone zoom or a flashlight from the floor. If reading the label would require stepping on the ladder, reaching overhead while off balance, or standing beneath a moving assembly, stop and arrange qualified help.
Use the official recall lookup
Enter the model at Atticstairwayrecall.expertinquiry.com or call 888-679-5132. The U.S. notice includes Louisville, Featherlite, Lite, and Century units with gas struts, so the official portal—not appearance alone—should make the final eligibility determination.
Register the affected unit
Provide the information requested by the recall administrator and keep the confirmation. Do not buy generic bolts or copy a repair shown for another stairway; the remedy must match the affected unit and manufacturer instructions.
Wait for the complete repair kit
CPSC says the free kit contains two replacement ¼-inch spreader bolts, washers, lock nuts, and installation instructions. Leave the ladder out of service until the complete official repair is installed.
Choose safe installation over forced DIY
Read the supplied instructions before beginning. If the work requires climbing the affected stair, supporting a heavy door, working above shoulder height, or correcting structural damage, contact Louisville Ladder and hire a qualified installer. Do not improvise a support or alter the struts.
Document the completed remedy
Keep the recall confirmation and repair-kit record with the home’s maintenance documents. Before returning the stairway to use, confirm every supplied part was installed exactly as directed and that no unrelated damage requires professional repair.
Which attic stairway models are named
CPSC describes the U.S. scope as Louisville, Featherlite, Lite, and Century folding attic stairway ladders with gas struts, sold from November 2012 through July 2026. The official U.S. lookup controls eligibility because the notice covers multiple frame sizes, materials, ceiling heights, and brand variants.
Health Canada’s joint notice names these model identifiers: AA2210, AA2210F, AA2210R5FL, AA2510, AA2510F, AEE2210, AEE2510, AEE3010, AF2240MG-R5C, AL2240LG-R5, AL2240MG-C, AL2240MG-R5C, AL2540LG-R5, AL2540MG-R10, AL3040MG-R10, and AL3040MG-R10FT. U.S. owners should still use the official portal even if their label is not in that Canadian list.
Why a visual check does not make the ladder safe
The recalled bolts can break while the stairway is carrying a person. CPSC reports 11 bolt-break incidents and one injury involving the neck, head, and back. A bolt that looks intact from below has not been cleared by the recall remedy.
Do not torque, tap, load, or replace one visible fastener as a test. The official kit replaces the specified spreader hardware as a set and provides instructions for the affected product.
When to use a qualified installer
- The label or repair area cannot be reached without climbing the affected stairway.
- The attic door is heavy, unstable, binding, or difficult to control from the floor.
- The frame, hinges, gas struts, spreader assembly, wood, or ceiling opening shows damage.
- The supplied instructions require tools, access, or physical support you cannot provide safely.
- The ladder was modified, installed out of square, or uses hardware that does not match the instructions.
Common questions
Can I keep using the attic ladder if its bolts look fine?
No. CPSC says consumers should stop using recalled ladders immediately. Visual appearance does not establish that a spreader bolt meets the required specification.
Where is the model number on the recalled attic stairway?
CPSC says the brand and model number are on the inside of the attic door. Read or photograph it only from a safe floor position; do not climb the ladder for the check.
What comes in the Louisville Ladder recall repair kit?
The U.S. recall says affected owners receive two replacement ¼-inch spreader bolts, washers, lock nuts, and installation instructions at no charge.
Sources and further reading
This article is original FixMate editorial content informed by the references below. Always follow manufacturer instructions and local code.
