Why is my recliner stuck in the open position?
Most often something is blocking the legrest, or, on a power recliner, the chair has lost power: an unplugged transformer, a dead outlet, a loose connector or a pinched cord. Unplug the chair, clear the path, check those basics, and release the legrest slowly. A bent or broken mechanism needs a repairer.
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By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Unplug a power recliner
Pull the plug from the wall outlet before you look under or around the chair.[1]
Step 2: Look for something blocking the legrest
Check around and under the footrest for a toy, a remote, a shoe, a pet or a rug edge. Keep hands clear of the mechanism.
Step 3: Lift and hold the legrest, then clear it
Lift and hold the legrest up, look for obstructions and remove them.[2]
Step 4: Release the legrest slowly
The legrest closes under spring tension, so lower it slowly rather than letting it slam shut.[2]
Step 5: Check the outlet
On a power recliner, plug a lamp into the same outlet to make sure it works, and look for a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse.[1]
Step 6: Check the cord and connectors
Make sure the transformer is plugged in, the connectors at the motor are seated, and the cord is not crimped, pinched or damaged.[1]
Step 7: Check the load and the occupants
Make sure the chair is not overloaded and holds only one occupant per seat.[2]
Step 8: Plug back in and test
Reconnect the power and try the control once. If the chair still will not move, stop and call a repairer or the dealer.[1]
A recliner stuck open usually has one of two simple causes: something is blocking the legrest, or a power chair has lost power. Both are quick to check. If neither is the cause, the mechanism itself is bent, broken or worn, and that needs a repairer rather than force.
The checks below follow the manufacturer's own troubleshooting guidance. Brands differ, so your owner's manual for your model is the final word.
Start by taking the power off
On a power recliner, unplug the chair before you look under it. La-Z-Boy's manual says to "Disconnect the electrical plug from the wall outlet before cleaning, moving, servicing".[1] A chair that is stuck can move suddenly once the blockage is gone, so keep your hands out of the linkage as well.
Cause one: something is in the way
If the footrest stalls while closing, La-Z-Boy's PowerReclineXR+ manual says it is likely an obstruction: "If the legrest stops moving while closing, it may have encountered an obstruction."[2] The fix it gives is simple: "Lift and hold the legrest up, look for obstructions and remove them."[2]
Typical culprits are a toy, a remote, a shoe, a phone or a rug edge that has crept under the footrest. Check beside and behind the chair too, especially a recliner placed near a wall or a table.
Then release the legrest carefully. "The legrest uses spring tension to close," and the manual's instruction is to "Release the legrest slowly to prevent it from slamming shut."[2] Keep fingers, children and pets well clear while you do it. CPSC staff has written about injuries in this very area, including "Entrapment in the foot support lift mechanisms beneath the recliner".[3]
Cause two: a power recliner without power
If a power chair will not move at all, work from the wall to the chair, the way the maker's troubleshooting list does. Its power-recliner manual notes up front: "There are no user maintenance or repair requirements."[1] It then lists what to check:
- The transformer is plugged into an outlet.
- The outlet works. "Make sure the electrical outlet is working."[1] For example, make sure there are no blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.[1] A lamp plugged into the same outlet is the quickest test.
- The connectors are seated. "Make sure all the connectors are secured."[1]
- The cords are undamaged. "Make sure the electrical cords are not crimped or pinched."[1] The cord and plug must not be damaged.
Chairs get stuck this way after they have been moved, pushed against a wall or vacuumed around, because that is when a plug works loose or a cord gets pinched between the frame and the floor. On the PowerReclineXR+ models, the manual adds a visual check: "Check the power supply to make sure the green LED power indicator light is on."[2]
The same list adds a load check: "Make sure the operating capacity has not been exceeded and there is only one occupant".[2] A chair that shuts down under extra weight is behaving as designed.
What not to do
Do not pull the footrest by hand to free a chair that will not move. The manual is explicit: "Never attempt to open the legrest by pulling on it."[1] Do not oil or pry at the mechanism, and do not open the motor. Its words are "Do not attempt to disassemble or service the pump or motor."[1] The same manual limits owner repairs even further: "Except for replacement of the Power Transformers, never attempt to make any repairs or adjustments yourself."[1]
When it is the mechanism
If the path is clear and the power checks out, the likely cause is mechanical: a bent or broken linkage, a loosened bolt or a failed spring, or on a manual chair a release handle that no longer engages. These are repairer jobs, and a repair visit usually starts with identifying the make and model. For what that visit involves, read how a recliner mechanism works and how much recliner repair costs in Virginia.
Stop and call a pro if
- The chair still will not move after the basics. Unplug it and contact the dealer or a repairer; the manual says to contact your La-Z-Boy dealer for instructions on returning the unit for examination and repair if a power unit still does not operate.[1]
- Anything looks bent, cracked or broken under the seat. Forcing a damaged mechanism can make it worse and is a pinch hazard.
- A cord, plug or transformer is damaged, or you smell burning. Unplug the chair and do not use it.
- The legrest will not stay closed or snaps shut unpredictably. The spring tension is working against you, and a hand caught in the mechanism can be hurt.
- A child or pet has been caught in the chair. Keep everyone away from it until it has been inspected.
Getting help in Virginia
Browse more furniture repair answers or see what is available near you under small repairs on Loclis.
When you are ready, describe the recliner once and local furniture repairers can quote it.
Common questions
- My power recliner has no power at all. What do I check first?
- La-Z-Boy's troubleshooting list starts with the plug and the outlet: make sure the transformer is plugged in and that the outlet works, with no blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. Then check that the connectors are secured and the cords are not crimped, pinched or damaged. One model's manual also says to check that the green LED on the power supply is lit.
- Why does my footrest stop partway and not close?
- One manufacturer's manual says a legrest that stops while closing may have met an obstruction. Lift and hold it up, find what is in the way and remove it, then lower it slowly. Look especially for items that slid under the chair or a rug edge in the path.
- Can I just pull the footrest closed by hand?
- Do not force it. La-Z-Boy's manual warns never to open the legrest by pulling on it, and a bent or jammed mechanism can be damaged further. If it will not move freely once you have cleared the path, leave it and call a repairer.
- A manual recliner is stuck open. Is that different?
- The first checks are the same: look under and around the chair for something blocking the legrest. Beyond that, a handle that no longer catches or a mechanism that feels bent, loose or grinding is a worn or broken part, and replacing it is a repairer's job, not a lubricant fix.
- Is it safe to reach under the chair to look for the problem?
- Only with the power unplugged and your hands kept out of the linkage. The legrest is spring loaded, and CPSC staff has described entrapment incidents in the lift mechanism under recliners. If you cannot see the problem from outside, do not reach in.
Sources
- [1] Power Recliner / Motion Sofa Operating Instructions (93000483), La-Z-Boy Incorporated. Checked October 28, 2026.
- [2] PowerReclineXR+ Rocker Recliner / Wall Recliner / Motion Sofa Operating Instructions (93000546), La-Z-Boy Incorporated. Checked October 28, 2026.
- [3] CPSC staff letter to ASTM F15.42 on recliner entrapment, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Checked October 28, 2026.
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