Black Diamond has recalled approximately 2,800 Index Ascenders used for rock climbing and mountaineering because a manufacturing defect in the rivet can cause the device to fail. The rivet holding the toothed cam can release, causing the device to slide down or detach from the climbing rope entirely. This recall includes both orange and silver models with black and gray grips sold nationwide at stores like REI and Eastern Mountain Sports between December 2014 and January 2016. Affected consumers should immediately stop using these ascenders and check for a specific manufacturing code to receive a free replacement.
A malformed or unformed rivet can allow the cam to detach, meaning the device will not grip the rope as intended. This creates a high risk of the climber sliding down the rope or falling, which could result in serious injury or death.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ascenders and contact Black Diamond for instructions on inspecting and returning the product for a free replacement. Instructions for inspection are also available at https://warranty.bdel.com/IndexRecall/Landing. Only those ascenders having an unformed rivet need to be returned for replacement.
Black Diamond Index Ascenders (left and right)
Location of manufacturing code on Index Ascenders
Index Ascender with correct rivet (left) and unformed rivet (right)
If you or a family member were harmed by this recalled product, you may have legal rights. Consider consulting a consumer protection attorney to understand your options for compensation.
This is general information, not legal advice. Go Backs is not a law firm and does not provide legal services.
AI-Enhanced Content: The summary, action steps, and risk assessment on this page were generated by AI from official government recall data to improve readability. This is not legal or medical advice. Always refer to the official agency sources below for authoritative information.
Sources: CPSC Notice · Raw API Response