There is inadequate information to answer this question conclusively. I'm guessing that it's a manual recliner as opposed to electric? There are a number of reasons why the footrest won't raise to full height. If the chair is new, then it may be due to tightness in the pivot-points, or catching of the material, or chafing of the metal action? If the chair is old, then it may be due to extreme play in the pivot-points, or a failed pivot-point, or a stretched.weakened spring? It may even be something as simple as the action needing a spray around with WD40? Manual recliners are generally operated by weight-shift. Are you sitting far enough back in the chair, or do you surround yourself with cushions, bringing your bodyweight too far forwards? The fault is likely to be one of these things, but you have to find which.
Richard Oldroyd
October 2014