MOORESVILLE, N.C., July 11 (Nationwide Times) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 554,780 Kobalt 24V and 48V yard power tools because of a battery fire hazard.
The problem involves certain lithium-ion batteries with a USB-C charging port. According to the CPSC, charging those batteries through the USB-C port while they are still inserted in the tool can cause the batteries to short-circuit. The agency said that can create a risk of serious injury from fire.
What products are covered?
The recall includes a wide range of Kobalt yard tools sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and on Lowes.com from January 2026 through May 2026.
The CPSC said the recalled products include:
- string trimmers
- leaf blowers
- lawn mowers
- chainsaws
- pruning saws
- power cleaners
- bristle brush kits
The affected batteries came in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah sizes, and they have a USB-C charging port.
Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools of Mooresville, North Carolina, imported the recalled products. The CPSC said they were manufactured in China and Vietnam.
What happened?
Greenworks Tools said it had received 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking or catching fire while the batteries were inserted in a tool and charging through the USB-C port.
No injuries or property damage had been reported in the CPSC notice.
What should owners do now?
The CPSC said consumers should stop charging the recalled batteries through the USB-C port while the batteries remain inside the yard tools.
Greenworks Tools is offering a free replacement battery without a USB-C port, along with a charger adapter, an updated product manual, a warning label and a prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery.
Why the recall matters
Lithium-ion batteries are common in cordless tools because they are rechargeable and can deliver high power in a compact size. But if a battery is damaged, charged the wrong way or short-circuits, it can overheat quickly and may catch fire.
In this recall, the issue is tied to a specific charging setup: a USB-C rechargeable battery being charged while still installed in the tool. The CPSC says that creates the fire hazard that led to the recall.
The recall number is 26-611.