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 their batteries can overheat and catch fire when charged the wrong way.
The recall covers tools sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and on Lowes.com from January through May 2026. Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools of Mooresville, North Carolina, imported the products.
What is the problem?
The recalled batteries have a USB-C charging port. The CPSC said that charging the lithium-ion batteries through that USB-C port while the batteries are still inserted in the tool can cause them to short-circuit. That creates a fire hazard.
Greenworks Tools said it had received 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking or catching fire in that situation. No injuries or property damage had been reported in the CPSC notice.
Which products are included?
The recall includes a range of Kobalt yard tools, including:
- 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 all had a USB-C charging port. The CPSC said the products were manufactured in China and Vietnam.
What should owners do?
Consumers should stop charging the recalled batteries through the USB-C port while the batteries are inserted in the 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 this recall matters
Lithium-ion batteries are common in cordless tools because they are rechargeable and portable. But if they are damaged, charged incorrectly or have a defect, they can overheat and fail. In this case, the CPSC said the charging setup itself can create the short-circuit risk.
The recall is listed as CPSC recall number 26-611.
