MOORESVILLE, N.C., July 11 (Nationwide Times) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 554,780 Kobalt yard power tools because their USB-C rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can short-circuit if they are charged while still installed in the tool.
What products are affected?
The recall covers Kobalt 24V and 48V yard tools sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and on Lowes.com from January through May 2026, the CPSC said. The affected products include string trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners and bristle brush kits.
The batteries involved came in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah sizes and had a USB-C charging port.
Why is there a fire hazard?
According to the CPSC, charging the battery through the USB-C port while it remains inserted in the yard tool can cause the battery to short-circuit. Greenworks Tools, which imported the products, said it had received 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking or catching fire during that kind of charging.
No injuries or property damage had been reported in the recall notice.
What should owners do now?
Consumers should stop charging the recalled batteries through the USB-C port while the batteries are inserted in the tools, the CPSC said. 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 so customers can return the recalled battery.
Who is behind the recall?
The importer is Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools, of Mooresville, North Carolina. The recalled products were manufactured in China and Vietnam. The CPSC recall number is 26-611.
