MOORESVILLE, N.C., July 11 (Nationwide Times) — More than 554,000 Kobalt yard power tools are being recalled in the United States because certain USB-C rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can short-circuit and catch fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
What was recalled?
The recall covers about 554,780 Kobalt 24V and 48V yard tools sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and on Lowes.com from January through May 2026, according to the CPSC. The recalled products include string trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners and bristle brush kits.
The tools were imported by Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools, of Mooresville, North Carolina. The CPSC said the products were manufactured in China and Vietnam.
Why are they being recalled?
The problem involves certain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with USB-C charging ports in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah sizes. The CPSC said charging those batteries through the USB-C port while they remain inserted in the yard tool can cause the batteries to short-circuit, creating a fire hazard.
Greenworks Tools told the CPSC 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 source materials.
What should owners do?
Consumers should stop charging the recalled batteries through the USB-C port while the batteries are still inserted in the tools. Greenworks Tools is offering a free replacement battery without a USB-C port, plus a charger adapter, an updated product manual, a warning label and a prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery.
The recall is a reminder that the charging method matters. In this case, the hazard described by the CPSC is not the tool itself, but the way the battery is charged while it is still installed in the tool.
The CPSC recall number is 26-611.
