MOORESVILLE, N.C., July 11 (Nationwide Times) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 554,780 Kobalt 24V and 48V yard tools sold at Lowe’s because the batteries can short-circuit if they are charged through a USB-C port while still inserted in the tool.
That charging setup can create a fire hazard, the CPSC said. Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools, imported the affected products and is handling the recall.
What products are included?
The recall covers a range of Kobalt yard equipment, including string trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners and bristle brush kits.
The affected batteries come in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah sizes and have a USB-C charging port. The products were sold nationwide at Lowe’s stores and on Lowes.com from January through May 2026, according to the CPSC.
What is the hazard?
The CPSC said charging the lithium-ion batteries through the USB-C port while the batteries remain in the yard tools can cause the batteries to short-circuit, creating a risk of serious injury from fire.
Greenworks Tools told the CPSC it had received 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking or catching fire while inserted in a tool and charging through the USB-C port. No injuries or property damage had been reported in the recall notice.
What should owners do?
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 to return the recalled battery.
Why this matters
The recall is less about the yard tools themselves than about the battery design and charging method. Lithium-ion batteries are common in cordless tools because they are rechargeable and compact, but they can become dangerous if they are damaged or charged the wrong way. In this case, the CPSC said the problem is charging through the USB-C port while the battery is still inside the tool.
The recall number is 26-611.
