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 sold at Lowe’s because their USB-C rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can short-circuit and catch fire while they are being charged in the tool.
The recall affects tools sold nationwide in stores and online at Lowes.com between January 2026 and May 2026. The CPSC said the affected batteries came in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah capacities and had a USB-C charging port.
What is the hazard?
Lithium-ion batteries store a lot of energy in a small space. If they short-circuit, they can overheat quickly. In this recall, the CPSC said the danger comes when a battery is charged through its USB-C port while it is still inserted in the yard tool. That setup can cause the battery to short-circuit, creating a fire hazard.
Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools, told the CPSC it had received 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking or catching fire in that situation. No injuries or property damage were reported in the CPSC notice.
Which products are included?
The recall covers several Kobalt yard tools, including string trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners and bristle brush kits. The products were manufactured in China and Vietnam and imported by Greenworks North America LLC of Mooresville, North Carolina.
What should consumers do?
The CPSC says owners should stop charging the 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, plus a charger adapter, an updated product manual, a warning label and a prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery.
Consumers who have one of the recalled batteries or tools can contact Greenworks Tools for the remedy. The recall number is 26-611.
Why this recall matters
This case is a reminder that the charging method matters as much as the battery itself. USB-C is a common charging standard, but the CPSC says these batteries should not be charged in the recalled tools through the USB-C port. For owners, the key step is to stop using that charging setup and request the replacement parts offered in the recall.
