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 if they are charged through the USB-C port while still inserted in the tool.
The recall covers a wide range of outdoor equipment, including string trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners and bristle brush kits. The affected batteries came in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah sizes.
Why the recall was issued
According to the CPSC, the problem is the charging method. If the battery is charged through its USB-C port while it remains inside the yard tool, the battery can short-circuit. That creates a fire hazard.
Greenworks North America LLC, doing business as Greenworks Tools of Mooresville, North Carolina, imported the recalled products. The tools were manufactured in China and Vietnam and were sold nationwide and online at Lowes.com from January 2026 through May 2026.
Greenworks Tools 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 CPSC notice.
What consumers should do now
The CPSC says 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, updated product manual, warning label and prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery.
The recall is a reminder that a charging feature can become a hazard when it is used in a way the product was not designed to handle. In this case, the risk comes not from the yard tools themselves alone, but from charging the battery while it is still attached to the tool.
The recall number is 26-611.
Why this matters in the United States
Because the tools were sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and online, the recall affects customers across the country. It also has a local business tie in North Carolina, where Greenworks Tools is based in Mooresville.
People who own Kobalt cordless yard tools should check whether their battery has a USB-C charging port and whether it matches the recalled models covered by the CPSC notice. The agency and the company are urging consumers not to keep using the batteries in the risky charging setup until they have received the replacement parts.
