More than half a million shiny new yard tools just went from “weekend upgrade” to “potential fire starter” because of one small USB-C port.
Story Snapshot
- About 554,780 Kobalt 24-volt and 48-volt yard tools and batteries are under recall for fire risk
- Charging the lithium-ion batteries through the USB-C port while still locked in the tool can make them short-circuit and catch fire
- Greenworks Tools and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission say there have been 34 reports of smoking, sparking, or fires so far, but no injuries yet
- Owners can get free replacement batteries without USB-C ports, but must stop USB-C charging in-tool right away
More than 550000 recalled tools turn a convenience feature into a fire risk
Greenworks Tools, the maker behind the Kobalt brand at Lowe’s, is recalling about 554,780 yard power tools and matching lithium-ion batteries after real-world reports that some batteries smoked, sparked, or caught fire while charging inside the tools through a USB-C cable.
The recall covers both 24-volt and 48-volt tools, so this is not a niche product issue tucked away in a corner of the hardware aisle. It’s a mass-market problem with gear that many homeowners just bought this spring.
The trouble centers on one design choice that looked clever on paper. The batteries have a USB-C charging port, so you can plug a cable directly into the battery without using a dock.
According to the federal recall notice and Greenworks’ own safety page, charging through that USB-C port while the battery is still inserted in the tool can cause a short circuit inside the pack, creating a fire hazard.
That means the danger does not come from normal tool use, but from how the battery is charged when left in place.
Which Kobalt tools and batteries are affected and how they ended up in your garage
The recall includes a wide range of Kobalt-branded yard tools sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and online between January 2026 and May 2026, with prices ranging from about $20 to almost $500, depending on the kit.
Covered models include string trimmers, blowers, push and self-propelled mowers, 14-inch chainsaws, pruning saws, and some combo kits that bundle tools and batteries together. For many families, this was the new cordless setup for mowing, trimming, and cleanup, not some spare gadget.
Lowe's has recalled over 500,000 Kobalt tools because of a risk of fire due to defective batteries. Are you affected? Here's everything you need to know. https://t.co/SofBKeFPWI
— SlashGear (@slashgear) July 13, 2026
The lithium-ion batteries involved are Kobalt packs with USB-C charging ports in several capacities, including 3.0 amp-hour, 4.0 amp-hour, 5.0 amp-hour, 6.0 amp-hour, and 8.0 amp-hour.
Some of the 3.0- and 6.0-amp-hour batteries were also sold separately, which means you might own one even if your tool came from a different bundle.
Regulators say the problem occurs when those specific batteries are charged via the USB-C port while still connected to compatible tools, not when they are charged in more traditional ways.
What has gone wrong so far and why regulators are worried now
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 34 incidents in which these batteries smoked, sparked, or caught fire while inserted into a tool and charging via USB-C. Thankfully, there are no confirmed injuries or property damage reports yet tied directly to these failures.
From this safety-first view, waiting for serious harm before acting would be reckless. Regulators and the manufacturer are stepping in early, which lines up with a broader push to take lithium-ion battery fires seriously.
Consumer safety officials have tracked a growing wave of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in many portable products, not just yard tools. Over a recent five-year span, they received tens of thousands of reports of fires or overheating involving these batteries in various devices, from tools to scooters.
Engineers explain that thermal runaway, cell damage, poor charging design, or poor isolation between high-voltage tool circuits and low-voltage charging ports can all turn a battery into a heat bomb. In this Kobalt case, the USB-C integration appears to be the weak link when used incorrectly.
What owners should do next and what this says about modern product safety
Owners are told to stop charging these batteries via the USB-C port while they are inserted into a tool, and to contact Greenworks Tools for a free replacement battery without a USB-C port.
The company is offering an online form that guides users through the recall process, provides shipping labels, and explains how to return the old batteries.
This response is standard recall practice, but it also quietly admits that the design choice to put USB-C charging on the pack itself was not ready for prime time in a 24-volt or 48-volt yard tool system.
⚠️Recall Alert – Greenworks Tools⚠️
Greenworks Tools Recalls 24V and 48V Kobalt Yard Power Tools with USB-C Batteries Due to Risk of Serious Injury from Fire Hazard
Recall Details
Description:
This recall involves Kobalt yard power tools, including trimmers, blowers, mowers,… pic.twitter.com/4mW41io0rc— Consumer Watch (@Consumer__Watch) July 9, 2026
Regulators have already warned about “universal” chargers and mixed charging systems that do not meet the product’s needs and can create fire hazards. Here, a familiar phone-style USB-C plug crossed paths with high-power yard tools, resulting in another big recall that wastes money, time, and trust.
Sources:
foxbusiness.com, morningoverview.com, cpsc.gov, greenworkstools.com, singletonschreiber.com
