A Kobalt string trimmer charging via USB-C in the garage while still seated in the tool — that common scenario is now a federal safety warning. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in July 2026 a recall of 554,780 Kobalt yard power tools — manufactured by Greenworks Tools — after 34 batteries produced smoke, sparks, or outright caught fire during USB-C charging while still inserted in the tool. No injuries or property damage have been reported so far, though the CPSC considers the fire risk sufficient to warrant an immediate stop-use order. The recall covers only Kobalt tools with USB-C batteries sold at Lowe’s between January and May 2026. For context on how quickly CPSC actions can escalate, see how Peloton Recalls unfolded under similar federal pressure.
The Specific Flaw, Not a USB-C Indictment
Charging through the port while the battery stays seated in the tool creates a short-circuit path that can ignite.
Standard USB-C charging works fine on a phone. Routing power through that same connector into a 24V or 48V lithium-ion pack — while the pack remains electrically connected to a mower’s motor circuitry — opens a short-circuit path Greenworks didn’t adequately guard against. This is a design flaw specific to how these packs integrate in-tool charging, not an indictment of lithium-ion or USB-C technology broadly. The replacement batteries drop USB-C entirely, shipping instead with a separate charging adapter. Think of it as the cautionary flipside of the push to put USB-C on everything: universality is great until the physics disagree.
Do You Have One? Check These Details
The affected products share a specific voltage, capacity range, and retail window — here’s how to check.
- Affected packs: 24V and 48V Kobalt lithium-ion battery packs with a USB-C port, in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah, and 8.0Ah capacities; the 3.0Ah and 6.0Ah versions were also sold as standalone batteries
- Tool types: string trimmers, blowers, mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners, and bristle brush tools
- Sold exclusively at Lowe’s stores and Lowes.com, January–May 2026, priced from roughly $20 for batteries up to $482 for full kits
- Not affected: Kobalt batteries without USB-C charging ports
Safety guidance recommends treating CPSC instructions “as a minimum, not a maximum, set of precautions” — meaning extra-conservative storage and handling until replacements arrive is a reasonable call.
What To Do Right Now
Stop charging, remove the battery from the tool, and register for your free replacement immediately.
Stop USB-C charging immediately. Pull the battery from the tool. Store it somewhere non-flammable and away from living spaces — a clear spot on the garage concrete beats a shelf next to paint cans or cardboard boxes. Reviewing your home security systems setup can also help you monitor storage areas where recalled batteries may be kept.
From there, register at greenworkstools.com/pages/product-recall-information, call 888-266-7096, or email [email protected]. Greenworks will send a free replacement battery without a USB-C port, along with:
- a separate charging adapter
- an updated product manual
- a warning sticker for the tool
- a prepaid return shipping label for the recalled battery
Before discarding anything, verify your specific model number against the full list on the CPSC recall page or Greenworks’ dedicated Kobalt recall page.
This recall is a practical reminder that convenience features require rigorous safety validation — especially when a consumer-grade charging port meets hardware pushing serious voltage. Confirming whether your tools are affected takes minutes; acting on it takes even less.
