More than half a million Kobalt yard tools sold at Lowe’s are being recalled right now because their batteries can catch fire while charging — and 34 people have already watched it happen.
Story Snapshot
- Greenworks Tools recalled 554,780 Kobalt 24-volt and 48-volt yard power tools due to a battery fire hazard confirmed by federal safety regulators.
- The problem occurs when owners charge the battery via its USB-C port while it is still attached to the tool, which can cause a short circuit and a fire.
- Regulators logged 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking, or catching fire before the recall was announced on July 9, 2026.
- Affected tools include lawn mowers, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, and pruning saws sold at Lowe’s from January through May 2026.
What Went Wrong and Why It Matters
Greenworks Tools makes Kobalt-branded outdoor power equipment sold exclusively at Lowe’s. The recalled tools use lithium-ion batteries with a built-in USB-C charging port — a feature meant to make charging easier.
But charging the battery through the USB-C port while it remains locked in the tool can cause it to short-circuit. A short circuit in a lithium-ion battery does not just drain power. It can produce heat fast enough to ignite the battery itself.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed 34 incidents in which batteries smoked, sparked, or caught fire during charging. No deaths were reported, but the fire risk is real and documented. Lowe’s pulled the products from shelves and its website before the official recall announcement.
That move drew attention online, with some speculating about behind-the-scenes corporate drama. The actual reason was straightforward: a confirmed fire hazard backed by three dozen incident reports.
The USB-C Convenience Trap in High-Power Tools
USB-C charging was designed for phones, laptops, and small electronics — devices that run at low voltage. Kobalt’s recalled batteries power 24-volt and 48-volt outdoor tools. That is a lot more energy than a phone charger was ever built to manage safely.
When manufacturers add USB-C ports to high-capacity tool batteries without proper electrical isolation between the charging circuit and the tool’s power system, the risk of a short circuit increases sharply.
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
This Is Part of a Bigger Lithium-Ion Fire Problem
The Consumer Product Safety Commission received at least 25,000 reports of lithium-ion battery fires or related events over a five-year period across all product categories. Power tools are a growing part of that number. Lithium-ion batteries store enormous energy in a small space.
When something disrupts the charging process — a short circuit, overheating, or a design flaw — that energy is released quickly. The result is what engineers call thermal runaway: a chain reaction where heat builds on itself until the battery burns or explodes. The Kobalt recall fits this pattern exactly.
What You Need to Do Right Now
If you own a Kobalt 24-volt or 48-volt yard tool with a USB-C battery port, stop charging the battery immediately while it is inside the tool. Remove the battery from the tool before plugging in the USB-C cable. That one step eliminates the risk of short-circuiting until you can get a replacement.
Greenworks is offering free replacement batteries to all affected customers. You can register at greenworkstools.com or call 888-266-7096, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
⚠️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
Affected products were sold between January and May 2026, so if you bought a Kobalt cordless mower, trimmer, blower, chainsaw, or pruning saw at Lowe’s this year, check whether your model is on the recall list. The full list of model numbers is posted on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website and on Greenworks’s recall page.
Attorneys have also begun advertising class-action lawsuits tied to the recall, which signals that some owners have already suffered property damage or injuries beyond the 34 reported incidents. Act now — do not wait for a lawsuit to remind you.
Sources:
foxbusiness.com, morningoverview.com, cpsc.gov, schmidtlaw.com, greenworkstools.com, singletonschreiber.com
