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Over half a million power tool batteries have been recalled due to a USB-C charging fire risk
Greenworks Tools has recalled roughly 554,780 Kobalt-branded outdoor power tools sold in the US after finding that their lithium-ion batteries can short-circuit, smoke or catch fire when charged via a built-in USB-C port while still attached to the tool. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission logged 34 incidents of batteries sparking or smoking during such charging, though no injuries or property damage have been reported. The fault matters because it affects widely sold, everyday garden equipment, and highlights a growing pattern of fire-risk recalls tied to lithium-ion batteries with integrated USB-C charging.
The recall covers various Kobalt trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, mowers and pruning saws fitted with 24V/48V batteries, sold exclusively through Lowe's stores and online between January and May 2026 for $20 to $482. Affected owners are urged to stop charging the batteries over USB-C while inserted in the tool and to register with Greenworks for a free replacement battery, which comes with a conventional charging adapter instead of USB-C, an updated manual, a warning sticker and a prepaid return label for the faulty unit.
In short
- Over 554,000 Kobalt power tool batteries recalled over USB-C fire risk
- 34 reports of sparking, smoking or fire; no injuries recorded
- Free replacement batteries with a standard charger, not USB-C, being issued
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The recall is a responsible precautionary measure. Lithium-ion battery fires can cause severe property damage and injuries, and 34 documented incidents of sparking and smoking across 554,780 units represents a meaningful safety risk justifying swift action. Even without reported injuries yet, waiting for people to be harmed before addressing a known fire hazard would be irresponsible, particularly given that power tools operate near homes and gardens where fires could spread to property and endanger families.
The case against
The recall may represent excessive precaution relative to the actual observed risk. With only 34 incidents from over half a million units sold, and crucially with zero injuries or property damage to date, the demonstrated risk profile is quite low. The fault is avoidable—users can simply refrain from charging via USB-C whilst the battery is attached—and the fact that a replacement battery with a conventional charger resolves the issue suggests this is an engineering correction rather than an inherent design defect. A targeted consumer advisory against the specific charging method might have sufficed without recalling the entire product run.
Explained simply
Kobalt is a brand of cordless outdoor power tools owned by Greenworks Tools and sold through Lowe's, an American home improvement chain. The range includes chainsaws, hedge trimmers, lawn mowers and leaf blowers—common garden tools that many homeowners use regularly. These tools are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that owners charge at home.
Modern devices increasingly charge via USB-C ports, and Kobalt batteries are designed the same way for convenience. However, these batteries have a safety flaw: if charged via USB-C whilst still attached to the tool, they can short-circuit and catch fire. This is a specific problem with the charging system rather than the tools themselves in normal use, but it creates a real fire hazard.
This issue is significant because these tools are common household items found in many homes across the United States. It also reflects a growing pattern of lithium-ion batteries in consumer products posing safety risks when USB-C charging is integrated into their design.