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.