Greenworks recalls 554,780 Kobalt yard tools over USB-C battery fire risk
Greenworks Tools recalled about 554,780 Kobalt yard tools and batteries after charging an affected lithium-ion battery through its USB-C port while the battery is installed in the tool could cause a short circuit and fire, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The nationwide recall, dated July 9, 2026, covers Kobalt 24V and 48V products, including trimmers, blowers, mowers, chainsaws and pruning saws. The hazard is tied to the USB-C charging function, which means consumers could face a potentially serious fire risk if they use that feature without knowing the product is affected.
What products are covered
The recalled products are Kobalt yard tools equipped with USB-C batteries. The affected product lines operate at either 24 volts or 48 volts and span several types of outdoor equipment used for lawn care, trimming and pruning.
Greenworks said the recall involves approximately 554,780 tools and batteries. The CPSC identifies the products as a serious-injury fire hazard. The approved recall information does not establish that every affected tool or battery will ignite; it describes the possibility of a short circuit and fire associated with charging through the USB-C port while the battery is inserted in the tool.
The recall is a U.S. consumer-product action involving products distributed through retail and online channels nationwide. The available notice packet does not provide a confirmed distribution period or a complete retailer list.
What consumers should do
Consumers who have one of the affected Kobalt tools or batteries should stop using the USB-C charging function, according to the recall instructions. They should then register for the remedy rather than continue charging the battery through that port.
The remedy includes a replacement battery, a charger adapter, a warning label and an updated manual. It also includes a prepaid return label for the return process. Those components are intended to provide consumers with replacement equipment, updated safety information and instructions for sending back the affected item.
The recall instructions do not call for consumers to discard the batteries. Consumers should follow the official return instructions and use the prepaid label supplied through the remedy process.
The immediate practical concern is how the battery is charged. A consumer may use a USB-C cable because the port appears to offer a convenient charging option, but the recalled configuration can create a short circuit and fire hazard when the battery is installed in the tool. Stopping that charging function is the first step identified in the recall.
What is known about the recall
The CPSC recall notice identifies Greenworks Tools as the recalling company and Kobalt as the product brand. The notice covers the tools and batteries rather than announcing a general defect affecting all yard equipment or all USB-C batteries.
The information supplied for this report does not include a confirmed count of fires or injuries. It also does not establish that property damage occurred. The CPSC’s characterization of the products as a serious-injury fire hazard describes the potential safety risk, not a verified total of injuries or fires.
Consumers with questions about whether a tool or battery is included should use the official CPSC recall notice and registration process. The CPSC’s recall index is the agency’s official location for recall notices and updates. The next known step for owners is to stop USB-C charging and register for the replacement remedy, including the return process described by the agency.
Sources
- Greenworks Tools Recalls Kobalt Yard Power Tools with USB-C Batteries, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Recalls & Product Safety Warnings, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
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