Backyard Recall: THESE Batteries Ignite?

Red stamp with the word 'RECALL' inside a diamond shape
BACKYARD RECALL

Hundreds of thousands of “quiet” cordless yard tools just turned into a loud warning about what happens when convenience outruns basic safety.

Story Snapshot

  • About 554,780 Kobalt yard tools and batteries are under recall for a serious fire hazard
  • The danger hits when the USB-C battery is charged while still snapped into the tool, which can cause a short circuit
  • There have been 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking, or catching fire so far, but no injuries yet
  • Owners can get free replacement batteries that do not have USB-C ports, if they act and register with Greenworks Tools

A huge recall that started in the backyard, not the factory

Greenworks Tools, the company behind the Kobalt brand at Lowe’s, is recalling about 554,780 yard tools and standalone batteries after a problem showed up where it matters most: in people’s garages and yards, not just in lab tests.

These are 24-volt and 48-volt trimmers, blowers, mowers, chainsaws, and pruning saws that use special lithium-ion batteries with a USB-C charging port. The recall exists because some of those batteries did something every homeowner fears: they caught fire.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says the hazard occurs when the battery is charged via its USB-C port while it is still locked in the tool. That setup can cause the battery to short-circuit.

A short circuit in a lithium-ion pack is not a small glitch; it can heat up quickly and trigger thermal runaway, a chain reaction that turns a plastic tool into a small fire. Regulators call this a risk of serious injury from fire, and they are not exaggerating.

What owners have already seen, and what has not happened yet

So far, Greenworks Tools has received 34 reports of these Kobalt batteries overheating during use, including cases where they produced smoke, sparks, or active flames while charging. That is 34 people who plugged in what looked like a harmless yard battery and ended up with a fire hazard instead.

Yet there is one piece of good news in this bad story: at this point, no injuries or property damage have been formally reported in these incidents. People spotted the problem early enough to avoid the worst outcomes.

The affected batteries came in several sizes, including 3.0-amp-hour, 4.0-amp-hour, 5.0-amp-hour, 6.0-amp-hour, and 8.0-amp-hour packs, all compatible with the Kobalt 24-volt system and featuring USB-C ports.

The tools and batteries were sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and on the Lowe’s website between January 2026 and May 2026, with prices ranging from about $20 for smaller items up to around $482 for full mower or tool kits.

That window means many buyers still see these tools as “new,” which makes the recall feel both sudden and frustrating.

Why USB-C and high-power batteries make a risky pair

This recall fits a widening pattern that safety regulators and fire investigators are starting to track closely. Lithium-ion battery fires are increasing across many products, and one trouble spot is portable power tools that mix high-voltage packs with USB-based charging.

USB-C was designed for phones, laptops, and small devices, not for the heavy current swings of a 24-volt or 48-volt yard tool under load. When the charging system is not fully isolated from the tool’s power system, stress can build where designers did not intend it.

From this view, this is exactly where many people feel the modern “do everything” design mindset goes off the rails. A yard battery does not need to double as a phone charger or “smart” gadget. It needs to work safely for years.

Regulators have already warned about fires linked to chargers and lithium batteries in many devices, and they urge buyers to follow simple rules: use only the maker’s charger and do not mix and match parts across products. This recall shows what happens when clever features outrun basic caution.

What Kobalt owners should do right now

Owners of these tools do not need to guess their next step. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Greenworks Tools both say the first step is simple: stop charging the batteries via the USB-C port while the battery is inserted into the tool.

Remove the battery from the tool before any charging, and if it has a USB-C port that matches the recall, treat it as defective. The firm is offering free replacement batteries that lack USB-C ports and will provide shipping labels so owners can return the recalled packs.

To get a new battery, buyers must complete an online registration form with Greenworks Tools and provide proof of the model they own. This process costs time but not money, and it trades a risky design for a safer, simpler one. That matters for more than one household.

According to legal and fire safety sources, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has logged tens of thousands of reports of lithium battery fires in recent years across many products.

Every owner who responds to this recall reduces the odds that their local fire department will visit their driveway because a yard battery turned into a torch.

Sources:

foxbusiness.com, morningoverview.com, cpsc.gov, canada.ca, singletonschreiber.com

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