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554,780 Kobalt tools recalled over USB-C fire risk
Greenworks is recalling 554,780 Kobalt power tools after 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking, or catching fire during USB-C charging.
Image: The Verge
Greenworks Tools is recalling around 554,780 Kobalt-branded outdoor power tools after reports that their batteries can smoke, spark, or catch fire while charging through USB-C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) says the issue creates a “risk of serious injury from fire hazard.”
There have been 34 reports involving batteries that produced smoke, sparked, or caught fire while inserted in a tool and charging through the USB-C port. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
The recall covers Kobalt trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, mowers, and pruning saws that use 24V or 48V lithium-ion batteries with built-in USB-C charging ports. The complete list of affected models is available through the USCPSC and Greenworks' dedicated recall page.
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The tools were sold at Lowe’s stores and online between January 2026 and May 2026, priced from $20 to $482.
The fire risk is limited to charging the battery through USB-C while it remains installed in the tool. Even so, owners of affected products should contact Greenworks Tools through its registration form to receive a free replacement battery.
The replacement uses a charging adapter instead of USB-C and includes an updated manual, a warning sticker for the tool, and a prepaid shipping label for returning the recalled battery, according to the USCPSC.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via The Verge
