| Event date | July 9, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Source published | July 9, 2026 |
| Where it applies | United States (sold at Lowe's stores nationwide and Lowes.com) |
| What to do | Action required if you own one of the 20 Kobalt 24V or 48V products listed in CPSC recall 26-611 (sold at Lowe's from January through May 2026): stop charging the USB-C battery through its USB-C port while it's in a tool, and register for a free replacement battery. Kobalt tools and batteries not on the CPSC list aren't part of this recall. |
If your Kobalt 24V or 48V yard tool has a battery with a USB-C port, never charge that battery through the USB-C port while it's in the tool, and claim the free replacement battery. Greenworks Tools (Greenworks North America, LLC, of Mooresville, North Carolina), which imports these Kobalt-branded tools, recalled about 554,780 units in the United States on July 9, 2026. Charging a battery through its USB-C port while it sits in the tool can short-circuit it and start a fire (CPSC recall 26-611).
Key facts
- Announced: July 9, 2026, by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (recall 26-611, a Fast Track recall)
- Where: United States; sold at Lowe's stores nationwide and Lowes.com from January through May 2026
- Hazard: Fire, when a battery is charged through its USB-C port while it's still inserted in the tool
- Remedy: Free replacement battery without a USB-C port; stop charging the recalled batteries through USB-C while they are in a tool
Which tools and batteries are affected
The recall covers 20 Kobalt products built around batteries with a USB-C charging port. Kobalt tools and batteries that aren't on the CPSC list are not included. The USB-C batteries come in 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah sizes, and the 3.0Ah and 6.0Ah batteries were also sold on their own. The battery model numbers listed in the recall are KB 324-06, KB 424-06, KB 524-06, KB 624-06 and KXB 824-06.
The 20 recalled products include:
- Mowers: 48V 17-inch push (KM 4224A-06), 21-inch push (KM 5224A-06), 21-inch self-propelled (KMS 6224A-06) and 21-inch dual-blade self-propelled (KMSD 8224A-06)
- Trimmers and blowers: 24V and 48V string trimmers, 270 and 600 CFM blowers, and the trimmer-and-blower combo kits
- Saws: 48V 14-inch chainsaw (KCS 4224-06) and 24V 6-inch pruning saw (KMCS 2024-06)
- Other: 48V bristle brush, 24V power cleaner, and 24V battery 2-packs and single batteries
- Tool-only models (sold without a battery): 48V 14-inch chainsaw (KCS 1448-06), 48V 600 CFM blower (KHB 6048-06) and 48V 15-inch attachment-capable string trimmer (KMS 1524-06)
The products sold for about $20 to $482. The 48V kits come with two batteries. The full model list, with photos showing where the USB-C port is, is on the CPSC notice.
What has happened so far
According to the CPSC, Greenworks has received 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking or catching fire while they were inserted in a product and charging through USB-C. No injuries or property damage had been reported when the recall was announced. The products were made in China and Vietnam.
What to do
- Look at your battery. If it has a USB-C port and a model number from the list above, it's part of the recall. If you own one of the tool-only models, check the batteries you use with it.
- Stop charging it through USB-C while it's in the tool. The CPSC tells owners to stop charging these batteries through the USB-C port while they are inserted in a tool.
- Register for the free replacement using the recall form at greenworkstools.com/pages/kobalt-product-recall (recall information is also linked from "Recalls & Important Safety Notices" at the bottom of greenworkstools.com). Greenworks will send a replacement battery without a USB-C port, a charger adapter, a warning label, an updated manual and a prepaid label to return the recalled battery.
- Questions? Call Greenworks toll-free on 888-266-7096 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday) or email [email protected].
- Check every battery, not only the one you use most. The recall also lists 24V battery 2-packs and single batteries sold on their own.
Why this matters for your garden
Cordless tools often share one battery platform, so a single recalled battery can sit in several tools across a season. Keep a note of which batteries you own and which tools you use them in. For eye, hand and hearing protection when you run a trimmer, blower or chainsaw, see what to wear when gardening.