A large Kobalt battery recall now covers about 554,780 outdoor power tools and battery packs sold across the United States. The recall includes lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, pruning saws, power cleaners, and several other cordless yard tools.
Greenworks Tools announced the recall after receiving 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking, or catching fire. In each case, the problem involved USB-C charging with the battery still installed inside the tool.
No injuries or property damage had been reported at the time of the recall announcement on July 9, 2026. Still, smoke, sparks, and open flames from a lithium-ion battery can create a serious risk inside a garage, shed, workshop, or home.
The size of this recall makes it hard to ignore. Kobalt products are widely sold through Lowe’s, and many of the affected tools reached customers only a few months before the safety notice appeared.
Why the Kobalt Batteries Are Being Recalled
The recalled batteries can short-circuit during USB-C charging when they remain inserted in a compatible yard tool.
A short circuit allows electrical current to travel along an unintended path. That can create heat very quickly. In the reported incidents, batteries produced smoke, sparks, or flames.
Not every recalled battery will fail. Yet owners should not treat the issue as a minor charging inconvenience. Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy, and a damaged or overheating pack can ignite nearby cardboard, fuel, paint, dry leaves, or other flammable materials.
USB-C charging seemed like a useful feature when these batteries went on sale. Owners could charge a battery with a familiar cable instead of using another large charging dock. At the same time, convenience only works when the charging system remains safe under normal conditions.
In my view, a high-capacity tool battery needs clear charging rules from the start. Customers should not discover a key restriction after smoke or fire reports have already been filed.
Which Kobalt Tools Are Included?
The Kobalt USB-C battery recall covers select 24V and 48V outdoor tools supplied with batteries that contain a USB-C charging port.
Affected categories include:
- Push lawn mowers
- Self-propelled lawn mowers
- String trimmers
- Leaf blowers
- Chainsaws
- Pruning saws
- Bristle brush tools
- Power cleaners
- Trimmer and blower combo kits
- Standalone battery packs
- Tool-only products linked to the affected battery system
The recalled battery capacities include:
- 3.0Ah
- 4.0Ah
- 5.0Ah
- 6.0Ah
- 8.0Ah
Battery model numbers named in the recall include KB 324-06, KB 424-06, KB 524-06, KB 624-06, and KXB 824-06.
Some batteries came inside complete tool kits. Others were sold separately in single packs or two-packs. For that reason, owners should check every battery they purchased, not just the tool itself.
Popular Kobalt Models Named in the Recall
The recall covers a broad range of Kobalt cordless outdoor equipment. Some examples include:
- Kobalt 24V 12-inch string trimmer and blower combo kit
- Kobalt 48V 17-inch push mower
- Kobalt 48V 21-inch push mower
- Kobalt 48V 21-inch self-propelled mower
- Kobalt 48V dual-blade self-propelled mower
- Kobalt 48V 14-inch chainsaw
- Kobalt 24V 6-inch pruning saw
- Kobalt 24V 270 CFM leaf blower
- Kobalt 48V 600 CFM leaf blower
- Kobalt 24V power cleaner
- Kobalt 48V attachment-capable string trimmer
- Kobalt bristle brush kit
Several 48V products use two 24V batteries together. In those cases, both battery packs need to be checked.
A matching tool name alone does not prove that a product is affected. The model number, tool serial number, and battery serial number still need to match the recall records.
Where and When the Recalled Tools Were Sold
Lowe’s sold the affected Kobalt tools and batteries in stores across the United States and through its online shop.
The products were sold from January through May 2026. Prices ranged from about $20 to $482, depending on whether the customer bought a battery, handheld tool, combo kit, or lawn mower.
That recent sales period matters. Many owners may still have the original packaging, receipts, manuals, or shipping emails. Those details can make the recall check much easier.
Some customers may assume that a nearly new battery cannot have a serious defect. In this case, the newest batteries are the ones that need attention.
What Owners Should Do Now
Owners should stop using affected batteries and begin the replacement process.
At the very least, do not charge a recalled battery through its USB-C port when the pack remains installed inside the tool.
Follow these steps:
- Turn off the yard tool.
- Disconnect any USB-C charging cable.
- Remove the battery from the mower, blower, trimmer, saw, or cleaner.
- Find the model and serial-number labels on the tool.
- Check the model and serial number printed on the battery.
- Submit the information through the official Kobalt recall form.
- Store the battery away from heat and flammable materials.
- Follow the return instructions supplied with the replacement package.
Do not open, crush, puncture, repair, or modify the battery. Stop handling the pack if it becomes unusually hot, swollen, cracked, wet, or damaged.
A strange smell, hissing sound, smoke, or leaking fluid can signal a failing battery. In that situation, move away from the area and contact local emergency services if there is an immediate fire risk.
What the Free Replacement Includes
Greenworks is offering replacement batteries without the recalled USB-C port design.
Depending on the affected product, the remedy can include:
- One or more replacement batteries
- A compatible charging adapter
- A warning label for the tool
- An updated instruction manual
- Revised charging guidance
- A prepaid return label
- Packaging instructions for the recalled battery
Owners can use the supplied return package to send the original battery back. The company covers the replacement and return shipping costs.
This is a sensible remedy. A replacement battery removes the risky charging setup instead of asking owners to remember a permanent restriction every time they charge their tools.
Can the Tool Still Be Used With Another Battery?
The recall focuses on the affected USB-C battery packs and their interaction with compatible tools during charging.
That does not mean every Kobalt mower, blower, or trimmer is unsafe on its own. Still, owners should avoid testing unapproved combinations of batteries, cables, chargers, and adapters.
The safest option is to complete the official recall process. Use the approved replacement battery, apply any supplied warning label, and follow the updated charging instructions.
This step matters most for owners who have several Kobalt batteries that look almost identical. A non-recalled pack can sit next to an affected one, so labels and model numbers matter more than appearance.
Why Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Matters
Cordless outdoor tools use large lithium-ion battery packs. These packs store much more energy than the battery inside a phone, wireless mouse, or small accessory.
As a result, a battery failure can produce intense heat in seconds. The surrounding area can make the outcome worse, especially in garages filled with fuel cans, cardboard boxes, paint, wood, or gardening supplies.
USB-C has become common across phones, tablets, laptops, headphones, and power banks. It now appears in more tools and household devices too. Yet the connector does not make every charging setup equally safe.
The battery controller, cable, power adapter, temperature sensors, charging speed, and tool electronics must all work together correctly.
Buying modern electronics often means checking technical details that once seemed unimportant. That habit applies to batteries, chargers, and display features too. Readers comparing other hardware terms can see this guide on monitor refresh rate explained.
Simple Battery Safety Habits
Owners can reduce battery risks by following a few practical habits:
- Charge batteries on a hard, dry surface.
- Keep charging packs away from curtains, paper, fuel, and fabric.
- Do not leave high-capacity batteries charging overnight.
- Use chargers and adapters approved for the battery system.
- Inspect packs after drops, impacts, or water exposure.
- Avoid charging a battery that feels unusually hot.
- Keep battery contacts clean and dry.
- Do not store loose batteries beside metal tools or screws.
- Stop using swollen, cracked, leaking, or damaged packs.
These steps cannot fix a recalled product. They can still reduce risk during daily use of other cordless equipment.
What This Recall Means for Kobalt Owners
The Kobalt USB-C battery recall affects about 554,780 yard tools and battery packs sold during the first five months of 2026.
The reported fault can cause a battery to short-circuit during USB-C charging when the pack remains inside the tool. Greenworks received 34 reports involving smoke, sparks, or fire.
No injuries or property damage had been reported when the recall was announced. Yet owners should still act quickly. A lithium-ion battery fire can spread fast, especially in a cluttered garage or storage area.
Check every recent Kobalt 24V and 48V battery that has a USB-C port. That includes packs supplied with mowers, blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, pruning saws, cleaners, and combo kits.
The replacement process is free. Owners receive approved replacement equipment and prepaid return instructions for the recalled batteries.