Greenworks Tools has recalled a line of Kobalt power tools after 34 reports of batteries sparking or catching fire while charging. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the recall covers 24-volt and 48-volt Kobalt yard tools with USB-C batteries.
Cordless tools have become fixtures of garages and yards, and the same lithium-ion batteries that make them convenient also introduce a fire risk when something goes wrong. A recall like this one is a reminder that a tool sitting on a charger is an active electrical device, not an inert object waiting to be used.
The hazard
The recall was prompted by 34 reports of the batteries producing smoke, sparking or catching fire while inserted in the tool and charging through the USB-C port. That failure mode — trouble during charging — is a common thread in lithium battery recalls, because charging places the greatest electrical stress on the cells.
Charging is when batteries are most vulnerable to failure, as the process pushes energy into the cells and can expose defects in their design or manufacturing. The concentration of incidents around the USB-C charging port points to an issue in how these particular tools manage that process, which is precisely the kind of pattern that triggers a formal recall.
What owners should do
Consumers with the affected 24-volt and 48-volt Kobalt yard tools should stop using and charging them and follow the remedy outlined in the official recall notice, which typically involves a repair, replacement or refund. Recall notices also list the specific model numbers and date ranges covered, so owners can confirm whether their tool is included.
Because the danger arises during charging, the most important immediate step is to stop charging the affected tools until the remedy is completed. Checking the model numbers against the official notice confirms whether a given tool is part of the recall, and registering products or periodically reviewing the CPSC’s recall listings can help owners catch such notices before a problem develops.
A recurring battery theme
The Greenworks recall fits a broader pattern of lithium-battery products — from yard tools to e-bikes to chargers — being pulled over fire risk. As more household devices rely on rechargeable cells, charging-related failures have become one of the more common reasons for consumer-product recalls, and the standard advice is to heed stop-use warnings promptly rather than gambling that a specific unit will be fine.
The proliferation of lithium-ion batteries across everyday products means recalls of this kind are increasingly routine, and they share a common lesson: a battery that can overheat is a fire hazard that should be taken out of service immediately. Treating a stop-use warning as urgent, rather than waiting to see whether a particular tool misbehaves, is the safest response to any lithium-battery recall.
This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
