A significant recall has been issued for over 500,000 yard power tools sold at Lowe’s due to fire hazard concerns. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that Greenworks Tools is recalling 554,780 Kobalt yard power tools. This range includes trimmers, blowers, mowers, chainsaws, and pruning saws that utilize 24V Kobalt-branded batteries equipped with a USB-C charging port. These batteries are available in several capacities: 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah, 6.0Ah, and 8.0Ah. It’s important to note that the 3.0Ah and 6.0Ah batteries were also sold separately from the tools.
Only those products that come with USB-C batteries are included in this recall.
The CPSC’s notice states, “Charging the lithium-ion batteries through the USB-C port while the batteries are inserted in the yard power tools can cause the batteries to short-circuit, posing a risk of serious injury from fire hazard.”
Reports indicate there have been 34 incidents of batteries emitting smoke, sparking, or catching fire while they were charging via the USB-C port in the tools. Thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries or property damage associated with these incidents.
The affected yard power tools were sold across Lowe’s stores nationwide and through their online platform from January through May, with prices ranging from $20 to $482.
For those looking for the complete list of the yard power tools included in the recall, you can find it here.
Owners of the recalled power tools are advised to cease charging the batteries using the USB-C port while they remain inserted in the tools. They should also reach out to Greenworks Tools for a complimentary replacement battery.
By completing this registration form, owners will receive replacement batteries that do not feature a USB-C port, along with a charger adapter, a warning label for the yard power tool, an updated product manual, and a prepaid shipping label to return the recalled batteries.
