Kobalt-branded yard and power tools made by Greenworks have been recalled after their batteries were reported to smoke, spark, or catch fire while charging, creating a fire and burn hazard in exactly the place many people leave a battery plugged in and unattended. The recall centers on the charging process itself, which means the danger can strike when no one is watching the tool at all.
Cordless yard tools have become a fixture in American garages and sheds, prized for being quieter and cleaner than gas-powered equipment and easier on the back and shoulders. That convenience appeals strongly to older homeowners who still want to handle their own lawn and garden work. But the same lithium battery that makes a cordless trimmer or blower so easy to use is also the component at the heart of this recall, and the reports involved show why a charging battery deserves careful attention.
What went wrong
Greenworks recalled the Kobalt-branded tools after 34 reports of batteries smoking, sparking, or catching fire while charging through the USB-C port, according to the notice posted in the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall database. The Consumer Product Safety Commission worked with the company on the recall, and owners are being told to stop charging the affected tools and to follow the recall instructions instead of continuing to use them.
The involvement of the USB-C charging port is notable. USB-C has become a near-universal connector for phones, laptops and increasingly for power tools, and it can carry a substantial amount of electrical current. When a charging circuit or battery cell is defective, that flow of power can generate dangerous heat at the connection, and the resulting failure can produce sparks or flames right where the cable meets the tool. Thirty-four separate incidents is a significant cluster, and it is the kind of pattern that prompts regulators to pull a product from the market before more injuries occur.
What owners should do
The single most important step is to stop charging the recalled tools immediately. Because the reported failures happened specifically during charging, unplugging the tool and its charger removes the condition that leads to fire. Owners should not leave the affected batteries connected to power while they wait to arrange a remedy, and they should keep the tools away from anything flammable in the meantime.
From there, owners should look up the specific recall listing to confirm which models and battery packs are covered and to see the approved remedy, which may be a repair, a replacement battery, or a refund. Following the official instructions matters, because a recalled lithium battery cannot simply be tossed in the trash or a curbside recycling bin — damaged or recalled cells require special handling to avoid starting a fire in a garbage truck or a waste facility. The recall notice explains how to return or dispose of the product safely and how to claim whatever remedy the company is offering.
Why charging is the riskiest moment
Charging is when a battery is most vulnerable, because it is actively taking in energy and generating heat as it fills. A healthy battery and charger manage that heat within safe limits, but a defect in the cell, the charging circuit, or the connector can allow heat to build unchecked until the battery enters thermal runaway — the self-reinforcing overheating that ends in smoke or flame. That is why so many battery fires begin at an outlet or a charging dock rather than during actual use of the tool.
The federal government’s consumer safety education materials advise never charging lithium batteries unattended, keeping them away from beds, exits and flammable materials while charging, and unplugging chargers once a battery is full. For power tools, that means charging in a garage or utility area on a hard, non-combustible surface, within sight when possible, and never overnight while the household sleeps. Owners should also watch for warning signs — a battery that feels unusually hot, looks swollen, or gives off an odor — and stop using any pack that shows them.
Buying and maintaining cordless tools safely
This recall is not a reason to abandon cordless tools, which remain a practical choice for many homeowners, but it is a reminder to treat their batteries with respect. Using only the charger supplied with a tool, avoiding off-brand replacement batteries from unknown online sellers, and storing packs at room temperature rather than in a freezing or sweltering garage all reduce the odds of a failure. Batteries that have been dropped, crushed, or exposed to water should be retired rather than charged again.
Registering tools with the manufacturer at the time of purchase is one of the simplest protections available, because it allows a company to reach owners directly when a recall is issued. Consumers who experience an incident with a product — smoke, sparks, fire, or injury — can report it to federal regulators, whose incident reports help identify dangerous items and drive recalls like this one before a larger number of people are hurt.
The cost behind the convenience
A cordless tool that catches fire while charging can do far more financial damage than its purchase price. A garage fire can spread to a car, a workbench, stored belongings, and the home itself, turning a modest tool into the cause of a devastating loss. For homeowners on a fixed income, the deductibles and disruption that follow a fire can strain a budget for years.
Acting quickly on this recall — halting charging, claiming the remedy, and following safe charging habits going forward — protects both the household and its finances. A few minutes spent checking whether a garage holds one of these recalled tools is a small investment against a very large potential cost.
This article was produced with AI assistance and fact-checked against the primary and official sources linked above.
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