Greenworks Recalls 554,780 Kobalt Power Tools Over Fire Risk
Greenworks Tools has issued a recall for approximately 554,780 Kobalt-branded power tools following reports of lithium-ion batteries smoking, sparking, or catching fire during USB-C charging.
Greenworks Tools has initiated a recall of approximately 554,780 Kobalt-branded yard power tools in the United States due to a fire hazard linked to their lithium-ion batteries. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) confirmed the recall, citing a defect that poses a risk of serious injury. The affected units include trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, mowers, and pruning saws equipped with 24V or 48V batteries featuring a built-in USB-C charging port.
According to the USCPSC, regulators have received 34 reports of incidents involving the affected batteries. In these cases, the batteries produced smoke, sparked, or caught fire while inserted in the tool and charging via the USB-C port. The regulatory body described the issue as posing a risk of serious injury from fire hazard, prompting the widespread recall of the inventory.
Despite the volume of units involved, the USCPSC stated that no injuries or property damage have been reported in connection with these incidents. The distinction between the total number of affected units and the number of reported incidents remains clear, with the latter standing at 34 as of the latest regulatory update.
The recall specifically targets Kobalt models utilising 24V and 48V lithium-ion batteries with the integrated USB-C charging mechanism. It does not appear to extend to all Kobalt products or batteries sold separately, but rather focuses on the specific power tools listed that incorporate the defective charging hardware.
Greenworks Tools issued the recall, which was reported and tracked by the USCPSC. The agency is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with consumer products, and this action underscores the scrutiny placed on battery safety in cordless power equipment.
While the geographic scope is implied to be the United States due to the involvement of the USCPSC, the source material does not explicitly confirm whether the recall extends to other regions. The exact technical cause of the short circuit or thermal runaway in the USB-C charging mechanism has not been detailed in the provided reports.
