What Happened
Lowe’s has issued a stop sale order on Kobalt 24V and 24Vx2 (48V) outdoor power tool kits, removing products from store shelves and marking them “no longer sold” in its online store. The stop sale was first reported by employees on social media over the past day.
Workers at multiple Lowe’s locations say they received instructions to pull the kits from shelves but were given no official explanation. Some employees have speculated about a “battery fire failure for all USB-C Kobalt batteries,” though Lowe’s has made no public statement and no CPSC recall has been issued as of this writing.
What’s Being Pulled
The stop sale appears to target Kobalt outdoor tool kits that include the new Gen-3 USB-C rechargeable batteries, which launched earlier in 2026. Affected products include:
- Kobalt 24V cordless outdoor tool starter kits
- Kobalt 24Vx2 universal outdoor power tool system kits (dual-battery 48V setup)
Individual power tools sold without a battery kit do not appear to be affected, and Kobalt hand tools and storage products are unaffected. But if you were planning to pick up a Kobalt outdoor kit at Lowe’s this weekend, it won’t be on the shelf.
Why the USB-C Battery Is the Focus
The Gen-3 Kobalt 24V batteries were a significant upgrade when they launched — they added USB-C bidirectional charging, letting you charge the battery via USB-C like a phone, or use the battery to charge your devices in the field. As we covered in our Kobalt/Greenworks partnership breakdown, these tools are manufactured by Greenworks for Lowe’s under the Kobalt label.
Bidirectional USB-C adds charging circuitry not present in standard Li-ion power tool batteries, and if there is a defect, that’s the likely area of focus. That said, none of this is confirmed — a stop sale can precede a formal recall, or it can result from an unrelated supply or labeling issue that gets quietly resolved.
What To Do Right Now
- Don’t buy Kobalt outdoor kits right now. Wait for official guidance from Lowe’s or the CPSC before making a purchase.
- If you own the new Gen-3 USB-C batteries, consider holding off on charging cycles until Lowe’s clarifies the situation.
- Check CPSC.gov/recalls for any official recall notice — it will appear there first if a formal recall is issued.
- For Lowe’s outdoor power alternatives, CRAFTSMAN V20 and DeWalt are both available in-store and are not affected by this stop sale.
We’ll update this post when Lowe’s or the CPSC makes an official announcement. This is a developing story — the stop sale is confirmed but the reason remains unconfirmed as of April 30, 2026.
Source: ToolGuyd
