Are you in a panic trying to figure out how to stop Tesla charging? You’re not alone.
Stopping a Tesla vehicle charging is usually as simple as using the dedicated phone app. But what can you do when it doesn’t unlock?
Key Takeaways:
If it still won’t unlock and stop charging, just press the round button on the charger and your car will be freed!
This frustrating failure to stop charging has caused many people to be late for work — and you might be one of those individuals right now.
So, we’re here to guide you through the troubleshooting methods and learn how to stop Tesla charging.
How to Stop Tesla Charging
Proud Tesla owners have experienced issues when trying to stop their cars from charging at home and Superchargers.
As you most likely know, the first port of call is the phone app. Nine times out of ten, tapping “stop charging” will work.
But when it doesn’t, it’ll tell you the car is still charging, and thus, it prevents you from disconnecting the cable.
The next step is to head to the charging screen on the console inside the vehicle. You can manually release the charging cable if it doesn’t appear by pressing the circular button on the charger’s handle.
It should come out easily, and you can drive away without hassle.
But Don’t Keep Pressing It!
We’ve seen it many times before — drivers at Superchargers keep pressing the button over and over again, wondering why the cable won’t release.
With one press, it unlocks. With another press, it locks again.
You can remove the charger when the light glows a pale blue color. But when it switches to dark blue, you cannot disconnect the cable.
It’s important to note the color differences so you don’t try to force the charger out at inopportune moments.
Also, keep in mind that, once unlocked, it will lock again after a short time. So, remove the charger cable as soon as it glows light blue, so you don’t stay stuck in the unlocked-locked cycle!
Still Not Working? Hold the Button
Some Tesla owners have found that simply pressing the button won’t allow them to disconnect the charging cable.
If you have experienced the same issue, the problem is wonderfully easy to solve — hold the circular button until the light switches to pale blue and the current stops flowing. Then, just remove the cable.
Try a Reboot If All Else Fails
When nothing else has worked so far, it’s time for a reboot. Turning it off and on again is a cliche technological cure-all, but it exists for a reason — it tends to work.
To perform a proper reboot, sit in the driver’s side of your Tesla. Then, press the two center scroll wheels while pressing your foot on the brake for ten seconds.
Wait until the screen fully reloads, then press the top two buttons located on each side of the steering wheel.
Again, hold your foot on the brake at the same time and stay like this for ten seconds. This should solve your “how to stop Tesla charging” worries.
Common Charging Error Message: The Charge Port Door Needs Service
Unfortunately, all the aforementioned troubleshooting methods won’t work if you receive the “Charge Port Door Needs Service” error message.
It’s a common issue with the Tesla Model 3 and appears to happen mainly after the first initial car wash.
As per Tesla’s directive, the problem stems from a poorly fitted seal that causes water to flood the port.
While this certainly isn’t ideal, you can get it fixed very easily thanks to the manufacturer’s prompt and competent support staff.
A technician can come to you with a functioning seal and ensure you don’t have to deal with the error message again.
After the service, you shouldn’t have any problems with connecting or disconnecting the charger cable at home or gas station’s Superchargers.
When to Schedule an Appointment About Tesla Charging Problems
While experiencing a one-off problem isn’t a big deal (after all, you can probably solve it with our advice above), regularly occurring problems can become a nuisance.
Therefore, you should schedule an appointment using the Tesla app. One of their professionals should be able to fix the problem and negate further issues.
You can set up an appointment by following the steps below:
- Open the dedicated Tesla app.
- Select the “Service and Roadside” option.
- Choose the issue you would like dealt with. In this case, it’s charging port problems.
- Add extra information on the “Details” page. Describe the reoccurring charging issue and include photos if you think it’s necessary.
- Type in your address on the following page for the mobile service option.
- Select the date and time of your appointment.
- Confirm your contact information to enable you to receive email and text updates about your service appointment.
If you don’t want an in-person service but still wish to report the charging bug, call Tesla’s customer service team. It’s the best way to ensure the incident is accurately reported.
For best results, make sure you remember the time of the behavior to allow the support staff to check the diagnostics during that period.
Final Thoughts
Usually, you can stop Tesla charging by opening the dedicated app and hitting “stop charging.” But when that doesn’t work, you have plenty of other options to get you on the road.
Try to locate the charging screen on the center console and stop it this way.
If that doesn’t work, press the donut-esque button on the charger’s handle, and wait for the light to turn a pale blue.
At this stage, you should be able to release the connection. Just remember not to keep hitting the button. Otherwise, you get stuck in the unlocked-locked cycle.
When that still doesn’t let you remove the cable you can try holding the circular button, rebooting the system, or calling Tesla’s esteemed customer service team for advice.
