Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ACCESSORY
22 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:accessory issues across 9 makes and 14 models.
The electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:accessory is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 22 filings from 9 manufacturers and 14 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the PORSCHE TAYCAN with 4 filings, followed by CHEVROLET BOLT EV and VOLKSWAGEN ID.4. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORSCHE TAYCAN | 4 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET BOLT EV | 4 |
| 3 | VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 | 2 |
| 4 | FORD MUSTANG MACH E | 2 |
| 5 | VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF | 1 |
| 6 | TESLA MODEL S | 1 |
| 7 | KIA NIRO EV | 1 |
| 8 | JEEP WRANGLER 4XE | 1 |
| 9 | JEEP WRANGLER | 1 |
| 10 | HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC | 1 |
| 11 | HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 | 1 |
| 12 | FORD C-MAX ENERGI | 1 |
| 13 | CHRYSLER PACIFICA | 1 |
| 14 | CHEVROLET VOLT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
See attached letter
The Charging unit made by Enel X called a JuiceBox 40 failed to complete a charge. Upon examination of the charger it was determined that the plug from the unit to the 240V receptacle was fused to the
Unknowingly my cars ICCU failed. I went to charge my car on December 23. The EVSE then immediately tripped the breaker. The EVSE gave an error code of a stuck relay fault and made the EVSE unusable.
See attached document for complaint
I narrowly escaped a home and vehicle fire when my vehicle charging port received extensive damage from a Mustart SAE J1772 Level 2 EVSE Portable Electric Vehicle Charger. The charging plug overheated
I just contacted Porsche Customer Service and they told me that the replacement cables for the charger were available and my Porsche dealer could order me one. I went to Porsche Fresno and spoke to th
The 240V charger cable has a recall due to overheating and causing fires. I am now having to charge my car with a slower cable. In addition, I have also heard that the battery can have issues with wat
The vehicle is usually charged on a level 2 system set to 40 amps or 9 KW/hr. In October of 2023, I received the following message from the Kia connect application, "Charge Interrupted". The car disco
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4x4E. The contact stated that his wife noticed a fire at the charger while the vehicle was plugged in and charging. The owners were able to extinguish the fire. T
The charging port on my Mach-E is failing. I am unable to change at the manufacture reported limit of 48 amps. If I try to charge my Mach-E at any rate higher than 32 amps, it will unexpectedly stop c
While charging the vehicle at a reduced rate (30 amps out of a 40 amp maximum) there was a thermal event in the outlet box that the Mobile Charger Connect was plugged into. There were no witnesses to
I arrived at the charging station and plugged the charging handle into the charge port. At this time an audible shorting sound was heard coming from inside the handle followed by a burst of flames and
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen ID. 4. The contact stated while the vehicle was charging at a Volkswagen charger center, the charging port that attach to the vehicle caught on fire causing the vehi
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated while driving and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that a message to âDisconnect the Charging C
I have purchased the Autel Energy EVSE for my vehicle and had it installed by certified electricians in my garage. The unit malfunctions frequently and requires it to be restarted. The unit is hard
The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated that whenever hybrid battery power was low, the vehicle was supposed to shift to using fuel; however, the vehicle would stall. The
While charging was in progress using Porsche's app at a charging station of Electrify America, the charging process suddenly stopped, when I switched from the app to an email app. And since the chargi
The contact owns a 2016 Ford C-Max Energi. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the charging cord overheated and became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact stated while charging the vehicle, he smelled smoke coming from the garage. The contact checked and noticed that the odor was coming from the w
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf. The contact stated that while charging the vehicle with the level 3 charger, the female connector on the vehicle became loosened due to a failure with the 4
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:accessory issues? ▼
How dangerous are electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:accessory defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:accessory problems? ▼
Where does PlainCars get its safety data? ▼
Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.