Tesla won't charge or the cable is stuck: what the lights mean

Charge port light

What the colours mean

• White: ready to charge. Plug in, or remove the connector¹.
• Blinking blue: the car is talking to the charger. Wait a few seconds¹.
• Solid blue: connected but not charging, usually because scheduled charging is set. Turn it off or tap Start Charging¹.
• Blinking green: charging. Solid green: finished¹.
• Amber: the connector isn't fully in. Realign and push it home, check for anything blocking the port, then try a different cable¹. Blinking amber can also mean reduced-current AC charging².
• Red: a fault has stopped charging. Read the alert on the touchscreen¹.
• No light: the car is locked and asleep. Unlock it or press the button on the charge handle¹.

Won't charge

Things to try first

1. Read the touchscreen alert.
2. Check scheduled charging isn't delaying the charge¹.
3. Try a different cable or charger, or reset the charging source¹.
4. If it still fails, power the car off and on from the touchscreen and try again¹.
5. After a power cut, charging normally resumes on its own when the power returns².

In freezing weather the latch can ice up. Precondition the car from the app, or use the inlet heater (Controls > Service) if your car has it².

Cable stuck

How to release a stuck charge cable

First try the button on the charge handle, the touchscreen or the app. On a Model S, Tesla also suggests holding the boot button on the key fob for 1–2 seconds⁴. If none of that works:

1. Make sure the car is not charging. Stop charging on the touchscreen³.
2. Open the boot.
3. Find the release cable or tag. On a 2024+ Model 3 it runs through an opening in the left-hand boot wall³. It may be recessed in the trim².
4. Pull it down to unlatch the connector, let go, then pull the charge cable out³.

Safety: pull the release first, then remove the cable, never both at the same time, because of the risk of electric shock. Never do this while the car is charging or if any orange high-voltage cables are exposed. Using the release regularly can damage it, so get the fault fixed⁴².

Next steps

When it needs a garage

A red light that keeps coming back, a charge port door that won't open or close, or a latch that keeps sticking needs diagnosis. A Tesla Service Centre can do this, and so can many independent EV specialists. For home charger problems, contact the company that installed it. See also our home charging guide.

Sources

Where this information comes from

1. Tesla Service: Charge port light colours (Model 3)
2. Tesla Model 3 Owner's Manual: Charging instructions
3. Tesla Service Manual: Manually release the charge cable (Model 3, 2024+)
4. Tesla Service: Manually releasing the charge cable (Model S)