Charge Port Door Sensor Fault
The TESLA-CP_A043 (Tesla Charge Port (CP)) EV fault code means: Charge Port Door Sensor Fault. This is a minor severity code.
- Keep driving?
- Yes, but fix soon
- DIY difficulty
- easy
- Estimated cost
- $0 if an open/close cycle clears it; a persistent sensor fault is diagnosed and quoted by Tesla service (charge port door hardware is a relatively small repair by EV standards).
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Common Symptoms
- Alert on the touchscreen: "Charge port door sensor fault — Charge port may not operate as expected"
- Charge port latch may intermittently stay engaged when the charge port door is opened
- Charge port light may only illuminate intermittently when the door is opened
- Charging itself usually still works
Probable Causes (Ranked by Likelihood)
- One of the charge port door sensors is not functioning normally, so the charge port cannot accurately sense the door position (Tesla's official description) Likely
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Procedure
Per Tesla's official guidance, try closing the charge port door and then opening it again — this often clears the condition.
If the latch stays engaged with the door open or the port light misbehaves persistently across multiple open/close cycles, the door sensor likely needs Tesla service.
This is a convenience-level fault: it affects charge-port door behavior, not driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CP_a043 mean on a Tesla?
Tesla's official meaning: one of the charge port door sensors is not working normally, so the charge port may not accurately sense the door position. The latch may intermittently stay engaged and the port light may only come on intermittently when the door is opened.
How do I fix CP_a043?
Tesla's official guidance is simple: close the charge port door and open it again. If the fault keeps recurring, have Tesla service check the door sensor. The vehicle drives normally either way.
Sources
This page is built from documented references. Verify against your own service info before repair work.
- Tesla Model 3 Owner's Manual — Troubleshooting Alerts (official Tesla alert text for CP_a043)
- Tesla Model Y Owner's Manual — Troubleshooting Alerts (confirms CP_a043 is documented across models)
- Tesla firmware alert reference (core-hacked/tesla-alerts-dictionary): cp_a043
- Tessie Tesla alert statistics