Tesla CP_a043
Charge port door sensor fault Charge port may not operate as expected
Common search variants: CPa043 · CP-a043 · CP a043 · Search ignores case and common separators.
Quick answer
CP_a043 is a Tesla alert indicating that one charge-port door sensor is not functioning normally. The charge port may be unable to accurately detect door position and may not operate as expected.
This page separates verified manufacturer/regulator evidence from supporting material. Unsupported causes, repairs or safety conclusions are not guessed.
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1. What does CP_a043 mean?
CP_a043 is a Tesla alert indicating that one charge-port door sensor is not functioning normally. The charge port may be unable to accurately detect door position and may not operate as expected.
2. Technical explanation
Verified Tesla owner-manual material filed with NHTSA states that CP_a043 occurs when one of the charge-port door sensors is not functioning normally. As a result, the charge port may be unable to accurately sense the charge-port door position. The documented consequence is that the charge port may not operate as expected.
3. What system is affected?
Charge-port door sensing system.
4. How serious is this code?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
5. Symptoms you may notice
- The charge port may not operate as expected.
- The charge port may be unable to accurately sense the charge-port door position.
- The charge-port latch may intermittently malfunction; the supplied verified evidence is truncated after this statement.
6. Possible causes
- One of the charge-port door sensors is not functioning normally.
7. Can I still drive the vehicle?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
8. Can I charge the vehicle?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
9. What you can safely do
- Follow the charging instructions in the applicable Tesla Owner's Manual.
- Do not attempt high-voltage or charge-port disassembly based on this alert.
10. Step-by-step troubleshooting
- Consult the applicable Tesla Owner's Manual charging instructions. Further owner troubleshooting procedures are not established by the supplied verified evidence.
11. When to contact service
Not yet established by verified evidence.
12. What the service center may check
- Not yet established by verified evidence.
13. Possible repair or resolution
- Not yet established by verified evidence.
14. Affected vehicles
- Tesla Model 3 · 2013–2022 · US
- Tesla Model 3 · 2017–2023 · US
- Tesla Model 3 · 2017–2024 · US
- Tesla Model S · 2012–2020 · US
- Tesla Model S · 2013–2022 · US
- Tesla Model S · 2021–2023 · US
- Tesla Model S · 2021–2024 · US
- Tesla Model S · 2024 · US
- Tesla Model X · 2016–2020 · US
- Tesla Model X · 2021–2023 · US
- Tesla Model X · 2021–2024 · US
- Tesla Model Y · 2020–2024 · US
- Tesla Model Y · 2020–2023 · US
15. Related TSBs / service bulletins
- NHTSA manufacturer communication MC-10250484, published December 1, 2023: Tesla owner-manual material includes CP_a043 and describes a charge-port door sensor not functioning normally. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250484-9999.pdf
- NHTSA manufacturer communication MC-10253666, published March 27, 2024: Tesla owner-manual material includes CP_a043. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253666-9999.pdf
16. Recall information
- Not yet established by verified evidence.
17. Official manufacturer information
Verified NHTSA-filed Tesla owner-manual communications identify CP_a043 as “Charge port door sensor fault — Charge port may not operate as expected.” Applicability evidence covers US Tesla Model 3 (2013–2024), Model S (2012–2024), Model X (2016–2024), and Model Y (2020–2024), with overlapping year ranges in the source data. Exact vehicle applicability should be confirmed against the applicable vehicle documentation.
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238117: Manual · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238118: Owners Manual · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238121: Manual-5 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238122: Manual-6 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238123: Manual-4 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238124: Manual-3 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240947: Manual · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240948: Owner's Manual-2 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240949: Owner's Manual-1 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240952: Documentation · official_tsb
19. Frequently asked questions
What does Tesla alert CP_a043 mean?
It means one charge-port door sensor is not functioning normally, so the charge port may not accurately sense door position and may not operate as expected.
Does CP_a043 confirm that charging is unavailable?
No. Whether the vehicle can charge is not yet established by verified evidence.
Is it safe to drive with CP_a043?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
20. Sources & verification
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238117: Manual · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238118: Owners Manual · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238121: Manual-5 · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238122: Manual-6 · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238123: Manual-4 · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10238124: Manual-3 · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240947: Manual · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240948: Owner's Manual-2 · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240949: Owner's Manual-1 · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10240952: Documentation · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247391: DocumentationA · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247393: DocumentationC · 2023
Show all 58 verified sources
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247395: DocumentationE · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247397: DocumentationG · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247398: DocumentationH · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247399: DocumentationI · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247832: Manual · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247833: ManualF · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247834: ManualJ · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247836: ManualL · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247837: ManualM · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247839: ManualN · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247841: ManualP · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247843: ManualR · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10247844: ManualS · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250480: Manual · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250481: ManualA · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250484: ManualD · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250485: ManualE · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250486: ManualF · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250488: ManualI · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250489: ManualM · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250490: ManualN · 2023
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251046: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251049: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251050: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251051: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251056: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251057: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251059: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10251061: Owners documenta · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252948: develop · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252950: developB · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252952: developD · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252953: developE · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252956: developF · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252959: developJ · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252961: terminal · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252962: terminalA · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252963: terminalB · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10252964: terminalC · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253655: Index389 · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253656: Index392 · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253657: Owners · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253659: Index355 · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253661: Index382 · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253666: Index390 · 2024
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253669: Index393 · 2024