Tesla CP_a051
Charge port may not open when pressed Use another method to open the charge port
Common search variants: CPa051 · CP-a051 · CP a051 · Search ignores case and common separators.
Quick answer
Tesla alert CP_a051 means the charge-port door may not open when it is pressed. Verified Tesla owner-manual evidence states that one of the charge-port door sensors is not communicating properly. Use another usual method to open the charge-port door.
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_a051 mean?
Tesla alert CP_a051 means the charge-port door may not open when it is pressed. Verified Tesla owner-manual evidence states that one of the charge-port door sensors is not communicating properly. Use another usual method to open the charge-port door.
2. Technical explanation
The alert identifies a communication problem involving one of the charge-port door sensors. As a result, the vehicle may not recognize a request to open the charge-port door when the door is pressed. The verified documentation does not establish a specific failed component, repair procedure, or whether the condition affects driving or charging once the door is opened.
3. What system is affected?
Charge-port door sensor/opening function.
4. How serious is this code?
Not yet established by verified evidence. The supplied diagnostic record lists severity as unknown.
5. Symptoms you may notice
- The charge-port door may not open when it is pressed.
- The vehicle may not recognize a request to open the charge-port door by pressing the door.
6. Possible causes
- One of the charge-port door sensors is not communicating properly.
7. Can I still drive the vehicle?
Not yet established by verified evidence. The supplied diagnostic record lists safe-to-drive status as unknown.
8. Can I charge the vehicle?
Not yet established by verified evidence. The supplied diagnostic record lists safe-to-charge status as unknown. Verified documentation states that other usual methods can still be used to open the charge-port door.
9. What you can safely do
- Use another usual method to open the charge-port door.
- Do not attempt high-voltage or charge-port disassembly based on this alert.
10. Step-by-step troubleshooting
- Try another usual vehicle-provided method to open the charge-port door. The supplied evidence does not enumerate those methods.
- If the alternative methods do not open the charge-port door, further owner troubleshooting is not established by the supplied verified evidence.
11. When to contact service
Not yet established by verified evidence. The supplied diagnostic record lists service-required status as unknown.
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 · 2021–2024 · US
- Tesla Model S · 2021–2023 · 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 · 2020–2023 · US
- Tesla Model Y · 2020–2024 · US
15. Related TSBs / service bulletins
- Official NHTSA-hosted Tesla manufacturer communications/owner-manual material document CP_a051 and state that one charge-port door sensor is not communicating properly. Example: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250484 (published December 1, 2023): https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250484-9999.pdf
16. Recall information
- Not yet established by verified evidence.
17. Official manufacturer information
Verified NHTSA-hosted Tesla documentation: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250484-9999.pdf
- 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 CP_a051 mean?
It means the charge-port door may not open when pressed because one of the charge-port door sensors is not communicating properly.
Why does pressing the charge-port door not open it?
The verified documentation states that the vehicle may not recognize the open request when the door is pressed.
What should I do when CP_a051 appears?
Use another usual method to open the charge-port door. The supplied evidence does not list those methods.
Can I drive or charge with CP_a051?
Not yet established by verified evidence. Driving and charging status are listed as unknown in the supplied diagnostic record.
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