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Tesla PCS_a016

Cannot charge - Poor grid power quality possible Retry / Try other charge location or Supercharging

Common search variants: PCSa016 · PCS-a016 · PCS a016 · Search ignores case and common separators.

DriveNot yet established by verified evidence. The provided documentation addresses charging and does not state whether driving is affected.
ChargeAC charging is prevented or has stopped while this alert is present. The verified documentation states that DC fast charging/Supercharging should still function as expected.
ServiceWhether Tesla service is required is not yet established by verified evidence.
Confidence95%

Quick answer

PCS_a016 means AC charging has stopped because the vehicle detected a condition preventing AC charging, with poor grid power quality possible. Tesla’s documented actions are to retry, try another charging location, or use Supercharging.

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 PCS_a016 mean?

PCS_a016 means AC charging has stopped because the vehicle detected a condition preventing AC charging, with poor grid power quality possible. Tesla’s documented actions are to retry, try another charging location, or use Supercharging.

2. Technical explanation

Verified Tesla owner-manual content filed with NHTSA states that charging has stopped due to a condition that prevents the vehicle from charging with AC power. The alert may be associated with power-supply disturbances caused by the external power source. The provided evidence states that DC fast charging/Supercharging should still function as expected.

3. What system is affected?

AC charging / external AC power supply interaction. A more specific vehicle subsystem is not established by verified evidence.

4. How serious is this code?

The diagnostic record lists severity as unknown. The verified documentation establishes an AC-charging interruption but does not establish a safety severity classification.

5. Symptoms you may notice

  • The vehicle displays PCS_a016: “Cannot charge - Poor grid power quality possible.”
  • AC charging has stopped.
  • The verified documentation states that DC fast charging/Supercharging should still function as expected.

6. Possible causes

  • Power-supply disturbances caused by the external power source.
  • Poor grid power quality is identified as possible by the alert text.
  • Any more specific cause is not yet established by verified evidence.

7. Can I still drive the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence. The provided documentation addresses charging and does not state whether driving is affected.

8. Can I charge the vehicle?

AC charging is prevented or has stopped while this alert is present. The verified documentation states that DC fast charging/Supercharging should still function as expected.

9. What you can safely do

  • Retry AC charging.
  • Try another charging location.
  • Use DC fast charging/Supercharging, which the verified documentation says should still function as expected.

10. Step-by-step troubleshooting

  1. Retry charging.
  2. Try charging at another location.
  3. Use Supercharging/DC fast charging as documented.

11. When to contact service

Whether Tesla service is required is 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

15. Related TSBs / service bulletins

  • NHTSA manufacturer communication MC-10250484 (Tesla owner-manual content, published December 1, 2023) documents PCS_a016 and its meaning/actions: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250484-9999.pdf
  • Additional NHTSA-filed Tesla owner-manual communications document the same alert, including MC-10253666 (published March 27, 2024): https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253666-9999.pdf

16. Recall information

  • No recall is established by the supplied verified evidence.

17. Official manufacturer information

Official NHTSA-filed Tesla documentation describes PCS_a016 as an AC-charging interruption potentially associated with external power-supply disturbances, and instructs the owner to retry, use another charging location, or Supercharge. Verified applicability in the supplied database covers US Tesla Model 3 (2013–2024), Model S (2012–2024), Model X (2016–2024), and Model Y (2020–2024), subject to overlapping database ranges.

19. Frequently asked questions

What does Tesla alert PCS_a016 mean?

It means AC charging has stopped because of a condition preventing AC charging; poor grid power quality is possible.

Can I use a Supercharger with PCS_a016?

The verified Tesla documentation states that DC fast charging/Supercharging should still function as expected.

What should I do first?

Retry charging, try another charging location, or use Supercharging.

Does PCS_a016 prove that the vehicle has a hardware fault?

No. The supplied evidence identifies possible external power-supply disturbances, but does not establish a specific vehicle hardware fault.

20. Sources & verification

Accepted ResearchVerified
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