Trouble with removing charger nozzle from car

S

Susannah Margaret

New Member
Has anyone had trouble having car charging port release the charger nozzle? Our Juice box has worked fine with our Bolt but after first time charging Niro this evening we couldn't get it out for 30 minutes.
If so how did you resolve problem?
 
Susannah Margaret said:
Has anyone had trouble having car charging port release the charger nozzle? Our Juice box has worked fine with our Bolt but after first time charging Niro this evening we couldn't get it out for 30 minutes.
If so how did you resolve problem?
Click to expand...

Does the problem seem to be with the latch, or is it just a tight fit?

I know people occasionally have this problem with different charging stations. If it's the latch, the method in the video below can help in a pinch. If it's just a super-tight fit, maybe a bit of petroleum jelly would help.

 
Did you check to make sure the doors were unlocked? Out of habit now (even in our closed home garage) I press the remote button twice or when I open the door to sit down my coffee or whatever I just go ahead and press the unlock button.
 
The plug locks after 15 seconds, and remains locked even if the car is unlock. There is a button that will switch the function to unlock the plug when charging is finished and the car is unlocked. I believe if the car is locked the plug will always be locked. I had to, gasp, read the manual to find this out. Also while the car is in non running mode so you can run the cc or radio you can't unlock the car to unlock the plug. You have to turn the car off then unlock to pull out the plug.
 
Susannah Margaret said:
Has anyone had trouble having car charging port release the charger nozzle? Our Juice box has worked fine with our Bolt but after first time charging Niro this evening we couldn't get it out for 30 minutes.
If so how did you resolve problem?
Click to expand...
Here is the page from the owner's manual describing how the charge connector lock functions.
Kia-Niro-EV-charge-connector-lock.webp
 
Susannah Margaret said:
Has anyone had trouble having car charging port release the charger nozzle? Our Juice box has worked fine with our Bolt but after first time charging Niro this evening we couldn't get it out for 30 minutes.
If so how did you resolve problem?
Click to expand...
All doors have to be unlocked, after unlocking, you have about 10 seconds to unlatch the nozzle. Alternatively, unplug it from the wall, if it is a plug-in.
 
I'm not sure why it locks again, doesn't seem like a needed security feature, but that's the information in the grey 'quick tips' box on page 17 of the thin Features & Functions Guide. I've gotten pretty good at 'press door button, scoot to the cable'. Think of it as Niro aerobics :-)
 
I have charged few enough times that I had not noticed that "feature." Just one of now three automated behaviors that annoy me.

I did discover another pretty cool one....if the key is in the car cabin and the door is open a manual locking of the drivers side door with the other doors locked it quickly unlocks (maybe the behavior is broader, but these were the conditions when I observed it).
 
Susannah Margaret said:
Has anyone had trouble having car charging port release the charger nozzle? Our Juice box has worked fine with our Bolt but after first time charging Niro this evening we couldn't get it out for 30 minutes.
If so how did you resolve problem?
Click to expand...

I noticed something similar just u#ing the granny charger that came with the car, but I found that if you hit “unlock” twice in quick succession on the key fob, the charge connector will come right out. That’s what works for me.
 
I have a 2020 KIA NIRO PHEV and cannot, no matter what I do get the car to unlock the the charger plug. I have tried everything the manuals say, all the videos online, unlocked all the doors, car off, fully charged, etc... no luck. Every once in awhile when I set it to auto unlock after it fully charges, leave the car unlocked and charge it all night the plug will be unlocked in the morning, but this morning even that didn't work. I have to open the hood and use the emergency release to get the car to let go of the plug. It is becoming very frustrating and the KIA dealer I bought it from (Capitol KIA, San Jose) has a service department that doesn't appear to ever answer their phone. So I would really like to find a fix for this. I am contemplating disconnecting the solenoid the activates the lock or cutting off the pin. ANY help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
 
Bob Quinn said:
the KIA dealer I bought it from (Capitol KIA, San Jose) has a service department that doesn't appear to ever answer their phone.
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We have never had any trouble getting through to them. In fact we usually make our service appointments on line.
 
Bob Quinn said:
I have a 2020 KIA NIRO PHEV and cannot, no matter what I do get the car to unlock the the charger plug. I have tried everything the manuals say, all the videos online, unlocked all the doors, car off, fully charged, etc... no luck. ...I have to open the hood and use the emergency release to get the car to let go of the plug. .
Click to expand...

I just recently started having the same issue with my 2020 Kia Niro PHEV. Incredibly embarrassing but thank goodness for smart phones and the internet, I learned about the emergency release and was able to leave my very public parking space. I have noticed an unexpected clicking sound from the instrument panel that seems to be related to charging as well. Do you think it's possible it's a blown fuse?
 
Bob Quinn said:
I have a 2020 KIA NIRO PHEV and cannot, no matter what I do get the car to unlock the the charger plug. I have tried everything the manuals say, all the videos online, unlocked all the doors, car off, fully charged, etc... no luck. Every once in awhile when I set it to auto unlock after it fully charges, leave the car unlocked and charge it all night the plug will be unlocked in the morning, but this morning even that didn't work. I have to open the hood and use the emergency release to get the car to let go of the plug. It is becoming very frustrating and the KIA dealer I bought it from (Capitol KIA, San Jose) has a service department that doesn't appear to ever answer their phone. So I would really like to find a fix for this. I am contemplating disconnecting the solenoid the activates the lock or cutting off the pin. ANY help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
Click to expand...
I am having the same issue - reviewed owners manual page in post above - no combination of the Auto/Lock button and hitting the key fob twice or unplugging the charger from the wall work - It stays locked in.
 
IMG_0084.webp Finally figured it out. Make sure you unlock all doors then pull this emergency release cable pull in the front right of the engine compartment (2019 Kia Niro Plug in Hybrid). Image from owners manual.
sIH0bVX
 
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