NHTSA Complaint #10860617 — 2015 VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF

AFTER THE VEHICLE IS DONE CHARGING USING THE J1772 PLUG (L2 OR L1 CHARGING), THE PLUG REMAINS LOCKED TO THE VEHICLE CHARGING INLET. PRESSING THE J1772 PLUG BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE THE PLUG AS THE CAR MUST BE UNLOCKED USING A KEY TO RELEASE THE PLUG. IN A PUBLIC CHARGING LOCATION, ANOTHER EV DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE PLUG FROM MY CAR AND MAY HAVE BROKEN MY CAR IF I HAD NOT INTERVENED. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INLET DAMAGED BECAUSE THE PLUG STAYS LOCKED IN THE CAR DURING CHARGING AND AFTER CHARGING IS COMPLETE. ON A SEPARATE NOTE, AN ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE SAME CAR USED A PUBLIC L2 J1772 PLUG WITH A BROKEN LOCKING LATCH. WHEN HE REMOVED THE PLUG WHILE THE CAR WAS CHARGING, THERE WAS A LARGE SPARK WHICH JUMPED BETWEEN THE PLUG AND THE CAR. VW IS NOT FOLLOWING THE J1772 PROTOCOL AND THIS COULD LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS IN THE CASE OF A BROKEN CHARGE PORT AND PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO SPARKING. PLEASE ASK VW TO CORRECTLY IMPLEMENT THE J1772 CHARGING PROTOCOL SO THAT PRESSING THE PLUG BUTTON AND/OR REMOVING THE PLUG STOPS CHARGING. PLUG LOCKING SHOULD ALSO BE DISABLED WHEN CHARGING IS COMPLETE.