NHTSA Complaint #11255767 — 2015 VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF

THE 2015 EGOLF LOCKS THE CHARGING CONNECTOR ONTO THE VEHICLE DURING CHARGING. THIS FUNCTIONALITY HAS TWO (AT LEAST) BENEFITS TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. ONE BENEFIT IS THAT THE (VERY EXPENSEIVE) CAR CHARGER'S POWER SUPPLY CAN'T EASILY BE STOLEN DURING CHARGING. A SECOND, SAFETY-CENTRIC, FUNCTION IS DERIVED BY NOT ALLOWING THE CHARGING PORT TO SEPARATE WHILE A CHARGE IS UNDERWAY PREVENTING POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ARCS AND ELECTROCUTION. THE LOCKING MECHAISM INTERMITTENLY FAILS TO UNLOCK TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE DOORS AND FUNCTIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS SEVERAL POTENTIAL DANGERS TO A VEHICLE OPERATOR. WHEH THE CHARGE CONNECTER WILL NOT RELEASE, THE VEHICLE WILL START AND MIGHT CREATE A SITUATION OF BEING STRANDED AT NIGHT IN A PUBLC CHARGING LOCATION. TJRTRRWERT---9RR-RRWPWRHIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. TRYING TO RELEASE THE PLUG REQUIRES A STRONG LONG NARROW OBJECT (USUALLY METAL) BE INSERTED INTO THE SHIELDED AREA OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE MECHANISM CAN SOMETIMES BE OVER-RIDDEN THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR. EVENAUALLY, THOUGH AN OOPERATOR IS GOING TO ACCIDENTALLY CONTACT ONE OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE TERMINALS.AND BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. CLIPPERCREEK CHARGING EQUIPMENT SEEMS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSRE THIS CONDITION. OUR HSC-40 UNIT AND THE SMALLER 120V TRAVEL MODEL THESE ARE OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS FOUND ONLINE: HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839 ' HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839#P7764 ' HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839#P7764