Noises while charging

A Tesla is quiet on the road but can be surprisingly noisy while charging. Most of it is normal.

Normal sounds

• A loud clunk when charging starts or stops. This is the contactors, heavy-duty switches that connect the battery. Normal.
• Fans and pumps whirring. The car cools the battery and electronics while charging, especially at Superchargers and on warm days. Fans can run hard for several minutes after charging ends.
• Humming from the charger. Superchargers and rapid chargers have their own fans and transformers.
• A thump from under the car in cold weather. The heat pump and valves switching modes can sound like a knock.
• Ticking as parts cool down. Normal after a fast charge.

Sounds worth reporting

• Grinding or scraping from the charge port.
• Clicking that repeats every few seconds and stops charging.
• A burning smell, or a plug or socket that is hot to touch.

Stop charging if you notice a burning smell or heat at the plug. Report anything unusual through the Tesla app's Service menu with a video and the sound recorded.