As you found out, car doors have to be unlocked for it to open. I think you can change that in the menu options but I'm not positive.

 

What’s interesting is that it would not open even if I manually hit the unlock buttons from the door inside or if I unlocked from the FOB one time.
It has to be double open from the FOB.

First time happening to me. I hope this help someone in the future

 

This actually happened to me at the dealer as I was about to drive it off the lot. Car was unlocked, we tried a variety of things and nothing worked. The folks at the dealer, including from maintenance, were completely stumped ("it's not like we've had a bunch of these to look at"). Eventually after skimming through the manual I found that there is a manual release lever in the trunk. You have to pull up the plastic floor cover on the passenger side to access it.

The manual says that the lever is for emergency use only and that if you have to use it regularly the car needs service. But a good thing to know in a pinch.

Have not had the problem since that one time.

 

The release lever was going to be my plan B but reading the manual there was a portion that described using the FOB so I gave it a try and it worked phew!

I had one of those feelings where I was "Really? Everything was great!"

On a side note. I wonder how long can those lids last with the constant opening and closing when charging.

 

The default setting is to also lock the charger in place when you plug in and it only releases if you do the same unlock method. Lots of trying to yank the charger out in the beginning and not having any luck.

 

LOL! I know the feeling

 

I had this problem this evening for the first time: after a drive home, parking in the garage, turned off car power (drove in electric mode all day), and went to open the charge-port door ... it would not open... unlocked, locked, unlocked, locked car doors with key fob numerous times -- door still would not open (though all car doors opened and the gas-port door opened with no problem). Tried all sorts of combinations with the key fob -- multiple double clicks to unlock, etc. -- still the charge door would not open. I then went to the front passenger door to get something out of the car, and the car had apparently locked but my touching the handle unlocked the door automatically (keyless entry), and I moved something from the front seat to the back seat. After closing the doors, I turned to look at the charge-port door, and it was slightly ajar, and opened easily. Very bizarre... Did unlocking the car doors via the car handle enable the charge-port door to unlock?? The car is charging overnight, but I'll check out the door again tomorrow after it's fully charged.

 

I had this problem this evening for the first time: after a drive home, parking in the garage, turned off car power (drove in electric mode all day), and went to Ihe charge-port door ... it would not open... unlocked, locked, unlocked, locked car doors with key fob numerous times -- door still would not open (though all car doors opened and the gas-port door opened with no problem). Tried all sorts of combinations with the key fob -- multiple double clicks to unlock, etc. -- still the charge door would not open. I then went to the front passenger door to get something out of the car, and the car had apparently locked but my touching the handle unlocked the door automatically (keyless entry), and I moved something from the front seat to the back seat. After closing the doors, I turned to look at the charge-port door, and it was slightly ajar, and opened easily. Very bizarre... Did unlocking the car doors via the car handle enable the charge-port door to unlock?? The car is charging overnight, but I'll check out the door again tomorrow after it's fully charged.

I have had somewhat the same problem after charging overnite, I pushed the fob unlock button (to unlock the charging cable from the port) and nothing happened as the doors did not unlock. I had to use the manual key to unlock the doors and then everything worked fine. I was hoping this was just a one time glitch but a few days later it happened again. I have any appointment to my dealer to

 

I always have to open the door and unlock from inside to release the charger

 

OK... it shouldn't be that way, and I didn't have to do that previously, but I'll try it if this happens again... Sounds like a software problem?

 

At the risk of someone not knowing the charger handle is locked to the vehicle and pulling (too) hard to get it disconnected, I changed my Connector Lock setting (under Vehicle Settings -> Charging Settings -> Connector Lock) to OFF.

Setting Operation description
“Auto Lock” (Default setting). The charging connector is automatically locked when the charging connector is connected.

“Auto Lock & Unlock”. The charging connector is automatically locked when the charging connector is connected and automatically unlocked when charging is completed.

“OFF” Not using the charging connector locking system

 

I changed the default “charge door lock” setting when I realized the default is to lock the charging handle until you unlock the doors every time.

 

Weird that I only had this issue one time and never again.
I’m going to apply the suggested settings from @Chazz8 anyway to be bulletproof.

 

A dealership will want to reproduce the problem. Get it on video next time. Could be a 12v battery depletion issue. Very random things happen in a Toyota Hybrid when the 12v gets too low. The 12v is small (size and capacity) and can get depleted quickly depending on how much electrical draw you have while the car is NOT in READY mode (or Neutral).

Do you have any OBDII devices plugged into your vehicle? The R4P does not turn off OBD RPM data when vehicle is turned off, and some readers look for that to turn themselves off. They don’t turn off and can drain the small 12v battery. Happened once to me. DO NOT FORGET TO PRESS BRAKE WHEN STARTING WITH JUMP-START battery pack in place like I did. The whole car would turn off/on when I removed/re-connected battery pack until I pressed the brake with power button to turn it OFF.

Here is my write up on the Charging Door lock settings; Charging Port Lid Stuck!

Enjoy.

 

A dealership will want to reproduce the problem. Get it on video next time. Could be a 12v battery depletion issue. Very random things happen in a Toyota Hybrid when the 12v gets too low. The 12v is small (size and capacity) and can get depleted quickly depending on how much electrical draw you have while the car is NOT in READY mode (or Neutral).

Do you have any OBDII devices plugged into your vehicle? The R4P does not turn off OBD RPM data when vehicle is turned off, and some readers look for that to turn themselves off. They don’t turn off and can drain the small 12v battery. Happened once to me. DO NOT FORGET TO PRESS BRAKE WHEN STARTING WITH JUMP-START battery pack in place like I did. The whole car would turn off/on when I removed/re-connected battery pack until I pressed the brake with power button to turn it OFF.

Here is my write up on the Charging Door lock settings; Charging Port Lid Stuck!

Enjoy.

Thanks - nope nothing plugged in. Going to try and replicate the issue - good suggestion on recording the problem. I will admit that i can't get my head wrapped around why a low battery would result in a lock up of the system as whole. The only thing i can think of that i've done differently than before is i plugged in the charging cable in before i had the power running to the cord (its a on a switch).... will report back if it comes up again...

 

On the Prius Prime, the charge door and charge cable locks work off of the smart key system. I do not have to hit any buttons on remote. Just walk up to the charge door (with the remote in your pocket) push the charge door and it opens. This happens even when car doors are all locked and does not trigger car doors to open. Same procedure with the charge cable lock. This makes no sense why Toyota would make any changes from the way the Prius is set up when they built the R4P.

 

This headpiece to me at the grocery. It was quite cold. Luckily, its something similar to getting the plug out. I had that minor freak out when I couldn't get the plug out.

 

It’s the same setting for the locking pin. It keeps people from stealing your connection at a pay facility

 

I gotta take my Prime to the dealer next week to get them to fix my charging port door. Somehow it sticks out about 3/8" at the back in it's closed position and will no longer lock....

 

it took me while to figure out how it even opened. Then one time it wouldn’t open at all. Turns out it locks when the car is locked. Felt like an idiot ☺

 

Just FYI, folks: if you're using the public charging infrastructure, especially free charging stations, it's best to change the settings to Auto Lock and Unlock. I think it's good EV etiquette to not have your car take up a plug after it's done charging. I've seen this happen here and there, and it's a bit infuriating when some car is done charging and it's just sitting there for hours. Anyways, some EV owners told me they will just unplug that car and plug themselves in to charge in the adjacent stall (barring the cable can reach). I've started doing this myself -- only at the free charging stations. For the paid chargers, once you disengage the charging handle, usually the charging session is done and your account will be charged accordingly. So, no one will be able to take the charger and "steal" from you, more or less.

 

This is what I had to do to unlock my charging port lid. (Like another reviewer commented, I was <THIS CLOSE> to using a butter knife to pry the lid open...

1. With all doors closed, press "lock" on the key fob twice
2. Press "unlock" on key fob and open the driver's side door
3. With the door open, press "unlock" on the key fob twice

That did the trick for me. Hope it helps someone out!

 

Very similar to remedy I discovered today, but different with nuance, in case this also helps anyone

if cover would not open with repeated fob unlocking attempts:

1) lock doors with fob
2) unlock doors with fob
3) cover opens!

: )

 

Charging lid would not open after trying all the things here. . .BUT I was unloading car and putting things in garage fridge, ALARM accidently went off with keys in my pocket. When I realized that might be the problem, I started car backed out from driveway and then back in and door immediately opened after turning the car off. Also I previously tried turning the car on and off but the problem only resolved after putting in gear and moving it.

 

Thanx for posting. This may save us in the future. It's great to learn the idiosyvcrocies of this car.

 

I also find that trying to open or close the port cover from the bottom half of the cover doesn't always work. When I push the top half it does.

 

Update....dealership said the part arrived today!! I have an appt. to have it installed on Monday....all covered by warranty! All good news!!!

 

I can unlock the charging port by touching the rear passenger side door handle to unlock the doors. It also unlocks the charging connector lock. Also works with front passenger side door as well.

 

I just had the charger port door not unlocking problem for the first time this evening (Christmas), and tried everything in mentioned in this forum. Double clicking the fob did not initially work but after double clicking again a couple of times, I went to the passenger side door, opened it. Closed it. Hit the fob lock. Hit the fob unlock and noticed the charger port door slightly ajar. It simply opened after that.

The weather has been extremely cold and someone mentioned the low battery issue could be contributing to the problem.

 

I wanted to say that I appreciate this thread very much. My charging connector got stuck/locked in the charging port this afternoon, and despite the pin not having engaged, I could not for the life of me get the connector out. I used the fob to lock and unlock many times, no luck. I tried the manual key in the doors, and the interior unlock buttons. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to move the car in this scenario. I found the emergency release lever solution in the manual, and was confused that the lever seemed like it was already pushed in. I finally figured out that I could pull the lever back out (to look like the manual), and push it in per the instructions. I was then able to disengage the charging connector. In case that's helpful information for anyone in the future.

 

I found the emergency release lever solution in the manual, and was confused that the lever seemed like it was already pushed in. I finally figured out that I could pull the lever back out

to be helpful can you at least quote what the manual says and/or show a picture of this emergency release lever?? Dont have the car yet so not sure what you mean.

 

I’m not able to open the charging port lid. It seems to be stuck. Any ideas? Edit: I got it fixed. I guess the Port Lid is a smart lid and for whatever reason it got locked. First time happening to me. The solution was to use the smart key/fob and hit the unlock button twice. I swear I almost pried open that thing lol.

 

thank you for the thread. I can confirm that charged door will not open if the tailgate is open. No matter if the doors are locked or unlocked.

 

I can confirm that charged door will not open if the tailgate is open. No matter if the doors are locked or unlocked.

Is this for a 2024 model?

If you have a 2023 (and perhaps 2022 and others), and turn off the locking option as @Chazz8 explained here, the charge door remains unlocked when the tailgate is open.

 

Seems to be 2 threads in this post - one to do with the charging port lid and the other to do with the charger getting locked on. My issue was the charging port door. I tried all of the suggestions here, but none of them worked. What did work was holding the charging port door in, using the fob to lock and unlock it a few times and it eventually opened for me. I set up a service appt for them to sort it out... haha like another person on here they were all "uh, I don't know, we've never had that problem, uh, maybe try a screwdriver?" Not encouraged by that, but I'm glad I can charge my Rav now.

 

Thanks. Your trick worked for me. Locking and unlocking car doors using the door button wouldn’t release the charging door which had never happened before to me. I googled and found your solution using the key fob twice pressing lock and then unlock and it worked. (I had tried the door lock buttons multiple times locking and unlocking and no success). I did notice the other day I heard the charging door lock when I hadn’t pressed the lock button and wasn’t driving and thought that was strange. I use my Apple Watch to lock and unlock the doors often so maybe it was related to that.