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Can the electrical outlet in a car go bad?

I normally use the 12v socket in my car with an adapter to charge my phone, but it hasn’t been charging lately. Can the electrical outlet in a car stop working or go bad?

avatar
Allison Stone · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If the 12v socket or
cigarette lighter
port in your car is no longer working to charge your phone, there could be several things happening. Try the following, and if none of these is the answer, there could be an electrical issue with the outlet itself.
  • The charger itself is bad. Just like you occasionally need to replace your wall chargers, this one just might just need replacing.
  • There is something inside the socket obstructing the charging port. Unplug your charger and carefully check the port for any debris.
  • If neither of these is the case, then there’s a good chance that your socket is blown, or there could be some issue with the wiring. Take your car in to a mechanic to diagnose the problem further or check your car’s
    owner’s manual
    to locate the blown fuse.
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