My Polestar 3 won't charge at home. Did the GHCA fail?

Short answer: If DC fast charging works but Level 1 and Level 2 don't, owners say the GHCA, the on-board AC charger, has likely failed. Book the dealer, ask them to install the latest GHCA part and the matching software, and keep every repair order since some owners have had repeat failures. Use DC fast chargers in the meantime.

Symptom: The car won't charge at home or at Level 2 stations, or charging stops partway. DC fast charging may still work.

What to check first

1. Try another Level 2 charger and a different outlet.
2. Try a DC fast charger. If it works, suspect the GHCA.
3. Try the hard reset owners use (hold the brake and press the steering-wheel buttons together).
4. Ask the dealer what GHCA part number they install.
5. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Likely causes

1. Failed GHCA (on-board AC charger). The GHCA turns household AC power into DC for the big battery. Owners say DC fast charging bypasses it, so a car that fast-charges fine but won't charge at home points at the GHCA.
2. Older GHCA version. A technician told an owner the old part's solenoid and relay were overly sensitive to normal grid fluctuations. Owners say a newer part number ending 36000418 is the replacement.
3. Software update side effect. One owner's newer GHCA failed right after a software update, though it isn't proven that the update caused it.

What it usually costs

Owners report GHCA replacements under the new-car warranty.

Is it safe to keep driving?

The car drives normally on its current charge. Plan around DC fast chargers until it's fixed.

DIY or shop?

Not a DIY repair. An EV's high-voltage system can stay live with the car off. Leave the orange cables, the big battery and the charging hardware to a trained EV technician.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Related recall: NHTSA lists 24V940000 for certain 2025 Polestar 3s: fluctuations in the 12-volt system may have damaged the High to Low Voltage Converter Module (HLCM). That's a different part from the GHCA, but it's also in the car's power electronics. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 54 keyword-matched complaints for Polestar 3 2025–2026 (of 79 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-01; keywords: charg, ghca, 12 v, battery, software, start) (NHTSA returned no data for 5 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In GHCA failed on Reddit r/polestar3, a Polestar 3 owner had a GHCA replaced for slow fast-charging, then the car wouldn't charge at home at all. Several owners said the GHCA isn't used during DC fast charging, so a GHCA failure affects home and Level 2 charging only.
• In GHCA failed again. This time after the latest update on Reddit r/polestar3, an owner's first GHCA failed at about 8,000 km. The newer part ending 36000418 then failed right after a software update. Another owner said they were on their fourth failure at 67,000 km and worried about the warranty running out.
• In "Power grid conditions" causing GHCA fault? on Reddit r/polestar3, owners discussed a bulletin saying the GHCA failures come from sensitivity to certain power grid conditions. A technician told one owner the old part's solenoid and relay were too sensitive and the new part needs a newer chip. Another owner linked a Polestar question-and-answer service document hosted on an NHTSA-file mirror.

Quick tip

Keep a folder of every GHCA repair order. Repeat failures on paper are what turn a frustrating car into a buyback case.

Vehicle focus: Polestar 3 electric SUV, 2025-2026.

Safety / mechanic note

The GHCA is high-voltage equipment. Verify with a mechanic.