Wireless Charging Issues? You’re Not Alone

By all accounts, when you purchase a vehicle, all of the advertised features should function normally. That is just plain common sense. After all, there’s no doubt you paid quite a bit for the vehicle. You may even have had to shell out some extra money for an upgraded trim level to get all the features you wanted. That is why it can be an incredibly disheartening to find features that simply don’t work. If you paid for something, the bottom line is that it should work.

Some vehicles manufactured by Chevrolet over the past several years have been plagued by wireless charging pads that won’t charge. We have heard far too many stories about Chevrolet wireless charging not working. If you are running into this issue, you should know that you aren’t the only one. Many others are in the exact same situation, stuck with a wireless charging pad that has no effect on their phone. At Ultimate Rides, we strongly feel that this isn’t right. Today, we want to use this guide to inform our readers about this problem, as well as provide some potential solutions.

GMC and Chevrolet Wireless Charging Not Working

It must have come as quite the shock for many drivers when, after purchasing a new vehicle with plenty of upgrades, they find that their phone won’t receive a charge from the wireless charging pad. It’s a fairly new piece of technology, so it’s natural to assume that perhaps you aren’t using it correctly. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac and other models manufactured by General Motors over the past few years.

Whether you purchased your vehicle new or you picked up a recent used model, it’s a fair expectation that all of the vehicle features should be in working order. However, this wireless charging problem seems to be quite a common occurrence. There is simply no excuse for this. After realizing how widespread this problem turned out to be, General Motors would eventually release a replacement charging kit for the vehicles. Sounds great, right? Well, considering they attempted to charge customers for it, not so much.

It’s not the first time an auto manufacturer has left customers in the lurch. However, that doesn’t make it any more acceptable. Along with providing some extra information on this problem, we also want to help you fix it. There are a few ways to do so, and we’ll be detailing them later on in this guide. First, we want to elaborate on which products are likely to run into problems.

Phone Models Affected

There are a variety of vehicles from the model years 2015 through 2018 that reportedly feature defective wireless charging pads. It isn’t an issue for every phone, but some of the most popular phones from both then and now are unable to get a charge from the pads. This includes a variety of both iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models. Here is a list of the phone models that reportedly have had issues with the wireless charging pad:

• Samsung Galaxy S6 Active
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
• iPhone 5
• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
• iPhone 7 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 8X

If you have a phone that is not on our list but still are running into issues with Chevrolet wireless charging not working, let us know! We’ll make sure it gets added to the list so other people are aware.

Vehicle Models Affected

Additionally, there is a large selection of vehicles that this problem is commonly found on. They are as follows:

• 2017-2018 Buick LaCrosse
• 2018 Buick Regal
• 2018 Buick Regal Wagon
• 2015-2018 Cadillac ATS
• 2016-2018 Cadillac CT6
• 2015-2018 Cadillac CTS
• 2015-2016 Cadillac ELR
• 2015-2018 Cadillac Escalade
• 2017-2018 Cadillac XT5
• 2015-2018 Cadillac XTS
• 2017-2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
• 2016-2018 Chevrolet Camaro
• 2017-2018 Chevrolet Colorado
• 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze
• 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
• 2016-2018 Chevrolet Impala
• 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado
• 2016-2017 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2016-2017 Chevrolet Volt
• 2018 GMC Acadia
• 2017-2018 GMC Canyon
• 2016-2017 GMC Sierra
• 2015-2017 GMC Yukon

If you own a vehicle that is having these problems, and you notice it is not on our list, be sure to let us know! Just like with the phones, we will add it to the list and make sure our readers are aware of the problem.

How Wireless Charging is Supposed to Work

It wasn’t all that long ago that wireless charging was a cutting edge advancement in technology. All the same, that doesn’t excuse General Motors for installing and advertising a faulty feature in their vehicles. When functioning correctly, a wireless charging pad utilizes a process called inductive charging. Using this technique, the pad is able to transfer power not through a standard cable, but through magnetic fields. Underneath the charging pad is a small coil. When hit with a charge of power, the coil activates a small magnetic field. Compatible phones will have a coil of their own inside the device. This will receive the electromagnetic charge and power up.

The process is often somewhat slower than using a traditional phone charger. However, the hope is that this will change with advancements in the technology as we move into the future. You may also be surprised at how long phones have had the capability to be charged without the presence of a cable or wire. Since 2009, some phones have been outfitted with this tech in anticipation of the future. These days, it should be pretty common in just about every major smartphone on the market.

Potential Fixes for Wireless Charging Problems

There are a few ways to fix Chevrolet wireless charging not working and allow you to utilize your vehicle’s useful feature. These solutions can vary depending on the vehicle you own, so it’s worth doing some research before diving in. The first thing we recommend doing is contacting the dealership you purchased the vehicle from. Let them know what’s going on, and see if they have any options for you. If you’re lucky, your dealership may be able to fix or replace the issue without any cost to you. If that doesn’t wind up being the case, you may only have to pay a small amount to take care of the issue.

However, if they are trying to charge you an arm and a leg to fix a problem that isn’t your fault to begin with, there are other avenues available. You can always try a DIY fix right at home! First, you will need to buy the 2018 GM Wireless Charging module and harness. You can find the kit available on a variety of different websites, often for around $60. You will also need a few tools: a T-10 Torx screwdriver, a set of vehicle trim removal tools, and a knife sharp enough to cut off a small piece of molded plastic. Check out the video we’ve shared down below! It will walk you through the process of replacing the old module with a new one.

Is it possible to hack the current module instead?

While there is supposedly a way to hack the current wireless charging model to work, there has been some question as to how effective the process actually is. Since it’s not all that expensive, we really recommend just replacing the old module with an updated one. It’ll solve your problem and allow you to take advantage of your vehicle’s wireless charging! If you feel that the installation is out of your skill range, feel free to get in touch with Ultimate Rides or your chosen mechanic. There you will be able to find the assistance you need.

Final Thoughts on Chevrolet Wireless Charging Not Working Correctly

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: when you buy a vehicle, all the advertised features should work as intended. If your Chevrolet wireless charging not working correctly, we believe the manufacturer should take responsibility. Unfortunately, that often won’t turn out to be the case. Thankfully, those who know their way around a vehicle can fix the problem with relative ease. However, that does not change the fact that the issue shouldn’t exist in the first place. There has been some talk of a class action lawsuit against General Motors due to this issue. However, there hasn’t been an update on that front in at least several months. It seems that, for now, the best you can do is try to contact your dealership. If that fails, you should be able to fix the issue on your own, as annoying as that may be.

If you have any other questions about this problem, or you are looking for some installation help, we encourage you to reach out to us at Ultimate Rides. We’re located in Coal City, just about an hour south of Chicago. While we are an auto dealership, we also have our own service center with our own loyal customers. To learn more, just give us a call at 815-634-3900, or pay us a visit at 38 W. Division St., Coal City, IL 60416 when you’re ready.

Two Brothers With a Dream, Building The Best Ultimate Rides

Ultimate Rides consists of two brothers who have been buying and selling custom vehicles for over ten years. Selling lifted trucks by day and writing these awesome reviews by night! They started their Ultimate Rides journey with a third brother Jake, who was a big part of building the business they have today. In 2016 Jake passed away and losing their brother was the hardest thing they ever had to deal with. Even though they had a tragic loss they plan to continue to set a new trend for the auto industry, keeping customers number one. Pushing the envelope on the lifted truck market, these guys love researching and learning about everything in the auto industry!

 — Nick and Alex Bulanda, Founders of Ultimate Rides