USB Port Problem (Galaxy SIII)

[TwixieShores]

I'm sorry if this question has been answered, but while I've seen similar problems on this forum, I can't seem to find the exact problems I'm having. When I left my apartment this morning, I noticed that my phone was saying it was charging even though I had unplugged it. I thought it was a simple error, so I turned it off until I got home. When I got back, I went to charge my phone in this afternoon with my wall charger. My phone was sporadic about it saying it was charging (and even when it was saying it was, the phone was losing power at a faster rate than usual. Also, the phone will enter driving mode and car mode, even though I own neither devices. I've tried cleaning the usb port out with a toothbrush, but that does not seemed to have helped.

 

[Rukbat]

Turn the phone off. Take the battery out. Get a strong light (flashlight, desk lamp). Get a magnifying glass. Look into the charging port. You may see dirt, or you may see that the center piece is bent so that the metal fingers on it are touching the metal shell. Carefully clean or bend so that none of the fingers are shorted. (If you have to clean it, blow first. If there's still dirt, use a fine needle.)