You might want to check the polarity of the socket with a multimeter. If someone managed to hook it up with the center negative and the outer shell positive it might work fine with the cigarette lighter but not with a charger or other device. The lighter is simple resistance coil, doesn't care about which way the power flows but most chargers definitely do care.

If it is wired backwards it would be a wiring short just waiting to happen as well. Usually the outer shell is grounded to some part of the dash just by touch, but it might just be hitting plastic and not shorting out, for now.