- cross-posted to:
- technology@hexbear.net
- cross-posted to:
- technology@hexbear.net
Cross posted from https://hexbear.net/post/9006467
A Sycamore Township man said a mandatory software update on his Volkswagen Jetta appeared to trigger a cascade of malfunctions, leaving key safety features and the infotainment system not working properly. A dealership then told him it would cost $1,600 to diagnose and repair:
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Volkswagen should fix that shit for free. I can’t tell you how pissed off I’d be if some random OTA update bricked my car.
It’s happened twice to me in my Mach-E. Bricked and had to be towed from my garage. Luckily under warranty so I didn’t pay anything. I’ve now since turned off all auto updates because it’s ridiculous that an OTA can render your car useless.
Any software update for anything always carries that risk, even with fail safes built in, its just the nature of software.
It sucks, but itll always be the case.
Edit: and even the software can fuck with the hardware. Tesla had an issue once where they were logging to much data and they were burning out the memory before the cars end of life.
I usually delay updating until they have more of a chance to fix any bugs.
Don’t buy the first few years of a newly released car. Rules to live by. The Mach-E had all kinds of power train failures including fusing the high voltage battery junction box contacts open and or closed which disables the vehicle.
Dont buy a car past 2013
I can’t refute this.
I bought the 4th year of the Mach-E. Mine was after the HVJB and that was primarily only affecting the GT models anyway, which I don’t have.
Nah. The non-GT models were also affected.
And in this case it doesn’t matter if you bought a fourth year Mach E when you’re buying from an automotive company with the most recalls in the industry year over year for like the last 5-6 years running.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCMN-23V687-5094.pdf
The Mach E has had so many recalls. Axle half shafts causing a clicking while turning, differential pinion shafts that shear off or fracture, a whole litany of infotainment issues, botched updates. I seem to recall something about windshield wiper motors, and a problem with some of the glass by the D pillar.
Clearly you know so much more than me about my own car. I shared an experience with my software and you wanna tell me how shit my car is overall. I have had 0 mechanical issues and I’m at 30k miles. I’ve also done 0 maintenance, i haven’t paid a dime past purchasing it and electricity.
Also, I’m very well aware of the HVJB issue and once again, it primarily affected GT models only. I didn’t say only GT models, and it’s also non-existent these days. The axle issue is affecting the first few years and they have issued a recall to address it. For Ford’s first real attempt at an EV, they’ve done a fantastic job. The car has not been a real problem and the big issues have been addressed. There is a guy who is now at 300k miles i believe and the battery has shown minimal degradation with minimal maintenance performed.
First and foremost, Ford had their first real attempt at an EV back in 2011/2012 with the Ford Focus Electric.
Secondly, you seem to have read my original comment as “don’t buy the first two years” when that’s not what I said. Your 4th model yearc car very much falls into the window of my original comment.
Third, your comment made it sound like there weren’t forums full of Mach E owners dragging their balls over Ford’s name to force them to do recalls on the thing.
All I did was point out why I wouldn’t recommend you buy a brand new vehicle line from the car manufacturer with the most recalls of any of its peers.
You decided to take that as a slight instead of the tongue in cheek ribbing it was and now we are here.
I do know more about that vehicle line than you do but that’s neither here nor there. You can stay mad if you’d like, but I’m out.
Most would consider the Mach-E to be the first real attempt but whatever. And secondly, you clearly didn’t read my comment because I said I have the 4th year of the car, not a 4 year old car. My car is just shy of 2 years old. I clearly know more about my car than you as I drive it every day and I hang out on the Mach-E forums so I know what’s going on daily in the news. I don’t really care about Fords recalls as a whole as vast majority are for ICE vehicles and have nothing to do with their EVs. My car has had 2 recalls since I’ve owned it and 1 of them was an OTA update (that did brick the car that I complained about originally).
They should have to cover the costs if a OTA update is pushed even if the normal warranty is up. Not saying as fact, but it should be. They are the ones that push the updates and the owners of the cars are just doing what makes sense if they see an update is ready to install.
I agree but I know Ford ain’t gonna cover shit once my warranty is up (which is soon). The only way would be to fight in court which isn’t worth the time or money. So I just turned off updates. It’s not like they are adding cool features ever.
I also agree that court would unfortunately be the route they would rather take it (with their money and lawyers’ time). Turning off the updates being an option is better than nothing regarding risks, but really sucks that even knowing the risks (possible with updates for anything) isn’t something a average owner/user thinks about (and really shouldn’t be expected to).
The more I hear about all the extra levels of data collecting and issues that get shifted onto the owners like this case. The more I am kind of glad to have an older model that their app/updates and features related to them hasn’t supported for a while. Would be nice to be able to use the infotainment unit with my phone for displaying GPS instead of my phone on a mount that covers the screen (I think Android Auto was an option for the model the year after). I can still do calls and show blue-tooth media, and the backup camera works fine (would be pissed if the cam was tied to updates or plans that aren’t an option anymore).
You wouldn’t download a car.
I mean, you still wouldn’t, because you still can’t. AFAIK there is no printable project available that will make you a fully functional car, neither electric and certainly not ICE.
You must be fun at parties
It's called a virtual car
Sarcasm
Nevermind cars! I have a strict policy that companies may not reach into my devices remotely and do things. For EVERY thing I own. Cars AND non-cars!
Pull, not push.
As soon as the dealer quoted $1600 to fix I’d whip out my phone right there and call the state Attorney Generals office and file a consumer affairs complaint against both Volkswagen and the dealer.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I’m pretty sure my next car will be
used.[edit] sorry, I mean “Pre-owned”. Don’t flame me.
What’s wrong with “used car” as a term?
To me its the only good term.
If it’s a sale by owner gets me hard.
Nothing beats finding a nice looking truck or car on the side of the road and finding the right person at the right time.
Anything past 2013 is not worth the time.
It’s considered newist.
Ohh so like buying new is superior? Nah. I mean for some things like hard drives (for PCs) or smartphones there’s good reasons to do that (could have malware on it), but cars or appliances I’d think that someone who thinks buying new is superior is dumb. If the thing is well maintained, you’re getting something from a device class leagues above what you’d get new. Plus modern machines are full of cloud crap that makes it break after a few years when the manufacturer pulls the plug on the servers. Used is king!
used is fine, dunno why you changed it?
I think one guy has a Volkswagen Jetta he can sell you.
