6 ms·

Isn’t the title misleading? They cannot unlock through phone app but they can still unlock using the card.

detaro 5y ago
I'm totally not up to speed on Tesla details, but weren't those only added later for the higher-end models, so people that bought before might not have those? (+ of course you can bet that a pile of people doesn't carry them because the phone method "always" worked)
- breser 5y ago
  There are 4 ways to unlock a Tesla. * Via Bluetooth from your phone. Model 3 and Y used this as the primary way of unlocking. This does not require a Tesla server. It's just local communication between the car and the phone. The car and the phone are paired. * Via a key card. Model 3 and Y use this as the method when you get the car until you pair it with the phone and what you use if you want to give someone temporary access to the car (e.g service, valets). * Via a key fob. Model S and X used this in the past (not sure if the latest refresh changed this but older S and X vehicles didn't support Bluetooth or Key cards) as the primary method. * Remotely via the phone app. As in you make an API call to Tesla with your Tesla credentials and Tesla sends a remote command to the car. This requires Internet access for the device making the request and to the car in order to receive the command. This last bit is what's broken. Given the requirements this has never been very reliable and nobody would want to use this on a day to day basis. So I seriously doubt very many people are locked out of their cars. I am able to get into my 2015 Model S via the key fob and my 2018 Model 3 via Bluetooth from my phone.
  - ajross 5y ago
    FWIW: my understanding is that the current generation of fobs are just bluetooth devices speaking the same protocol as the app.
    - breser 5y ago
      Could be. I don't believe the old fobs were bluetooth. For what it's worth I also didn't mention that at least the old fobs also had an RFID in them that if the battery was dead you could just hold them up to certain spots on the car to open/drive it.
anonymousiam 5y ago
If you read through the posts, some are saying they cannot get into their car at all. Others are saying you can call Roadside Assistance for a remote unlock, but I wonder what the hold times are there right now...
petee 5y ago
It sounds like from the forum that some people rely on only the app, and Tesla markets this as an option. Seems like a big issue to push that feature and then for it to be down for hours.
- markdown 5y ago
  Who the hell doesn't take their key with them? What if the phone battery dies?
  - petee 5y ago
    Who makes an app to unlock the car when you're carrying the key? You could also run out of car charge, but youre not worried about that, both you can just look at the gauge. My phone battery lasts all day, and the internet is rarely down; but servers on the other hand...
    - markdown 5y ago
      Because people lose keys, and they lose phones, but the chances of losing both at the same time are quite low. An app is a great backup to have.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
  - fiddlerwoaroof 5y ago
    Yeah, when I took delivery the Tesla employee said something like “make sure you always have the keycard with you”
  - gs17 5y ago
    Some people are just like that. I have a friend who drives a different brand that has a similar feature, and he uses the app almost exclusively, even though getting to it and waiting for it to go through takes far longer than me using my fob. He just really likes doing it the "high tech" way and only using one gadget for everything.

I'm totally not up to speed on Tesla details, but weren't those only added later for the higher-end models, so people that bought before might not have those? (+ of course you can bet that a pile of people doesn't carry them because the phone method "always" worked)

breser 5y ago
There are 4 ways to unlock a Tesla. * Via Bluetooth from your phone. Model 3 and Y used this as the primary way of unlocking. This does not require a Tesla server. It's just local communication between the car and the phone. The car and the phone are paired. * Via a key card. Model 3 and Y use this as the method when you get the car until you pair it with the phone and what you use if you want to give someone temporary access to the car (e.g service, valets). * Via a key fob. Model S and X used this in the past (not sure if the latest refresh changed this but older S and X vehicles didn't support Bluetooth or Key cards) as the primary method. * Remotely via the phone app. As in you make an API call to Tesla with your Tesla credentials and Tesla sends a remote command to the car. This requires Internet access for the device making the request and to the car in order to receive the command. This last bit is what's broken. Given the requirements this has never been very reliable and nobody would want to use this on a day to day basis. So I seriously doubt very many people are locked out of their cars. I am able to get into my 2015 Model S via the key fob and my 2018 Model 3 via Bluetooth from my phone.
- ajross 5y ago
  FWIW: my understanding is that the current generation of fobs are just bluetooth devices speaking the same protocol as the app.
  - breser 5y ago
    Could be. I don't believe the old fobs were bluetooth. For what it's worth I also didn't mention that at least the old fobs also had an RFID in them that if the battery was dead you could just hold them up to certain spots on the car to open/drive it.

anonymousiam 5y ago

If you read through the posts, some are saying they cannot get into their car at all. Others are saying you can call Roadside Assistance for a remote unlock, but I wonder what the hold times are there right now...

petee 5y ago

It sounds like from the forum that some people rely on only the app, and Tesla markets this as an option. Seems like a big issue to push that feature and then for it to be down for hours.

markdown 5y ago
Who the hell doesn't take their key with them? What if the phone battery dies?
- petee 5y ago
  Who makes an app to unlock the car when you're carrying the key? You could also run out of car charge, but youre not worried about that, both you can just look at the gauge. My phone battery lasts all day, and the internet is rarely down; but servers on the other hand...
  - markdown 5y ago
    Because people lose keys, and they lose phones, but the chances of losing both at the same time are quite low. An app is a great backup to have.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
- fiddlerwoaroof 5y ago
  Yeah, when I took delivery the Tesla employee said something like “make sure you always have the keycard with you”
- gs17 5y ago
  Some people are just like that. I have a friend who drives a different brand that has a similar feature, and he uses the app almost exclusively, even though getting to it and waiting for it to go through takes far longer than me using my fob. He just really likes doing it the "high tech" way and only using one gadget for everything.