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Why the Use of "Recall" for Tesla Over-the-Air Updates Is Silly
- Retric 3y agoSoftware can be just as critical a safety feature as hardware these days. The formality of a recall will get people to update who wouldn't normally bother which is why you need to take this stuff seriously.
- compsciphd 3y agodo you have a choice to update or not update a tesla?
- jerlam 3y agoIt doesn't seem so: Tesla gives deadline to force software updates on owners who have been resisting them: https://electrek.co/2020/02/14/tesla-force-software-updates-owners-resisting-them/ https://electrek.co/2020/02/14/tesla-force-software-updates-...
- Retric 3y agoThat assumes a working cellular modem. Tesla has already lost connectivity with pre-June 2015 models in the the US. Long term we can expect all onboard cellular modems to become outdated as cellular networks evolve in various countries.
- seanmcdirmid 3y agoYou can install updates over Wi-Fi. Actually, my BMW only updates over Wi-Fi or my phone’s cellular, the cellular in the car only applies to certain services (remote unlock, preconditioning, etc…). I’m not sure what Tesla is doing, but using the car’s cellular connection for an update isn’t the only possible option.
- Retric 3y agoSure, but now you need a secondary channel outside of the infotainment system to notify people of critical safety issues. ie recalls
- seanmcdirmid 3y agoThis feels like a solved problem, since you have an app for your car on your phone, although I guess you could disable notifications for that app. Upgrading your cellular connection on your car gives you remote services back, it’s useful for that alone, but recall notifications can just be routed through the app so I don't think I would miss much.
- Retric 3y agoCan have an app is not the same as must have an app. You can use a Tesla without the app.
- seanmcdirmid 3y agoYes, but > 99% of Tesla owners do not use a Tesla without the app.
- Retric 3y agoAny data to back that up? It doesn't line up with my experience.
- seanmcdirmid 3y agoConsidering that a Fob is optional add on for the Model 3/Y, isn't it obvious?
- Retric 3y agoNo, it’s an optional add on popular enough they still make it. Which suggests a significant portion of users aren’t using their phones.
- Retric 3y agoIt's normally automatic, but there's quite a few edge cases. Tesla's manufactured pre-June 2015 (which is still quite young for a car) are losing OTA updates because AT&T ended 3G coverage in 2022. They can be updated, but not everyone is going to do so regularly.
- Ukv 3y agoOveruse of a warning, hoping to make everyone take everything seriously, can cause alert fatigue and be just as dangerous as underuse. If someone investigates "millions of cars recalled" headlines/letters, believing it'll require action on their part (as the standard non-NHTSA meaning of "recall" suggests), only to repeatedly find issues like a font size fix that they already automatically received (and the manufacturer can see that they already received/acknowledged, but had to send the letter regardless) then they're likely to give less weight to the next recall.
- Retric 3y agoI've had multiple recalls handled by the dealer during normal service appointments without being aware of the issue. It's a normal part of car ownership, the only risk here is the number of software related recalls not their nature. OTA updates have theoretical upsides, but in practice result in worse software being released on day one. Unfortunately, this has meaningful safety consequences.
- zaptrem 3y agoSoftware "recalls" (safety updates) should require prominent notices via push notification and infotainment banners, not physical mail.
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- greenthrow 3y agoRecall is a defined legal procedure. It doesn't matter if it has to actually go into a service center or not. This is absurd nit picking.
- fragmede 3y agoI mean, it is, but having to schedule an appointment, drop off the vehicle at the service center, pick it it up later, vs it gets magically fixed over the air while the vehicle is sitting in your driveway, is a huge difference of logistics. So there needs to be new language.
- greenthrow 3y agoNo there doesn't because the term isn't describing that experience.
- fragmede 3y agoup until the very recent existence of OTA software updates, that is the experience, so, practically speaking, it does.