Do they need to be driven anywhere for the fix or is it like an automatic update?
Someone mentioned in another thread that this is still technically a recall, but I didn’t understand why.
I felt like calling it a recall might make people distrust future news about issues (or a bigger more traditional “send the car back for physical part swap” recall). Maybe a different term is needed?
You don’t need to take it anywhere. The car will download it using its own antenna and then prompt you to schedule the update the next time you get in the car.
It’s just an automatic software update, like what happens regularly when Musk decides he wants to add new fart noises or whatever, so users just have to accept the update when it pops on their screen.
It’s still officially called a recall because it’s something the government asked them to fix, but yeah, it’s super misleading to call it that.
So, recalls (voluntary or mandated) are handled the way they are for the purposes of protecting the public and regulating the industry. The reason for this is that it affects the safety of the people using the product. As a result, even if it’s not a physical recall of a part or what have you, owners have to be notified and there’s a system apparatus in place to do that for car manufacturers. When air bags were turning themselves into shrapnel grenades, they sent out a letter explaining etc and urging that people get their vehicle serviced to correct it. With OTA’s you may not even live in a place where your vehicle gets good cell service and as a result, may not get the ota right away. Say you bought the vehicle for the track or as a show car? Maybe it sits in a big metal container some of the time or all of the time when it’s not in use. It would be good for the owner to know that a recall had been issued and an OTA is available.
It’s seriously as easy as an Android or iOS update. It couldn’t be any less pain. Removing the FUD, Tesla’s update system is the gold standard for OTA updates by far (the CEO of Ford even agrees)
When your car is on WiFi it’ll send your phone a notification saying an update is available. Tap the notification, confirm you want to do it, wait 15-20 mins (up to 40 for some of the big ones), and get a phone notification when you’re done.
If you don’t set your phone up for it, the car’s screen can prompt you to do it.
Keep in mind, a LOT (maybe even all) of components in a Tesla have firmware that can be OTA updatable. This is just not the case with anyone else. Hyundai and Ford have some updates that require you to drag your car in and have a tech push an update button.
Example: That window recall involving the potential to injure fingers last year? OTA firmware fix.
I do think we need a better term for this. An issue involving a critical safety component like an airbag deserves a LOT more attention than a font change.
Do they need to be driven anywhere for the fix or is it like an automatic update?
Someone mentioned in another thread that this is still technically a recall, but I didn’t understand why.
I felt like calling it a recall might make people distrust future news about issues (or a bigger more traditional “send the car back for physical part swap” recall). Maybe a different term is needed?
You don’t need to take it anywhere. The car will download it using its own antenna and then prompt you to schedule the update the next time you get in the car.
It’s just an automatic software update, like what happens regularly when Musk decides he wants to add new fart noises or whatever, so users just have to accept the update when it pops on their screen.
It’s still officially called a recall because it’s something the government asked them to fix, but yeah, it’s super misleading to call it that.
Ah gotcha ok, thank you!
None of these “recalls” have required you take the cars in.
My car downloads it and I install whenever is convenient for me.
So, recalls (voluntary or mandated) are handled the way they are for the purposes of protecting the public and regulating the industry. The reason for this is that it affects the safety of the people using the product. As a result, even if it’s not a physical recall of a part or what have you, owners have to be notified and there’s a system apparatus in place to do that for car manufacturers. When air bags were turning themselves into shrapnel grenades, they sent out a letter explaining etc and urging that people get their vehicle serviced to correct it. With OTA’s you may not even live in a place where your vehicle gets good cell service and as a result, may not get the ota right away. Say you bought the vehicle for the track or as a show car? Maybe it sits in a big metal container some of the time or all of the time when it’s not in use. It would be good for the owner to know that a recall had been issued and an OTA is available.
It’s seriously as easy as an Android or iOS update. It couldn’t be any less pain. Removing the FUD, Tesla’s update system is the gold standard for OTA updates by far (the CEO of Ford even agrees)
When your car is on WiFi it’ll send your phone a notification saying an update is available. Tap the notification, confirm you want to do it, wait 15-20 mins (up to 40 for some of the big ones), and get a phone notification when you’re done.
If you don’t set your phone up for it, the car’s screen can prompt you to do it.
Keep in mind, a LOT (maybe even all) of components in a Tesla have firmware that can be OTA updatable. This is just not the case with anyone else. Hyundai and Ford have some updates that require you to drag your car in and have a tech push an update button.
Example: That window recall involving the potential to injure fingers last year? OTA firmware fix.
I do think we need a better term for this. An issue involving a critical safety component like an airbag deserves a LOT more attention than a font change.