Software updates can have unintended consequences

[Blue highway]

When implemented properly, software can have portable and near-instant automatic test suites to validate the safety of software and many hardware related changes (unlike, say, the lug nuts holding your wheels to your car). Are the manufacturers doing this today? Doubt it. They're all rushing as fast as they can. But I still maintain that software is not inherently more dangerous.

the facts don't matter... this is an emotional issue, not a facts issue... sadly.

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[Maui]

these kinds of stories have existed prior to the introduction of software to the system. I remember long ago there being videos of cars popping out of park. Purely mechanical issues. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park-to-reverse?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

[Vice]

As reported in today's Wall Street Journal, "safety advocates have raised concerns about the growing use of software to repair faulty car parts. Software can be very complex, and automakers don’t have precise government standards to follow to ensure software fixes are validated, safety advocates say."

Peter Rothschild was driving home down a steep singlelane road in Northern California when suddenly his Volvo SUV started accelerating out of control. “I kept pushing on the brakes and pushing on the brakes,” said the 69-year-old retired radiologist. But for several seconds, nothing he could do would slow down the car. Rothschild was able to steer his gray Volvo SUV up a hilly roadside, bringing the car to a stop. The side air bags deployed, and the vehicle suffered some damage. “I don’t think I would’ve made the next curve and would’ve gone off the side,” he said.

As further quoted, "Volvo says it didn’t know that his 2025 XC90 plug-in hybrid SUV had a braking defect. It materialized after an April safety recall for 400,000 vehicles over rearview camera failures. That recall involved several software updates. Volvo later identified that about 11,500 plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles that received those updates could experience the same braking failure. Volvo said the software update to fix the camera issue was packaged with other software updates that introduced a separate braking issue. The carmaker also said that software updates allow it to resolve issues faster and that investments in software help make its vehicles better and safer."

We all know this could never happen with our cars with the elaborate software testing protocols before any updates are released. Anyway, it is something to think about after we receive an update. Several of the software updates I have received have caused some wonky unintentional results which likely got missed in the initial software testing.

Hi,
I have experienced something like that, not with the brakes not working but after the update they called "Advance Sign recognitions" my 21 AWD has started directing me where I should go, fx. I have many times driven on the freeway with 135km/t on cruise control when suddenly an arrow appears on the driver's display showing me to take the next exit and then the car starts slowing down/braking till I'm going 30km/t in the middle of the freeway, that's dangerous and I'm not using any form of navigation.
I have also experienced this on the highway.
I have videos of it on my phone but they are to big to put on here.
I have shown the videos to the dealer where I bought the car but they don't know what to do.

Also the camera in the car that looks at the driver has acted up since the update, fx. if I'm in a roundabout and have to take the last exit, the display starts blinking red "take control" but I can't do anything because I'm turning, then the car starts yanking because it thinks I'm sleeping and all because it can't see me for the center column in the steering wheel, I have never had that problem before the update.

I have had a mechanic from the Ford dealer with me driving where all that happened but still they don't know what to do, they tell me to wait and hope for a new update to fix it but now it has been like that for several months.

What to do I think it has ruined my car

I have tried to reach out to Ford in US but I can't find an email address to one that can help me.
Hopefully someone from Ford see this

Best regards
Vice

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