Lessons Learned From a Jeep Owner’s Software Woes

There appears to be no escaping Jeep’s ties to now infamous software updates for vehicles. As you might recall, it was only a couple of months ago that the brand found itself at the forefront of software concerns after a duo of well-known hackers remotely took over a Cherokee.

Now, the owner of a 2015 Renegade, Vivian Lin, is taking issue with Jeep. Lin claims that she only learned that her new Jeep needed a software update after someone broke into the vehicle, according to ABC 10 News.

“I realized my glove box was open and I thought it was just me at first,” Lin told the local San Diego news affiliate. But it wasn’t until later, when she presumably locked the Renegade, did she realize the locks weren’t working, despite the reassuring “beep.”

“I hear the beep and the light flashes. Automatically to me, that’s good to go,” Lin said. Turns out, the Jeep needed…yup, you got it, a software update, which she finally had done at a dealership. Needless to say, Lin was pretty upset about the entire ordeal.

That said, there’s a bigger lesson for all new Jeep owners, which lies in a corporate response that Jeep sent the San Diego ABC affiliate when questioned about Lin’s situation, as highlighted below:

What should consumers do if they run into a similar issue? Who should they contact?

Contact their local dealer.

How was she supposed to know there was a software upgrade?

Unfortunately, a customer may not know there is an upgrade until visiting a dealer, or if a problem reveals itself like in this case with the doors not locking.

How often are software upgrades needed on vehicles? It appears the upgrade fixed the problem, but it was a brand new car. I think most people don’t believe there will be issues with a brand new vehicle.

While not that common, as vehicles become more advanced it is not uncommon that software needs to be upgraded or reflashed. Most dealers will check a vehicle’s software as part of normal servicing (lube, oil, filter, tire rotations).

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

Via [ABC 10 News]