Tesla Software Update Traps TikToker Inside 115-Degree Car

According to the Tesla owner’s manual, “Vehicle functions, including some safety systems and opening or closing the doors or windows, may be limited or disabled when installation is in progress and you could damage the vehicle.” Janel chose to heed Tesla’s warning and did not attempt to open her doors or windows during the installation process for fear of damaging her vehicle, but this seems like a very dangerous oversight on Tesla’s part that she was able to be stuck inside at all.

The door mechanisms on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are electrically operated, and under normal circumstances are opened from the inside using a simple button to unlatch the door. Should the vehicle have no power, these models do have auxiliary manual cable release levers also found on the door panel, but Tesla warns against using the manual mechanism, citing that it should only be used when the car has no power. Janel said she was aware of this option but didn’t want to risk damaging her car, and she felt confident that she could stick out the heat.

…

The Tesla owners manual states that the car will not initiate a software update if Keep Climate mode, Dog Mode, Sentry Mode or Camp Mode are engaged, but it fails to require vehicle occupants to exit the vehicle before the debilitating installation process begins. Tesla also recommends owners install software updates as soon as possible, which could cause some owners to feel obligated to initiate an update in a compromised environment.

…

Janel said her car estimated the install would only take 24 minutes, but it actually took 40 minutes, which was long enough for her car’s interior to reach 115 degrees. In a follow-up video, her caption states that she was afraid to mess up her car by getting out during the installation.

So maybe she was not doing the smartest thing by choosing not to damage her car even when it was getting dangerously hot, but considering how expensive Teslas are and how easy it is to violate their EULA, I can’t really fault her as much as I fault Tesla.

KISSmyOSFeddit,

Sounds like a useful update.

Etterra,

Remember not to leave your idiot inside an unattended car on a hot day.

TheWonderfool,

“Before you go jumping to conclusions about her ineptitude, Brianna Janel was actually following the rules laid out by Tesla.”

From the article. And from her own video she confirmed she was never in any threat for her health or her life. She just followed the VERY dumb instructions given her for fear it would damage her car… The only idiots here are the engineer at Tesla, that gives instructions that makes no practical sense (the manual opening of the door could damage the car… Seriously? How could you make a door that could be damaged of opened manually, especially if you do not expect the automatic mode of operation to be fully functional 100% of the time?)

boonhet,

especially if you do not expect the automatic mode of operation to be fully functional 100% of the time?

It’s Tesla. What makes you think they expect their software to work anything less than 100% of the time without any bugs?

maxenmajs,
@maxenmajs@lemmy.world avatar

It looks bad if they can’t isolate the doors from the main system. A door should never unexpectedly not be a door.

duckythescientist,

Except when it’s a jar.

Kolanaki,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

I mean, I don’t want a door to suddenly become ajar when I don’t expect it either. Like when driving on the freeway or in bed at 3am when I’m supposed to be alone.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I remember a vacation we took in the 80s where we rented a talking car. It would say, “the door is ajar” if you left the door open. My brother would always say, “and the jar is a door.”

vegantomato,
@vegantomato@lemmy.world avatar

It’s important to mention these flaws with Tesla specifically, because Elon Musk doesn’t have the right politics.

PS The name of this community is terribly ironic.

emergencyfood,

Elon Musk’s opinions on things like quality control and regulation might be why Tesla cars are so uniquely shit.

vegantomato, (edited )
@vegantomato@lemmy.world avatar

I think the issue is more related to his takeover of Twitter and the massive purge of leftist ideologues from one of the world’s largest social media company. I’m almost certain this has nothing to do with cars.

This is a massive loss of power and influence for these sorts of people. Now they are showing how much they are seething by playing all these games, like talking shit about Tesla lol.

FYI, I don’t even like Tesla. I think it’s a cyberpunk dystopia on wheels. I would never buy one nor recommend it to anybody. This is not about cars.

emergencyfood,

This article is about Tesla. Twitter isn’t involved in any way. Also, people - specifically people on Twitter - seem to vastly overestimate that platform’s impact.

boonhet,

Musk was hated by a lot of people long before his takeover of Twitter, and by many before he even started going all political. The EnoughMuskSpam subreddit has existed for 8 years.

The man shills solutions that don’t work (Hyperloop) to oppose public transit projects so the US would stay car dependent, lets his company operate with near zero quality control (literally, interior panels often just… fall off on Teslas a couple of days or weeks after delivery?) and so on. This was all long before 2020, which is the year he turned into a right-wing nutter because… checks notes … the lockdowns were affecting Tesla’s revenue and he wanted to be able to force his employees to continue working in unsafe conditions.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

You’re the one who brought him up.

vegantomato,
@vegantomato@lemmy.world avatar

The name of the community, the constant Tesla (Elon) bad postings on the front page, it’s getting ridiculous.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

You know you can just block a community you don’t like, right?

Secret300,

I feel like I’m the only one of my generation that hates adding tech to shit that doesn’t need it. It’s ridiculous and ass backwards

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I certainly think that cars should not need regular OTA updates.

Secret300,

Yeah it’s honestly ridiculous. I can kinda understand it for fully electric vehicles to maybe tweak how the motors work but it’s all the other useless shit that’s usually being updated

bitchkat,

I just love going to a dealer for a navigation map update. OTA updates are amazing.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I don’t mean to sound critical here but why bother updating a car navigational system when phones do a really good job and you can switch between multiple apps to see which one has the best route?

bitchkat,

It was rhetorical but applies to any fix that is a software fix. I have done updates while sitting in the car but I don’t do it with the door closed baking in the sun. OTA updates are amazing and I’d install daily builds if we could.

toynbee, (edited )

Not that it negates your statement, but my mother was always opposed to “bells and whistles.” She claimed that the more features there were, the more there was to break. We never had a car with windows that weren’t manually operated and our appliances were always the most basic. She didn’t live to see modern smart homes, but she would have been thoroughly opposed to the concept.

I share some of her opinion, but I think more balanced (and I don’t think her position would have been sustainable in today’s world anyway).

Edit: corrected a word.

boonhet,

I’m not one to oppose electric windows on a car, but I’ve certainly managed to avoid touchscreens so far (going as new as 2019 in my current/last Mercedes, even - unfortunately they ruined everything and went all-in on touch shortly afterwards).

I’d rather spend the extra money on more horsepower or a better suspension than on a crappy infotainment system that only ever shows the Carplay loading message and then is replaced by Carplay.

Secret300,

I completely agree with what your mom said.

Duamerthrax,

She almost certainly had seen her own Smart Home ads.

example 2 example 3.

Every decade or so, some company that wants to “vendor lock in” your whole home comes along with a new suite of appliances. Expect to see all those refrigerators with smart screens to be blank in ten years. At least some of those have raspberry pis that could be reformatted or harvested.

AA5B,

I’ve only had mine a few months but that doesn’t seem like anything I experienced. When there’s an update, it prompts me to schedule it, defaulting to 1am. I usually ignore the dialog until it goes away, and it updates overnight

I put this entirely on the tik tokker, although if Elon Musk really put a tik tokker sensor in the car, I’m going back to worshipping him

makeshiftreaper,

I have a Tesla and this is largely her own fault. These updates by default are scheduled to run at night. I think midnight is default but I’ve moved mine to 3 am. Even when the update is downloaded it won’t start it unless you press a button to do so, and that button is under a huge warning saying basically “your car will be totally useless for 20 minutes, please don’t be inside of it” then when you start the update you have 2 minutes to just open the door, I don’t even think you have to close it. There are also manual door handles inside the car. Tesla says that they might damage the locks, but that’s still better than heatstroke. So she either manually started the update, ignored every warning and locked herself in her car, or she changed when her car updates automatically to the middle of the day which is likely when she uses it most

I understand that you should still be able to operate the doors even during software updates, and that it’s a design flaw that all of these systems are so tightly intertwined that general updates make the car unusable, but it’s not like the car doesn’t give you a bunch of warnings

Also gizmodo argues that the car should require you to not be in it while it updates, however when we see the headline that someone got locked out of their Tesla during a blizzard and froze to death, then people will ask why they aren’t allowed to be in the car. You own a 2 ton death machine, there should be a minimum amount responsiblity we expect you to have to operate it safely for yourself and everyone around you

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I think you missed the part where the update took twice as long as it said it would. She stayed in the car based on how long it said it would take. That is not her fault.

makeshiftreaper,

Ok, why did she want to lock herself in a car on a hot day for 20 minutes? Why did she lock herself in a car at all? I don’t really care how long it took, it’s a dumb idea if it works like it says and it’s dumber if it doesn’t

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I’m guessing because she didn’t think it was hot enough that it would be bad for 20 minutes but didn’t know that it would last 40 minutes. I don’t think it’s her fault that she believed what she was told about the update.

makeshiftreaper,

she didn’t think

Thus my point

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Well if your point is that people don’t plan for scenarios they have no reason to plan for, that is correct.

makeshiftreaper,

Chart showing temperatures of cars on hot days

Looking at this chart, if everything went according to her “plan” her car would have been over 100 at 20 minutes and could even hit the 118 the headline claims in that time frame. Also it doesn’t say “this update will take 18 minutes and 36 seconds to complete” it says “this update will take approximately 20 minutes to complete”. Approximately 20 minutes can very reasonably be 30 minutes and that could even get her car above 120. I feel like I shouldn’t need to use a chart to tell grown adults “locking yourself in a car in the sun for a non-specific amount of time” is a bad idea

Chart sourced from the National Weather Service courtesy of CBS

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

In what way is 40 minutes “approximately 20 minutes?”

makeshiftreaper,

First of all, this dipshit didn’t pay attention, got themselves stuck in a hot car like a beagle, and rather than look for a solution went on tiktok to bitch. You’re giving a lot of credit to someone who seems incapable of planning more than 2 minutes into the future

Secondly, will you please read anything I write if you’re going to argue with me?

Approximately 20 minutes can very reasonably be 30 minutes and that could even get her car above 120

Even if you truly believe she read the warning and decided to stay in the car regardless, it’s still a stupid fucking idea. That’s a dangerous amount of time to be in a hot car as the graph indicates

Finally, I don’t know why you’re harping on 40 minutes so hard. I don’t care how long it is. As I said previously:

I feel like I shouldn’t need to use a chart to tell grown adults “locking yourself in a car in the sun for a non-specific amount of time” is a bad idea

You’re ultimately arguing that she made the reasonable decision to put herself in a vehicle that told her it would be inoperable, including the doors, while in midday heat, for an unspecified period of time

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

When the “non-specific amount of time” is “approximately 20 minutes” and I think I can stand approximately 20 minutes in my car before it gets too hot, then why should I plan to be there for much longer instead?

makeshiftreaper,

I literally posted a chart from our government proving that “approximately 20 minutes” is still dangerous. So it’s still a stupid idea

Anyway, this is my last response. You’re not reading or responding to what I say, so I can go chat with a wall for all this is accomplishing

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

That silly woman! Didn’t she look at your chart?!

bitchkat,

They always say 25 minutes but I don’t start one if I’m planning on driving within an hour.

guacupado,

There’s a reason she does tiktoks.

DaddleDew,

Stop making the future stupid.

Bring back “dumb” devices that just do what we bought them for.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I’d be fine if ‘smart’ devices actually worked. If a car like a Tesla actually could self-drive wherever you wanted safely and without using any fossil fuels, that would be great. But Tesla only does one of those things.

umbrella,
@umbrella@lemmy.ml avatar

i think it would be fine if they didnt make the software controlling these appliances so absurd and proprietary.

Tar_alcaran,

It took a decade between the first “smart” lightbulb and a “dumb-but-dimmable” lamp. I’m not holding out much hope for cars.

Edit: I mean I can control it via cellphone, without it being online, requiring a hub or closed-source app, and it also works via the actual light switch.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Nor am I. I think it will take a long time before cars understand enough to self-drive in enough situations to make it generally safe for drivers and pedestrians.

And definitely not without LIDAR, but Musk refuses to use it.

At best right now, we have robotaxis that can work within very limited areas and they fuck up constantly.

bitchkat,

They and others are moving closer to that goal. I probably won’t live to see it (I have about 20 years left) but I’m glad you youngsters will be able to hop in your car after work and sleep while the car drives you several hundred miles.

cm0002,

It’s not even a smart device problem, it’s a poorly/incompetently designed smart device problem.

There’s probably a hundred different ways they could have designed the update mechanism/door mechanism so that one could open/close doors (at a bare minimum) as they please during the install process.

But they probably chose the laziest cheapest route.

set_secret,

Fwiw, i own a m3 and the doors open just fine as regular manual doors, the door handle is very obvious and it works anytime, including software updates (I’ve tried it), it also doesn’t break anything.

Fwiw i also hate Musk and am embarrassed to be associated with a company he is ceo of. But this is a story about a very very stupid person, not a car design issue.

cm0002,

but Tesla warns against using the manual mechanism, citing that it should only be used when the car has no power.

I’m not saying she’s the smartest person in the world, but when the manufacturer is telling people “ONLY use this when you have NO power or you might break your 40k car” eventually you’ll get an article like this

If Teslas actually do have a decent chance of breaking something or causing the update to fail and bricking the car just because the manual mechanism is used then that absolutely is a car design issue

If not, then it’s a messaging issue and Tesla is still primarily responsible

funkless_eck,

It’s the same thing as “don’t call me an ambulance it’s too expensive”

Some may have bought Teslas during good times, fall on bad times, and now if they fuck up their car could end up jobless and homeless. I dont blame them.

kbal,
@kbal@fedia.io avatar

The over-the-air software updates are reason number one not to buy a Tesla. What are the other reasons, you might ask? It doesn't matter, that one is enough.

MisterD,

Can you at least pull the fuse for it?

ThelVadam,

Current owner of 4 and a half years (love the car, it’s not perfect but then again nothing is, but the company is ass and don’t even get me started on the CEO).

In my experience, Tesla will only force an update if it contains a “recall” hotfix. The car requires to be connected to a WiFi network to download the update (it won’t use the onboard data even if you pay for the premium plan).

I’ve seen people claim that the car will automatically download an update on its own if it sits ignored long enough (even without WiFi or premium data plan), but I’ve had an update sit for 3 months and my car never attempted to download/install it on its own so I’m not sure what “long enough” means.

If you really wanted to, I’m sure you could completely prevent it from phoning home by pulling a fuse or finding the data antenna and disconnecting it, but I never looked into it myself.

Edit: My car also puts a 2min countdown on the screen when you start an update, that should give anyone plenty of time to leave the vehicle.

bitchkat,

They can download on LTE but they choose not to in most circumstances. Its very rare that they do that but I had a friend that got a forced update after not updating for over a year. That countdown timer is also good if someone happens to start an update while someone else is sitting in the car.

Kage520,

Wtf? I love the ota updates. Way better than going into the shop for my car to be improved

bitchkat,

One of my absolute favorite features. It would suck if my car’s software was the same as it was in 2019.

Rascabin,

Tesla is dumb for not making sure the software checks for temp data and if the vehicle is occupied. She is dumb for starting the update when it’s hot outside and not at night when the temps are cooler. I mean, can’t they remotely start the update or schedule it so nobody is in the car when it kicks off?

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

She definitely shares the blame here, but if my car can detect that there’s someone in the passenger seat not wearing their seat belt just by detecting the weight on the seat, Tesla can do the same in the driver’s seat when it wants to do an update.

stoly,

Yes but you see they have to pay a developer and a project manager to do that.

Darkassassin07,
@Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca avatar

I’d say the bigger issue is opening the doors being dependant on a computer.

The manual and electronic releases should work together interchangeably. (ie using the manual release should have no ability to damage the door…)

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

The manual release damaging the door is definitely part of the issue. Tesla has made it pretty clear that if you intentionally do anything to the car that causes damage, it’s breaking the ToS.

grue,

breaking the ToS [Terms of Service]

What “service?” It’s a fucking product and it’s a goddamn outrage that it has “terms” that survived past it being SOLD to its OWNER in the first place!!!

Edit: LOL, Lemmy truncated my exclamation points down to three.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I don’t disagree, but it is what it is.

bitchkat,

The woman pressed the button to install the update. I don’t think the car should prevent you from clicking that button just because you are in the seat.

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

“You are sitting in the car. Are you sure you want to update? Y/N”

Pretty simple warning. Seems like it would be an easy safety feature to add. Maybe with an update.

HollandJim,

I remember all the people bitching because VW made you get out and lock your car for major OTA updates. I’d park my ID.3 for the night, lock it and initiate the update - and yet we were some kind of mindless knobs for not being able to do it while sitting in the car (some tesla people can really group-hate, you know?)

I_Has_A_Hat,

A car designed for idiots failed to make a feature of their car idiot proof leading to an idiot potentially harming themselves.

supercriticalcheese,

How about a manual open door lever ?

vinceman,

The one that the company that built the car specifically said using would damage the mechanism? That manual door lever?

bitchkat,

Yes you can schedule the update time. That said, I’ve actually downloaded an update via phone hotspot on a trip and then pulled over to install it. I knew there was a small risk of bricking it but I’m willing to take that chance to use a new update right away on a road trip.

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