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Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

bbc.com

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Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#11

Post by nommm-nommm »

newjersey wrote: post #6
pmarreck wrote: post #5

I'm sure the dealers are excited as hell about this (and non-software-updatable-over-the-air cars in general)

At least one of the configurations of the 2012 Ford Focus/Fiesta transmission had issues. The mechanic at the dealer agreed it was a problem. Ford never acknowledged their fault as far as I know. A firmware update about a year later seemingly fixed the issue. Why wouldn't they acknowledge the issue and tell people they're working on it? Liability issue?

>Ford never acknowledged their fault as far as I know.

Yes they did, they sent letters out and and they extended the warranty on the transmission. Twice.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/watchdog/mc-ford-fiesta-tran...

"Ford has acknowledged the potential for transmission problems in letters to owners and dealers. It has extended the warranty but has not recalled the vehicle."

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#12

Post by rando289 »

superuser2 wrote: post #10

Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability? It seems so strange that the market is willing to pay ~$40-$80k for a car totally indifferent to its engineering quality. If I were to own a luxury car, I'd want to know its engineering is rock-solid first and foremost. I'd want to be proud of it as a machine not just a symbol. Maybe that's just a techie thing, though. Volvo has been noto…

I've always thought, if I was rich, I would hire one or more developers who's job was to educate me on software (empowering me), and write and run software I was interested in. Wonder why I haven't heard of any rich people doing that?

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#13

Post by sbd01 »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #9

>> ">> The glitch had been reported by drivers of new Volvos who said the engine could cut out without warning, creating a brief absence of steering and braking." Do they just mean the power steering cuts out and brakes lose hydraulics? Because there's a pretty huge difference between that and 'a brief absence of steering and braking'.

Still, losing those functions is an issue. When it rains, my old Town & Country's power steering stops working and turns become difficult. I would hate to be driving and suddenly have it cut out on me, say, when I'm making a turn, or even just switching a few lanes.

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#14

Post by grogers »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #9

>> ">> The glitch had been reported by drivers of new Volvos who said the engine could cut out without warning, creating a brief absence of steering and braking." Do they just mean the power steering cuts out and brakes lose hydraulics? Because there's a pretty huge difference between that and 'a brief absence of steering and braking'.

My power steering went out once. The car was drivable, but just barely. Likewise if you've ever pumped the brakes while the engine is off, you know that braking power drops to almost nothing.

If that happened suddenly on the road 'loss of steering and brakes' is exactly how I would describe it. Sure it might not be completely accurate, but it is definitely a dangerous situation whatever you call it.

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#15

Post by digi_owl »

FreedomToCreate wrote: post #2

With cars essentially becoming computers that hold your life in there hands, its going to be interesting seeing how software development strategies evolve to build software rapidly but without the fall back of knowing you can simply send out a large firmware update to fix an issue. Cars can't afford to be stuck parked because someone made a small coding issue that got pushed before it was caught.

https://boingboing.net/2012/08/23/civilwar.html

And so far car manufacturers have done a piss poor job.

Hell, they are even insisting on using dbus for IPC as they replace QNX with Linux.

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#16

Post by maxerickson »

rando289 wrote: post #12
superuser2 wrote: post #10

Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability? It seems so strange that the market is willing to pay ~$40-$80k for a car totally indifferent to its engineering quality. If I were to own a luxury car, I'd want to know its engineering is rock-solid first and foremost. I'd want to be proud of it as a machine not just a symbol. Maybe that's just a techie thing, though. Volvo has been noto…

I've always thought, if I was rich, I would hire one or more developers who's job was to educate me on software (empowering me), and write and run software I was interested in. Wonder why I haven't heard of any rich people doing that?

Stephen Wolfram does that.

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#18

Post by corin_ »

superuser2 wrote: post #10

Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability? It seems so strange that the market is willing to pay ~$40-$80k for a car totally indifferent to its engineering quality. If I were to own a luxury car, I'd want to know its engineering is rock-solid first and foremost. I'd want to be proud of it as a machine not just a symbol. Maybe that's just a techie thing, though. Volvo has been noto…

Where is Volvo considered a luxury car brand? Here in the UK I don't know anyone who would call it that.

Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault

#20

Post by alex_anglin »

corin_ wrote: post #18
superuser2 wrote: post #10

Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability? It seems so strange that the market is willing to pay ~$40-$80k for a car totally indifferent to its engineering quality. If I were to own a luxury car, I'd want to know its engineering is rock-solid first and foremost. I'd want to be proud of it as a machine not just a symbol. Maybe that's just a techie thing, though. Volvo has been noto…

Where is Volvo considered a luxury car brand? Here in the UK I don't know anyone who would call it that.

In North America Volvo has definitely evolved in to a luxury car brand, if just by the prices of their cars.
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