Vehicle prep pre-delivery question

[Steebu]

Just curious: some folks have noted issues with electronics that are fixed with updates and so on.

As a part of pre-delivery stuff, do some dealers make sure software is up-to-date and apply any fixes before delivery, or do they just wash them and have you pick the vehicles up? It seems like the majority of dealers are the latter and not the former. Is that unusual?

In this day and age of software being so critical, I would *think* that dealers would make this a regular part of the pre-delivery checklist - but this is me thinking through the lens of a software developer and not a dealership/manufacturer thinking, “Let’s just fix it when they complain”.

 

[Brand0n]

When I asked my dealer if he could confirm the service bulletins were addressed before pickup he stated no action was required because “there were no outstanding field actions so it must have been addressed at the factory.”

 

[StephenPT]

In theory a dealer should update all systems if there are any applicable updates that have been released and not installed on the vehicle. However, if there's mechanical issues that are addressed by TSBs, I know dealers don't bother changing those until the customer complains so likely its a similar process with software updates. Unless it's a safety issue or something that GM puts a stop-sale on until it's updated, the dealer is going to get that rig off their lot ASAP.

In time updates should get pushed to the production line, but as I understand it when an update is available to service versus when it's implemented in production can vary drastically. The one area I'm not sure about is OTA updates - I've heard the 21+ SUVs can accept OTA updates, but I believe I've also heard that hasn't gone well and updates can only be done at a dealership? Has anyone had an infotainment or other update pushed to their SUV and installed it OTA?

 

[Stbentoak]

Usually, OTA updates are only for the infotainment system as any critical ECM or BCM updates, if gone wrong, could immobilize the vehicle.
I doubt they will spend much time on 21 updates with all the issues/complaints they have with new 22 and up systems...

 

[suterusu]

I believe GM has suspended OTA updates indefinitely due to issues with them not completing and bricking vehicles. It's been over a year and they still aren't doing OTA to my knowledge.