[nigela]

The joy of being a beta tester.

Not to be serious or anything, but this isn’t beta testing.

 

[WolfpackBill]

I wonder if this changes our firmware version from 3.2.13 to 3.5 or 3.7.

 

[SunWizard]

I wonder if this changes our firmware version from 3.2.13 to 3.5 or 3.7.

Its 3.7 and it updates the infotainment and 21 ECUs. It takes 210 minutes to install. A bigger thread about it here:

Here is the list of changes with 3.7 in the EU, hopefully we get the same in the US:
3.7 OTA update
Bidirectional charging (V2H) for 77 kWh batteries.
Drive behavior improvements.
Infotainment system stabilization.
Minimizing noise during charging caused by interference from some mains connections.
Increased robustness of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.
Fixed a bug that could cause a flickering or black rear camera image in rare cases.
Improvement of the notification concept in case of loss of mobile connection in areas with low network coverage (notification now disappears automatically after the connection is restored.)
Further performance and stability improvements.

 

[MJSullivan56]

Not to be serious or anything, but this isn’t beta testing.

Well, as someone who works in the software industry, if you aren’t 100% sure your code isn’t going to brick something then yes, regardless of what it’s called the user is the guinea pig.

 

[ericy]

I spoke to the service advisor at my dealer. What she said was that the software end of things was just released, and that they need to download it and test it (I assume they want to first update any vehicles on the lot). But the upside is that if something goes wrong, no tow truck will be required.

Regarding the door handles, she said that it was one of those inspect first, and only if the inspection fails that they will order and only then install new handles (meaning two trips). Which doesn't really square with what the instructions we have seen seem to say, but that's what she said. But I don't think they have done any cars yet, so she could just be repeating old information from the previous recall.

Anyways I made an appointment in mid-Jan to bring the car in, and they will have a loaner for me. Hopefully by then, their notion of what is needed for door handles will match what our understanding is.

 

[Lexi]

Just dropped off our ID.4 at the dealer for both the software and door handle recalls. They expect to have it done sometime tomorrow. They told me they have door handle parts in stock in case one is found to need replacement. Will update soon!

 

[stuartm]

Well, as someone who works in the software industry, if you aren’t 100% sure your code isn’t going to brick something then yes, regardless of what it’s called the user is the guinea pig.

So I think MJ except possibly for a few god-like programmers you just established that all software users everywhere are guinea pigs.
(As someone who is retired from the software industry)

 

[rfrancis073]

Just dropped off our ID.4 at the dealer for both the software and door handle recalls. They expect to have it done sometime tomorrow. They told me they have door handle parts in stock in case one is found to need replacement. Will update soon!

I’m completely confused. Maybe I’m nuts but shouldn’t all 4 handles be replaced with the newly coated versions as per the replacement instructions? I see that it states to test but doesn’t give details, unlike the first recall. Also, every scenario in the work instructions calls for replacement of all four handles?!

 

[Moe]

I’m completely confused. Maybe I’m nuts but shouldn’t all 4 handles be replaced with the newly coated versions as per the replacement instructions? I see that it states to test but doesn’t give details, unlike the first recall. Also, every scenario in the work instructions calls for replacement of all four handles?!

I think if all four are not done owners should let the NHTSA know.

 

[Nai3t]

I see that it states to test...

Where are you reading that? I can't find it. The only "test" I see is a required road test after the work has been completed.

 

[dfab]

I just retrieved my 2021 ID.4 from the dealer service department today after receiving the recall letter for the door handles from VW of America....and after seeing the Compliance Recall 919A issued on Dec 18, 2024. Nothing was done on my vehicle in today's service visit. I was told that the "software" update requires infotainment system hardware and that the "infotainment hardware" was VIN specific. So.......they had to order that first after inspecting my existing system. Not a big deal for me since I haven't experienced any infotainment blackout issues. As for the door handle recall, again, they said that the part needed to repair the door handle issue was VIN specific....so they had to order the handles for my vehicle after inspecting it. In both recall cases they had no estimate of when the parts would come in. The service advisor did tell me that they had "many" ID4's on their lot that they couldn't sell due to the door handle stop sale order. He said that door-handle fixes would be installed on these first before existing customers door handles.....I'm guessing so that the dealership can continue to sell new cars and generate revenue. He also said that their techs would be honing their door handle installation skills on these new units such that when they installed them on customer's existing vehicles, they would be up to speed and could complete the repair quickly. I don't know if the all of the foregoing is a load of BS or the actual truth. I would welcome other comments from forum members to see what their dealers are telling them. If any forum members are in the SF Bay Area and are getting a better story than I am getting, I'd appreciate knowing which dealership is being more straightforward with their explanations.

 

[rfrancis073]

Where are you reading that? I can't find it. The only "test" I see is a required road test after the work has been completed.

you are correct, it states to inspect and the replace affected handles. Sorry about that.

regardless, still makes it sound like only failed inspection ones are being replaced. When I made my appointment at the dealer, they basically said that they would inspect and order only what failed inspection. I was trying to get the handles there before I arrived but to no avail.

 

[BlueDH]

Ah you guys… It’ll be fixed in the next 3 month update 🤣😂🤣.

 

[ericy]

you are correct, it states to inspect and the replace affected handles. Sorry about that.

regardless, still makes it sound like only failed inspection ones are being replaced. When I made my appointment at the dealer, they basically said that they would inspect and order only what failed inspection. I was trying to get the handles there before I arrived but to no avail.

The customer letter we got suggested there would be an inspection. But the instructions that were posted on NHTSA don't have any inspection procedure. They go straight to replacing the hardware, and there is a discussion about dealers being automatically shipped some number of the handle sets.

The only question is which category your car is, and it can be some combination of 1, 2 and 3, and which ones you get depend on the VIN number.

1. Category 1 means a software update is also required in addition to replacing the door handles.
2. Category 2 means apparently the door handles get replaced, and that the tech needs to use a dremel tool to make little notches on the old door handles to make them fit flush.
3. Category 3 means that just the handle mechanism get replaced.

The instructions also say that if you have 919A pending, that they should not attempt to install it until the door handle thing is done. They make it sound like 919A contains yet another update to the software for the door handle modules, and that trying to do both at the same time can result in the 919A update failing.

 

[Jupiter]

I suspect if dealers are discussing inspections, they're thinking about the 2023 recall which was just superceded by this new recall this last week. Give them some time to get to grips with the new procedure...

 

[ericy]

I suspect if dealers are discussing inspections, they're thinking about the 2023 recall which was just superceded by this new recall this last week. Give them some time to get to grips with the new procedure...

I think that's exactly it. Once the tech has had a chance to read through the whole document, it will be clear to them what they need to do, and that information can then be passed up the chain to the service advisors. The main question is, when do they get their first allotments of replacement door handle hardware. Any cars in dealer inventory will likely get fixed first just so they can get them off of stop-sale.

The instructions don't talk about how the tech bills his time to first read through the 34-page document.

I was noodling around on the MeinID site - people are posting screenshots from their infotainment related to an OTA for 3.7 that reportedly takes 17-1/2 hours to install.

Edit: Removed irrelevant attachment.

 

[Jupiter]

I think that's exactly it. Once the tech has had a chance to read through the whole document, it will be clear to them what they need to do, and that information can then be passed up the chain to the service advisors. The main question is, when do they get their first allotments of replacement door handle hardware. Any cars in dealer inventory will likely get fixed first just so they can get them off of stop-sale.

The instructions don't talk about how the tech bills his time to first read through the 34-page document.

I was noodling around on the MeinID site - people are posting screenshots from their infotainment related to an OTA for 3.7 that reportedly takes 17-1/2 hours to install.

Yeah, I definitely don't want them to learn how to do this the first time on my car ...

In fact, given the need to remove the door trim to access the door handles, I'd really like to wait until the weather warms up so the plastic is less brittle...

 

[ericy]

Yeah, I definitely don't want them to learn how to do this the first time on my car ...

In fact, given the need to remove the door trim to access the door handles, I'd really like to wait until the weather warms up so the plastic is less brittle...

The instructions actually do mention that the car should be warmer so parts are less brittle. I gather that the clips that hold things in are things that dealers just stock as they frequently break during repairs.

I was looking at my dealer's inventory to see how many they had. There were what seemed like some really good deals on 2024 ID.4, but then I realized it was the small battery variant. How they ended up with those things, I don't know, but they are marked down quite a bit.

 

[MJSullivan56]

So I think MJ except possibly for a few god-like programmers you just established that all software users everywhere are guinea pigs.
(As someone who is retired from the software industry)

The reason: over reliance on unit testing, lack of regression testing.

 

[Nai3t]

Whether the services techs need to "come up to speed" with a procedure they've essentially performed 100x already during the previous installments of this recall, or the dealership wants to prioritize in-stock inventory to make it sellable, misses the point that that a few cars now have been taken in and essentially turned away with an unsatisfying explanation.

How about instead, the service department doesn't allow the appointment to be made in the first place, or the advisor doesn't take in the car? Seems like a awful waste of everybody's time.