- Many new cars receive over-the-air software updates
- Not installing them could void your warranty
Today’s cars are as much software devices as they are chrome-and-rubber transportation. That introduces a new wrinkle to ownership — drivers need to keep their car’s software up to date.
If they don’t, they risk voiding valuable warranties.
Related: What Is Over-the-Air (OTA)?
The news comes from General Motors fan site GM Authority. The site reports, “In GM’s official Limited Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklets for 2025 and 2026 model-year vehicles, the automaker explicitly states that owners are responsible for installing OTA updates within 45 days of their availability.”
Owners who fail to update software in time could lose warranty protection. The booklet notes, “damage resulting from failure to install Over-the-Air software updates is not covered.”
The company’s 45-day window is generous. Some automakers don’t provide owners a grace period.
Related: Car Warranty Guide — Everything You Need to Know
Tesla’s warranty documents state, “Coverage may be excluded for issues arising from your failure to follow specific instructions and recommendations in your owner documentation, or from your failure to install the vehicle’s software updates after notification that there is an update available.”
Lucid similarly states, “Damage, conditions, or problems caused by or that occur due to failing to install a software update after an update is available are not covered under the Lucid Warranty.”
The Automaker Is Responsible if an Update Causes a Problem
- Drivers might worry that an update could create a problem
- But some companies explicitly take responsibility if that happens
Updates might give some owners pause – most of us have had the experience of updating a piece of software only to discover that the update creates new problems or removes a feature we’ve relied on. But losing warranty coverage could cost you thousands in repairs over the life of a vehicle.
In addition, some automakers take explicit legal responsibility for any problems an update creates. GM’s warranty documents make the company responsible if an update causes a new problem. And Nissan’s 2025 warranty booklet states, “You will not incur any charges for diagnosis, repair, replacement, or adjustment of covered parts or components that are damaged or do not function as intended as the result of a software update delivered by Nissan over the air.”
