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So Porsche put the module in the car for "convenience" in the event someone may want to subscribe to their service in the future? So that is kind of self-serving for Porsche as they then gain a new customer of that service. So what party did this installation really serve benefit to?
Unfortunately this thing, that is not currently utilized by said owner, can for some odd reason go bad and disable their car and then have to pay Porsche to fix it even though they do not want the referenced service - yeah I know it serves two purposes. Oddly, they're happening in bunches soon after Porsche announces a new Connect system that we're all welcome to have installed because the old system is going kaput. Very coincidental.
I'll wait and see how many of these modules begin to break and disable cars in greater numbers before the class action suit begins.
Sorry, but a little late to the thread on this. Mine died on Mothers Day in my mother-in-laws driveway. This was as we were preparing to go to lunch. Lets just say Im not up son-in-law of the year right now. The car drove out from Chicago to her house in the suburbs no issue. Ten minutes later shed fire up and immediately die.
Mines a 991.2 GTS 2017 coupe. Not subscribed to any services. Flatbed to dealership and got the car back Tuesday. So 16 days later
The dealer said mine was the first of many that theyve had in with the same issue.
Sorry, but a little late to the thread on this. Mine died on Mothers Day in my mother-in-laws driveway. This was as we were preparing to go to lunch. Lets just say Im not up son-in-law of the year right now. The car drove out from Chicago to her house in the suburbs no issue. Ten minutes later shed fire up and immediately die.
Mines a 991.2 GTS 2017 coupe. Not subscribed to any services. Flatbed to dealership and got the car back Tuesday. So 16 days later
The dealer said mine was the first of many that theyve had in with the same issue.
That's some pretty unfortunate timing right there!
I have a Macan as a daily; so if this is an issue that is slowly rolling through cars, it looks like I might end up taking the bus!
Has yours been fixed yet and/or have you received any info on the cause or the fix?
Update: got my car back today, and spoke to the technician who worked on the car. Unfortunately, I didn't get any information that will shed much light here.
He said that based on his experience, the VTS unit failing is rare. He said that the car operating depended on communication between the keys and the VTS unit, and usually it's the key that fails, not the VTS unit.
I asked him if he thought it had anything to do with the 3G sunset, and while dismissive of "theories floating around the internet", he couldn't say whether it was related or not. For starters, he said he has no idea whether the unit even communicates with the network without the subscription to the tracking and car connect services. He did say he's seen these units fail on older cars, before they had any cellular connectivity. But again, it's rare.
If what he said is true about the VTS failures being rare, seems like "something" is happening here given the spike in reports we're hearing about. Not saying that "something" is the 3G sunsetting, but a spike in failures for a part that rarely fails seems at the very least to point to something beyond just a part failure, especially for cars that are relatively new.
I asked him which unit the old one was replaced with, and he said it was replaced with the same 3G unit. He said in the 2019 Carrera, the 4G unit is not compatible. He also said the unit was replaced without having to remove the dash.
So whether this is simply a routine failure of a part or something triggered by a more systemic issue, we'll probably never know.
Update: got my car back today, and spoke to the technician who worked on the car. Unfortunately, I didn't get any information that will shed much light here.
He said that based on his experience, the VTS unit failing is rare. He said that the car operating depended on communication between the keys and the VTS unit, and usually it's the key that fails, not the VTS unit.
I asked him if he thought it had anything to do with the 3G sunset, and while dismissive of "theories floating around the internet", he couldn't say whether it was related or not. For starters, he said he has no idea whether the unit even communicates with the network without the subscription to the tracking and car connect services. He did say he's seen these units fail on older cars, before they had any cellular connectivity. But again, it's rare.
If what he said is true about the VTS failures being rare, seems like "something" is happening here given the spike in reports we're hearing about. Not saying that "something" is the 3G sunsetting, but a spike in failures for a part that rarely fails seems at the very least to point to something beyond just a part failure, especially for cars that are relatively new.
I asked him which unit the old one was replaced with, and he said it was replaced with the same 3G unit. He said in the 2019 Carrera, the 4G unit is not compatible. He also said the unit was replaced without having to remove the dash.
So whether this is simply a routine failure of a part or something triggered by a more systemic issue, we'll probably never know.
At this point I am just glad I can drive my car.
Well, that settles it.
No one knows.
Not even Porsche.
Units failing a bunch in the last 2 weeks is just coincidence.
Units failing a bunch in the last 2 weeks is just coincidence.
Go figure.
On another forum, there are guys trying the get PC activated on spanking new 718s because of the free one year service that comes with the purchase. Their dealers cannot get it to work. These are 2022 vehicles. Vodafone is blaming Porsche and Porsche is blaming Vodafone for the issue. Obviously there's a hitch in the system. That hitch? Who knows? But, is it causing these failures too?
MichaelB, thanks for posting the invoice with the part number. Ive sent it to my service advisor, I hope they can figure it out. Best driving days of the year minus the pollen
On another forum, there are guys trying the get PC activated on spanking new 718s because of the free one year service that comes with the purchase. Their dealers cannot get it to work. These are 2022 vehicles. Vodafone is blaming Porsche and Porsche is blaming Vodafone for the issue. Obviously there's a hitch in the system. That hitch? Who knows? But, is it causing these failures too?
But wait.
Why does my 991.2 start?
Am I in on this conspiracy? Have I paid my dues to Porsche so they haven't shut my car off? Is it because I'm a secret exec of VAG?? Who knows?!
Am I in on this conspiracy? Have I paid my dues to Porsche so they haven't shut my car off? Is it because I'm a secret exec of VAG?? Who knows?!
God, this explains my special owners manual, too!
Damnit, Greg!
Well you do seem to be running interference Their cars are working. The dealers just cannot get the Connect service working. The dealers relay to these guys that Vodafone is blaming Porsche and Porsche is blaming Vodafone. So it seems something is not right somewhere. No one is forthcoming to explain things regarding the control module and the idea that they cannot initiate the Car Connect. Are they related? Maybe. But the silence doesn't help prevent speculation.
On another forum, there are guys trying the get PC activated on spanking new 718s because of the free one year service that comes with the purchase. Their dealers cannot get it to work. These are 2022 vehicles. Vodafone is blaming Porsche and Porsche is blaming Vodafone for the issue. Obviously there's a hitch in the system. That hitch? Who knows? But, is it causing these failures too?
I bought a new 2022 Macan and turned on the PC feature. It was a hassle and not a lot of information given, except for an excellent writeup on exactly what to do on a forum. My SA did not even mention it to me at the time. I had to go through a few hoops and take the car into the dealer for them to "turn on" the feature. Hope I do not regret it.
Well you do seem to be running interference Their cars are working. The dealers just cannot get the Connect service working. The dealers relay to these guys that Vodafone is blaming Porsche and Porsche is blaming Vodafone. So it seems something is not right somewhere. No one is forthcoming to explain things regarding the control module and the idea that they cannot initiate the Car Connect. Are they related? Maybe. But the silence doesn't help prevent speculation.
Interference, oof. Most people would call this "being the voice of reason" -- at least, initially. At this point I'm pretty tired of fighting conspiracy theorists, so go nuts man. VAG is out to getcha!
I can sympathize with dealers who are probably getting a bunch of calls from worried people reading these forums, even though their cars are currently fine - if the VTS isn't dead there's nothing they can do at present.
I can also sympathize with Porsche who can't really issue any kind of communication, fix or recall until they figure out what's happening, and the root cause analysis on this issue is going to be a nightmare. Not to mention, the PR hit/embarrassment if they have to go there.
However, I can see why a lot of us are getting worried reading all this and thinking that this issue could kick in really any time. If I wanted to worry about needing to have my car towed to the dealer on a flatbed every time I go for a drive I would have bought an Alfa Romeo
At this point all we can really do is get on with things and hope it doesn't happen to us. Even though oftentimes forums like this can magnify small problems to look worse or more prevalent than they are, I hope Porsche is taking it seriously, figures it out and if it's something systemic gets out in front of it quickly.
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Their cars are working. The dealers just cannot get the Connect service working. The dealers relay to these guys that Vodafone is blaming Porsche and Porsche is blaming Vodafone. So it seems something is not right somewhere. No one is forthcoming to explain things regarding the control module and the idea that they cannot initiate the Car Connect. Are they related? Maybe. But the silence doesn't help prevent speculation.
