Notwithstanding that the NHTSA rule change was approved a month ago (2/1/2022), Porsche has not, according to my dealer, responded concerning the possibility or procedure for activating Matrix functionality on USA-market, Matrix-equipped cars.

In fact, my dealer (when asked to contact PCNA) stated that PCNA informed them that Matrix-equipped cars produced prior to the rule change lack the necessary physical capability and cannot have their Matrix functionality activated. (Which I doubt.)

I would urge everyone whose car/cars has Matrix headlights (for which, let’s not forget, one paid a substantial premium) to call their dealer AND PCNA to insist on immediate activation of the Matrix functionality that is now legally permitted.

I have told my dealer that I want their and PCNA’s response in writing, rather than continued delays and runaround. I’ll report back if I make any progress as well as any other response.

Please post your efforts and results!

 

Disappointing, but I'm not remotely surprised.

Porsche doesn't want to deal with the hassles. The cars are sold and there is nothing to be gained by adding a new variable. I suspect they are busy enough as it is dealing with the Ukraine fallout.

 

I’m not impressed with Porsche customer support, and will remember this when I go to get my next car. I had planned to get a Porsche SUV for my wife. Not anymore.

AS far as “lacking the physical capability”…I don’t believe. I did just contact my dealership to see what their official position is, but not optimistic.

 

I would not be surprised if there are differences required in hardware in the final standard from NHTSA vs the EU standard. Global Automakers commented on this during the rule making period: https://www.regulations.gov/comment/...2018-0090-0182

 

Apparently it’s functional in Canada…and has been.

 

Interesting. Here in the US it was always pretty clear that by ordering the matrix headlights you were pretty much paying for cosmetic differences since the lights weren’t approved. Now that they are, will Porsche be building new cars with functional headlights for the US market?

 

This has been discussed to death on this thread from just a couple of weeks ago…

https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1289...ctivation.html

 

Canada's CMVSS allows the EU/ROW standard, but FMVSS doesn't.

Source: https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2...ors43-eng.html


UNR123 is the ECE EU/ROW adaptive headlight standard.

 

THAT'LL SHOW 'EM!! WON'T HAVE MRS BIG DOG TO KICK AROUND ANY MORE.

 

Any known factual basis for your view that the installed Matrix lights are not physically capable of compliance with the NHTSA final rule performance specifications (which were finalized and published in October, 2018 - before 992 release in the US)?

 

actually — NOT.
that thread focused on the rule change and whether there might be a charge for activation and did not address dealers’ or PCNA’s response to activation requests.

 

If they decide to do anything, PCNA is not going to do this as a for free, gratis activation. It’s much more likely that Porsche will make no change that impacts the homologation of the older cars. They would have to re-homologate the 992.1 with Matrix functionality.

It is unlikely that a dealer is will be your path to get this done. If the hardware is there, I imagine that the independents will be the likely path to activation. It’s just like any other forward dating modification.

If you insist on throwing a tantrum with your dealer and make their lives miserable over this, best of luck when it comes to your next allocation.

Personally, I don’t understand the energy around this. You bought the Matrix headlights knowing the functionality did not work in the US. Porsche was very clear on this. Everyone who spent time in the configurator knows this.

 

Do not assume the hardware is 100% the same in the US as in other markets. Yes, it seems logical that it would be but Mercedes for example has a (deactivated) matrix system sold in the US with similar disclaimers as Porsche but the hardware is actually different to other markets. You can activate the US version via coding changes but what you end up with is different, mainly around the cornering lights.

 

you could be right - and you could be wrong.
my belief is that you will be proven wrong.

 

Sounds like a class action lawsuit to me. Porsche sold you Matrix headlights and promoted their specific function and benefit to lure you into buying them. The assumption can be made, and it may have even been promised by Porsche or your dealer, that you’d be able to utilize their functionality when DOT/NHTSA approved the technology for US roads. Now that it’s approved, they say they didnt include specific hardware to use them? They never should have been sold to you then. Its false advertising at the very least.