Posted on 12/02/2025 6:09:45 AM PST by fruser1
Drivers have complained that their vehicles have suddenly locked up, lost power and refused to start, as owners and dealerships warn of a growing wave of failures that has left hundreds of vehicles stuck in place.
The nationwide meltdown hit Porsche models built since 2013, which are all fitted with the brand's factory VTS satellite-security unit.
The vehicles have been 'bricked' with their engines immobilised, due to connections with the satellite system being lost.
Rolf dealership service director Yulia Trushkova said 'all models and all engine types' are impacted.
The company does not rule out that the malfunction may have been caused 'deliberately', according to sources in Moscow - with suspicions cast towards the West.
It also warned that Porsche motorists with internal combustion engines may find their cars completely unresponsive for no clear reason, forcing mechanics to step in.
While some drivers were told to try a simple workaround by disconnecting their car batteries for at least 10 hours, others were advised to disable or reboot the Vehicle Tracking System, known as the VTS, which is linked to the alarm module.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Yeah buyers will hack around it, but not really a good answer.
My ‘22 doesn’t have this tech, but regardless, I won’t do business with such a company if they are, in fact, behind this.
Also, hacking at electronics and built in componants usually leads to other issues - leaks, tech problems, devaluation etc. I’d bet it’s designed to not be an easy work-around.
LOVE the 993s btw. Second favorite classic next to the 930.
This is the same phenom as putting any core data out on a cloud. Or, allowing some clown-show power company to install a smart meter.
Keep core stuff under YOUR control. Do not depend upon contract terms — have you never heard that lawyers lie?
Re: 993. It’s the S with the fat back.
Even my wife agrees it looks like a pretty woman from the back.
I debated on the turbo but they burn oil and I just don’t like the fixed spoiler.
This could happen to us when the next democrat administration decides gas powered cars are no more.
Tesla is remotely (and quietly) disconnecting problematic cells in some of their cars batteries.
I have a 2019 Sante Fe. Bad actors may be able to disable it, idk.
Will never buy anything newer.
That beats my '07 Tundra. It only shows 330,000 miles.
none of my cars are connected to the “cloud”
I know I must be crazy, cause anything “cloud” is considered good as well as being “safe and effective”
You mean all nine of them stopped working?
Wow, that’s a shame.
My heritage is Russian. I don’t want to be an enemy, but Putin is evil.
“I’m his mechanic and have renamed it ‘the Mercyless’.”
Kinda like Ming the Merciless.... but seriously.... my young ins know better than to even ask as all German made vehicles have been banned from the property for many years.
Compared to what?
Disconnecting the telematics module and antenna was a big topic on the 4Runner forums for a while.
There was the usual chorus of those insisting no reason not to trust government, etc.
**my young ins know better than to even ask as all German made vehicles have been banned from the property for many years.**
My son’s wife is paid a nice monthly bonus to own a white M-B for her sales job. Otherwise it would have been gone 2 years ago. They don’t it use very much nowadays because of its rep.
The twin turbo v6 is quite powerful, but may be the least reliable engine MB put in an suv. I replaced the drivers side head gasket two months ago. A real pain.
My 25-year-old 200,000m Volvo has just come back from its annual service. One of the jobs was to replace the Electronic Throttle. “Had a real problem.” My local indy Volvo mech explained, “When we connected it up to the Volvo diagnostics [to calibrate the new part with the car], it informed us that your car [software] is no longer supported.” It took him two hours to find a workaround. Not sure he’ll be able to do the same with every part.
I believe Your assessment to be correct. Those congresscritters probably mandated a shutdown switch for all vehicles as a law someplace in some bill coming off the hill many a year ago; probably under clintoon. Then there are foreign governments where much of vehicles, in U.S., are manufactured. Yes, I believe Your assessment is correct.
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