Tech Traps?
Cars used to be straightforward. Now, they're complicated innovation showcases with hefty price tags. Dealers love showing off those flashy extras while glossing over their actual usefulness. Time to question what we're really paying for.
Biometric Access
The future arrived quietly in our cars with fingerprint and facial recognition systems promising convenience and security. However, what manufacturers don't advertise is how these systems store sensitive biometric data that can give rise to some serious privacy vulnerabilities if compromised.
Fingerprint Authentication System | Hyundai by HyundaiUSA
Biometric Access (Cont.)
Security experts have long spoken about the risks of centralized biometric databases. When your car's system is breached, your biological identifiers are exposed forever. Unlike passwords, you can't change your fingerprints or facial structure when stolen. Premium vehicles often charge a significant amount for this questionable “upgrade”.
Fingerprint Authentication System | Hyundai by HyundaiUSA
OTA Updates
Tesla pioneered the concept back in 2012, and now everyone's doing it—pushing software updates to your vehicle while it sits in your garage. The promise? Your car gets better over time. Sadly, the reality underlines a new avenue for hackers to access critical vehicle systems.
OTA Updates (Cont.)
Over-the-air updates form what cybersecurity professionals call an “expanded attack surface”. These are delivered wirelessly via cellular networks or Wi-Fi, allowing producers to send software improvements directly to vehicles. Each wireless connection point represents a potential entry for malicious actors to manipulate everything.
Fake Engine Noises
What sounds like a throaty V8 growl in your modern performance automobile might actually be coming from speakers in your dashboard. It is said that brands like BMW, Ford, and Volkswagen pipe artificial engine sound through audio systems to compensate for increasingly quiet modern engines.
Fake Engine Noises (Cont.)
Such an acoustic deception began as emissions regulations and turbocharging made engines more efficient but less sonorous. Ford's Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric vehicle, delivers a "propulsion sound" feature that mimics a gasoline engine despite having no combustion components whatsoever.
Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fake Engine Noises (Cont.)
Similarly, other EVs, such as the Dodge Charger Daytona EV, use systems like Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, combining woofers and chambers to mimic the roar of a muscle car. The amplifying noise also contradicts efforts to reduce sound pollution in urban areas.
Remote Key Vulnerabilities
Here’s something interesting: Criminals have developed sophisticated methods to intercept and clone your key fob signals. These "relay attacks" can literally unlock and start your car without the physical key while you’re sound asleep with the fob lying on your nightstand.
Remote Key Vulnerabilities (Cont.)
Well, the convenience of keyless entry comes with huge security trade-offs. The new technology crafting this vulnerability can add a notable amount to your vehicle's price tag. Premium pieces with advanced keyless systems are unsafe, with Mercedes and BMW models topping the target list.
Start-Stop Systems
Fuel efficiency numbers on window stickers look impressive partially thanks to automatic start-stop systems. But did you know about the resulting strain on starters, batteries, and engine components? These systems repeatedly shut off your engine at stoplights, then instantly restart when you release the brake.
Start-Stop Systems (Cont.)
While they improve EPA ratings by 3–5%, the real-world savings amount to just 0.6–1.4 mpg in typical driving conditions. Meanwhile, replacement starters for cars with this addition tend to be more traditional units. Mechanics report increased wear on engine bearings from several additional cold starts.
Run-Flat Tires
The premium sticker price is just the beginning with run-flat tires. Initially appealing for their ability to continue functioning after a puncture, the long-term costs quickly add up for unsuspecting owners. These tires may last fewer miles than standard tires while costing 40–75% more per replacement.
Run-Flat Tires (Cont.)
The stiffer sidewalls necessary for run-flat operation also result in a noticeably harsher ride quality. What’s annoying is that, unlike conventional tires, run-flats cannot be repaired after a puncture. This means even a minor nail requires complete replacement, turning a $25 repair into a $300+ expense.
Driver Attention Monitoring
That seemingly harmless camera on your dashboard is actually packed with advanced facial recognition tech that tracks your eye movements, head position, and facial expressions. While it's supposed to be all about safety, these systems bring a whole new level of surveillance right into your car.
What Is a Driver Attention Monitor? by CarMax
Driver Attention Monitoring (Cont.)
It is said that these systems raise concerns about continuous monitoring without driver consent, effectively acting as a psychological assessment tool. Besides, a 2023 study, potentially from IIHS, suggested false alarm rates of 35–62% across tested systems, creating dangerous driver distraction when erroneous warnings appear.
What Is a Driver Attention Monitor? by CarMax
Touchscreen Climate Controls
"Where did they put the fan controls?" That's the frustrating question from countless new car owners. After all, traditional knobs and buttons have now disappeared into touchscreen menus requiring multiple taps and swipes. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety displays the dangerous reality.
Touchscreen Climate Control Operation | Genesis G90 | How-To | Genesis USA by Genesis USA
Touchscreen Climate Controls (Cont.)
Adjusting climate controls on touchscreens takes drivers' eyes off the road for an average of around 8.6 seconds, which is compared to 2.3 seconds with physical controls. Approximately 78% of new models now use touchscreens for climate functions, aligning with current trends.
Touchscreen Climate Control Operation | Genesis G90 | How-To | Genesis USA by Genesis USA
V2X Communication
"Vehicle-to-everything" is about making roads safer by letting cars communicate with each other and even with traffic lights. But what's not discussed much is that this also opens the door to major surveillance and serious cybersecurity risks in our transportation system.
Hans-J. Brehm, Wikimedia Commons
V2X Communication (Cont.)
Security researchers at the University of Michigan showed how compromised V2X systems could trigger false emergency braking across multiple cars simultaneously. This will essentially enable mass remote control of traffic flow. The technology requires constant wireless connectivity and location tracking, estimated around $300–700 per vehicle.
Electronic Gear Selectors
A good portion (around 40%) of reported cases linked with "unintended acceleration" in new cars involve people getting mixed up with electronic gear selectors, according to a 2022 NHTSA review. Unlike traditional shifters that have clear, distinct positions, these electronic ones don’t give much feedback.
Electronic Gear Selectors (Cont.)
Car makers have swapped out the good old reliable mechanical link between the shifter and transmission for all kinds of electronic controls. These can differ a lot from one brand to another. Some cars have rotary dials, some use buttons, and others even feature joystick-like controls.
Electronic Gear Selectors (Cont.)
This can be confusing for drivers who hop between different vehicles. Even though electronic shifters have ergonomic problems and save manufacturers about $200–400, they’re often marketed as fancy upgrades. When they break down, fixing them can cost three to five times more than regular shifters.
LED DRLs
Daylight Running Lights started as a basic safety element in Scandinavian countries where winter days are short. Nowadays, fancy LED versions can bump up a car's price, but they don't make things much brighter compared to regular headlights.
How To Install Led Drl Sequential Lights by Honda Accord Projects
LED DRLs (Cont.)
This practical safety measure has turned into a designer fashion statement. These elaborate light signatures serve more as brand identifiers than safety equipment. Makers now charge something around $105–350 for premium stylized light arrays. Professional installation may end up costing more.
LED DRLs (Cont.)
It’s important to note that DRLs require electrical power to operate, which indirectly increases fuel consumption as the alternator works harder to generate electricity. Though LEDs consume less power than traditional bulbs, this still contributes to slightly higher fuel usage over time.
Panoramic Sunroof
Structural engineers get uneasy when they see today’s cars with huge glass roofs. Taking out a big chunk of the roof messes with the automobile's strength and safety during crashes. Plus, it puts a good amount of weight on the worst spot. Right at the top.
Toyota Camry Panoramic Glass Roof - How Far Does it Open & How Does it Work? by ToyotaJeff Reviews
Panoramic Sunroof (Cont.)
These expansive glass panels add around 100–220 pounds above the vehicle's center of gravity, which can negatively affect handling dynamics and increase rollover risk. Consumer Reports testing shows that vehicles with panoramic roofs may average 1.5–2.7 MPG worse fuel economy than those with conventional roofs.
Panoramic Sunroof (Cont.)
The resulting cost can come up to $1,200–3,000. To accommodate the sliding mechanism for the sunroof, engineers often lower the interior roof height, reducing headroom by some inches. This can make the cabin feel cramped, especially for taller passengers.
Rain-Sensing Wipers
A mechanism that struggles to differentiate between light mist and torrential downpour somehow commands high pricing on option sheets. As per reports, rain sensors tend to frequently activate wipers at inappropriate times, creating dangerous windshield streaking and premature wiper blade wear.
How do I turn on and off the Rain-sensing wipers 🌧 by Crazy Honda Chris
Rain-Sensing Wipers (Cont.)
Users mostly find it difficult to adjust sensitivity settings to match real-world conditions. Testing, according to certain sources, found that these systems correctly identified optimal wiper speed in around 60% of variable precipitation conditions. The infrared sensors and control modules could cost around $200–350.
Gesture Control
Waving your hands frantically in front of your dashboard like you're practicing an interpretive dance routine is apparently how luxury automakers envision the future of vehicle controls. BMW was the first to bring this tech to life in their 7-Series, letting drivers control the volume through waving.
Car Infotainment Gesture Control - DepthSense® CARlib for Automotive by Softkinetic
Gesture Control (Cont.)
Field tests conducted found that gesture controls often get it wrong or don’t recognize gestures at all, especially if drivers are wearing long sleeves or gloves. In the meantime, good old buttons work with more accuracy, are easy to use, and cost way less to produce.
Get the most out of gesture control – BMW How-To by BMW
Wireless Charger
Heat is basically the worst enemy of electronics, yet car manufacturers keep pushing those dashboard charging pads that often end up frying phones just from regular use. Battery degradation accelerates significantly at temperatures above 95°F, which is exactly what these chargers produce.
Wireless Charger (Cont.)
Tests by Electronic Engineering Times revealed wireless charging generates 30–45% more heat than wired methods while delivering less power. This wasted energy directly impacts vehicle range and fuel economy. Also, these "convenient" chargers frequently misalign with phone movement during driving, silently failing to charge.
G-Force Meter
Racing-style gauges that show lateral acceleration have made their way from fancy supercars to regular family crossovers and budget sedans. This extra gadgetry just complicates digital dashboards and gives drivers info that doesn’t really matter in day-to-day driving.
GLB200 G Force Meter Activation Coding by EleBest Pte Ltd
G-Force Meter (Cont.)
Car engineers usually place g-force meters in "sport appearance packages," which can be priced between $800 to $2,500. G-force meters are more relevant for racing or performance driving, where precise handling and acceleration data are important. For everyday driving, these metrics offer little practical benefit.
How to use G-force meter in car dashboard by Peter Finn the Car Doctor
Heated Steering Wheels
Winter mornings used to mean digging out gloves and waiting forever for your car to warm up. Now, fancy cars come with heated steering wheels that get nice and toasty in under two minutes. You just have to pick out some extra dollars for that feature.
Heated Steering Wheel | Lincoln by Lincoln
Heated Steering Wheels (Cont.)
This comfort element rapidly loses its appeal when repair costs enter the equation. If something goes wrong, you might have to pay another $1,200–1,800. Some models heat only specific sections of the wheel, leaving other areas cold.
Heated Steering Wheel | Lincoln by Lincoln
Pop-Up Door Handles
Range Rover, Tesla, and Mercedes-Benz cars have some flush-mounted door handles that pop out when you get close with your key fob. They look super slick in the showroom. But again, you need to wait until winter hits and you’re dealing with freezing rain and ice.
Model 3 Exterior Door Handles Demo by EveryAmp
Pop-Up Door Handles (Cont.)
Owners in colder climates find themselves locked out of their cars when these mechanisms freeze or motors fail. Repair costs average $600–900 per door. Consumer Reports suggest failure rates may be higher than conventional door handles, particularly in vehicles over three years old.
Top Features of the 2022 Tesla Model X! by Black Tesla
Complex Repair Designs
Remember when changing your headlight bulb took about five minutes? Those days are vanishing faster than manual transmissions. A 2024 Ford F-150 requires partially removing the front bumper assembly just to replace a headlight. This turns a simple DIY job into a $200+ dealership visit.
Deathpallie325, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Complex Repair Designs (Cont.)
Modern unibody designs with integrated components and proprietary fasteners often require specialized tools available only to dealerships. In this way, manufacturer service departments generate billions annually, creating an obvious incentive to maintain this profitable repair monopoly.
Dealership-Installed Kill Switches
Hidden beneath dashboards nationwide are devices that can remotely disable your engine. By the way, these are installed without your knowledge by financing companies and dealerships. Miss a payment, and suddenly, your everyday commute won't start at the grocery store parking lot.
Showcasing and Talking about Kill Switches (Car Anti Theft) by Jr. From P&P Customs Shop
Dealership-Installed Kill Switches (Cont.)
These disablers originated in the subprime auto lending market but have silently crept into mainstream financing agreements. Note that consumers may be entitled to reimbursement for any inconvenience or damage caused by a kill switch if it was not disclosed or removed properly after payment.
Anti-Theft Hidden Kill Switch install on car or truck ( cheap and easy ) by Jordan Moree
