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[domingo3]

I haven't read much about Firmwaregate lately.  Are people still having problems with firmware?

The reason that I ask is because I'm considering taking my bike in for the check engine light, but I figure they will update the firmware.  Even though Zero has put some effort into saying what's updated in newer firmware versions, I don't think there's any getting around updating firmware as a troubleshooting step unless it's a purely mechanical issue.

Now I face the dilemna of choosing "if it ain't broke too bad, don't fix it" versus risking a bad firmware update that would make me wish I had just ignored the check engine light.

For reference,
current BMS firmware 31; 34 is available
current MBB firmware 24; 26 is available

Also, any experience or speculation about not updating firmware having a chance to void the warranty?  Could avoiding firmware updates be interpreted as improperly maintaining the bike?

[Richard230]

I haven't had an problems with firmware updates to my 2018 S.

[flattetyre]

Tis better to update. New firmware won't wreck your bike, that's just silly. If a dealer damages your bike during service the obligation is for them to fix it.

[MVetter]

New firmware won't wreck your bike, that's just silly.

Yeah uhhh there was a point when it sorta did.

[Jarrett]

You just do it from your phone now, correct?

[Richard230]

You just do it from your phone now, correct?

Yes, if you have an updated 2017 model or any 2018 or newer Zero.

[domingo3]

Tis better to update. New firmware won't wreck your bike, that's just silly. If a dealer damages your bike during service the obligation is for them to fix it.

It's not really the point of whether they're obligated to fix it. It's the hassle of not having the bike or it being worse than before. At least one report was their bike became unrideable after a bad update and began a sequence if replacing parts, none if which helped. Others experienced decreased and/or erratic range that could be more difficult to prove as a warranty issue, but impair the usability if the bike.  I'm pretty gunshy after my previous experience and what I've read from some others, but I probably should recognize it as a low risk and do it anyway.

[DonTom]

Tis better to update. New firmware won't wreck your bike, that's just silly. If a dealer damages your bike during service the obligation is for them to fix it.

An update screwed up my Tesla Model 3 and only a few others had the same problem as me. The Tesla place gave me an update of the same firmware and I still had the exact same problem of screen crashing after the car was not used for a night.

The fix was to wait for the next update, which was a complete fix for my Tesla. Has not crashed since.

So an update can fix some vehicles as it breaks others. Not sure why, but it can and does happen.

-Don- Auburn, CA

[flattetyre]

Mass market firmware updates that break stuff are pretty unusual they just get a lot of press for obvious reasons. Nobody notices when the other 99.9% of updates are installed without an issue. And, with billions of devices receiving updates all over the planet there are bound to be plenty of horror stories.

If you can't trust Zero to put out good software updates how can you trust their bike and its software in the first place?

[caza]

There is a possibility for any firmware update to cause unforeseen problems, which is why most manufacturers do firmware updates conservatively and carefully. The more complex software becomes, the more potential for issues.


Tesla, I feel, is an outlier in that they push firmware updates far more often than others and are often using their updates as a testing ground and part of their R&D.

[DonTom]

There are updates available for both my Zeros. But I am very happy with both as they are.

Is there any reason why I should (or should not) do the updates?

I also have not had either of the bikes "aligned"  (commissioned) since I bought them.

I kinda lean towards "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

What is the opinion of other here on such?


-Don-  Auburn, CA

[Richard230]

There are updates available for both my Zeros. But I am very happy with both as they are.

Is there any reason why I should (or should not) do the updates?

I also have not had either of the bikes "aligned"  (commissioned) since I bought them.

I kinda lean towards "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

What is the opinion of other here on such?


-Don-  Auburn, CA

My daughter's 2014 S hasn't had its firmware updated since it left the factory in December 2013 and it is running just fine.
My 2018 S has had all of the available firmware updates downloaded and installed and it is running just fine, too.
So there you go.   

[brose]

My 2014 S was updated November of 2017 and the SOC was garbage leading to an issue of limiting top speed riding in really cold weather. Had it updated in December 2018 and it seems to be working as it should after a few hundred cold weather miles.