> I wonder what happens if you disable the e-SIM (in the US) and then a safety recall appears via software update - do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA?

I would assume so. Even on older cars, service techs can typically manually push firmware updates over the OBD-II / J2534 port. Rivian's OBD-II port actually hides an Ethernet signal inside of it - so the interface is certainly there.

Fun fact: You can buy an Ethernet adapter directly from Rivian here to connect to the car's internal network: https://rivianservicetools.com/Catalog/Product/TSN00535-300-...

This is tangential, but Kia declined to cover an engine failure, under warranty that was extended by recall, because I had not done an update.

Edit: I eventually recovered most of the cost via a settlement court.

> do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA?

I get some updates OTA, but the dealer has to install some others, and when I took it there they updated it with a USB stick.

I wonder what happens if they issue a recall that you want to refuse.

What if they did the EV equivalent of Dieselgate[1]? Say it has a dangerous amount of torque or something, but you like that.

Could you just turn off the network and keep it in the desired (unsupported) state?

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_emissions_scandal

"a lot of people don't know this; for almost any ICE car in the US, you can buy a 3-day or 1-week subscription to the dealership level diagnostic software for a somewhat reasonable fee and use it with a J2534 device"

Whoa, didn't know that. Well the caveat is finding a decent J2534 device, right? There are a lot of cheapo knockoffs. Then actually knowing how to use the software with it.

My experience is J2534 support is sketchy and if you want to do the things you actually want to do you need a manufacturer approved device with an insane markup. Also the subscriptions are insanely expensive, not even close to reasonable and you need to be a company (at least you used to be with Ford last time I checked, but they accept the UK or Dutch royal residence as a valid company location so there is that...)

...do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA?

Of course they do. It would be absolutely silly not to. And in the case of safety recalls, their duty to inform you would entail a more traditional and substantiated disclosure i.e. a letter.

What ever happened to take it to a dealer or authorized repair place to have it done? While I may be willing to take certain things apart that, the one thing in life I have resisted is any kind of monkeying with my car. There are certain things where I'm willing to accept that I took it apart and it no longer works because I bricked it, shorted something, or otherwise damaged it beyond my skill set to undo. My car is not one of them. However, I also do not want my car to be under the direct control of someone else that can decide I can no longer operate my car. If there's an update, I'll bring it in to have someone trained/responsible for that update.

I wonder what happens if you disable the e-SIM (in the US) and then a safety recall appears via software update - do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA?

Yes.

You get a letter in the mail asking you to take your car to the dealer so they can install the update.

Been there. Done this.

WiFi. Flip it on for an update, then leave it off.

> do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA?

Yes.

What's special about EVs that gives them this loophole? Is it something to do with not having dealerships and going direct to consumer?

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