A Hyundai Kona driver in Spain was stranded in a car that would not start because it was in the middle of a software update.
Here's what to know
A Reddit thread in r/mildlyinfuriating shared the Instagram clip from Spanish influencer Carmen Estefano (@carmenestefano).
"Imagine that in a medical emergency this wretched car REFUSES to start because it was in the middle of a software update," the original poster wrote. "In Spain, the DANA storms are quite DANGEROUS weather phenomena; imagine not being able to start your car to take shelter somewhere because IT WAS SOFTWARE UPDATING."
Commenters connected the clip to frustration with increasingly connected vehicles, or "smart cars."
"Every car has to be a smartphone nowadays," one commenter wrote.
Another offered: "Not acceptable. We're not QA, and if the software in these vehicles fails, lives are potentially at risk."
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Someone else pushed back on the idea that updates arrive automatically.
"I don't know about the Kia, but with my car you have to accept the update to install it," they said. "You don't just get updates pushed from nowhere."
Hyundai says on its website that its Kona EV will alert a driver of an "Update Preparation Notification Window" when a vehicle's engine is off, but updates will not commence without customer approval. Once an update is underway, cancellation is not possible.
"You can select 'later' on your vehicle's infotainment screen if you are not ready to have the software installed," it notes.
More background
The thread featured a debate over how much control drivers have when major functions are tied to software and manufacturer-designed systems.
Repair burdens were part of the OP's follow-up.
Based on their understanding of laws in Spain and France, they said cars must be kept in "excellent condition" to remain on the road. "Therefore, finding someone to repair it is more expensive and time-consuming for the user, so the alternative is to acquire one of these wheeled computers that has the necessary and current regulations," they concluded, adding that it contributes to the lack of classic — "or less 'smart'" — cars.
What can be done?
"Maybe, just maybe, don't start the software update while you're at the gas station? There is no way that guy didn't press 'update now' when he was presented with the prompt," one user wrote.
Many drivers want cars to be fully usable unless they deliberately take them out of service, perhaps pointing to the need for clearer prompts and more transparent update controls when software can affect basic mobility.
As it stood, many people had an ominous view of the future.
"I see you're trying to brake rapidly," a user quipped. "The braking system will engage after this short video message."
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