Kyle Wiens, Elizabeth Chamberlain | iFixit
Imagine a notice pops up on your car’s main screen: Maintenance required. Contact your dealer to schedule an appointment. What maintenance? Doesn’t say.
Maybe you have a gas-powered car or a rare EV that’s got a diagnostic port. Let’s say you happen to own a code reader. You plug it in, but nothing shows up. There’s no more information.
Your only option, if you want to know what your car thinks is wrong: to book an appointment with the dealer. At least your car can phone home right from your dashboard.
That is the direction modern cars are heading.