EVs are software-defined cars: many receive over-the-air (OTA) updates that fix bugs, improve range, charging and brake feel, and even deliver safety recalls. Updates are increasingly your responsibility, not optional. Some makers (for example GM) state owners must install OTA updates within 45 days of availability, and that damage from failing to update may not be covered by warranty. Some brands also require an active telematics subscription to receive OTA updates, or you must visit a dealer. Best practice: enable automatic updates over Wi-Fi, install promptly, park safely and keep the car charged during an update, and never interrupt one.
OTA updates at a glance
| Aspect | What to know | Owner action |
|---|---|---|
| What they fix | Bugs, features, range, recalls | Install promptly |
| Timeliness | Some makers require ~45 days | Don't defer indefinitely |
| Warranty link | Ignoring updates may void cover | Keep a record of installs |
| Access | May need telematics subscription | Check your plan; else use a dealer |
Why software updates matter on an EV
A modern EV is as much a computer as a car. Over-the-air (OTA) updates let the manufacturer improve the vehicle long after you buy it — fixing bugs, refining how the battery charges, adjusting regenerative braking and one-pedal feel, adding features, and increasingly delivering safety recalls without a dealer visit. OTA recall fixes already span hundreds of models across many brands. Staying current keeps your car safer, more efficient and more reliable.
What updates can and can't do
- Can fix: software bugs (reboots, glitches), charging and battery-management behaviour, regen/one-pedal tuning, infotainment and driver-assist features, and many safety recalls.
- Can improve: efficiency and sometimes usable range, charging speed curves, and user-interface quirks.
- Cannot fix: physical/hardware faults — a worn tyre, a seized caliper, a failed 12V battery or a damaged pack still need a workshop.
- Can occasionally regress: very rarely an update changes behaviour you liked; manufacturers usually issue a follow-up.
Your responsibilities as an owner
This is the part many owners miss. Update obligations have become explicit in some warranty documents. GM's 2025 and 2026 owner materials, for example, state that owners are responsible for installing OTA updates within 45 days of availability, and that 'damage resulting from failure to install over-the-air software updates is not covered.' In other words, ignoring updates can affect your warranty.
If an update is tied to a recall, emissions or safety fix, skipping it can also affect whether the car is legally considered repaired, and potentially your insurance. Recall-related software fixes are required to be provided free of charge on cars up to a certain age, so cost is rarely a reason to delay a safety update.
| Responsibility | What it means | Risk if ignored |
|---|---|---|
| Install updates promptly | Within the maker's window (e.g. 45 days) | Possible warranty denial |
| Apply recall/safety fixes | Treat as mandatory | Car not legally 'repaired'; safety risk |
| Maintain access | Keep telematics/subscription active if required | Forced dealer visits, fees |
| Don't interrupt an update | Park, charge, wait it out | Failed update; rare 'bricking' |
Access: subscriptions and dealers
Not every EV updates the same way. Some brands (Hyundai and Kia among them) require an active subscription to the maker's telematics service to receive OTA updates; without it you may have to take the car to a dealer and could face a service fee. Check how your car updates before you assume it's automatic, and keep any required connectivity active so you don't miss safety fixes.
How to update safely
- Enable automatic updates over Wi-Fi where offered, so you don't miss them.
- Park in a safe place — not blocking a road or driveway — before starting an update; the car is usually unusable while it installs.
- Keep enough charge (many cars require a minimum battery level) and ideally stay plugged in.
- Don't interrupt it. Avoid opening doors, driving or cutting power mid-update; an interrupted update can fail and, rarely, cause problems.
- Read the release notes so you know what changed — especially for regen, charging or driver-assist behaviour.
- Keep a record of installed updates to support warranty and resale.
OTA updates rely on a secure link between the maker's servers and your car, and they patch security flaws. Keep the car updated, be cautious about unofficial 'hacks' or third-party software, and never attempt to load unauthorised firmware — it can compromise safety systems and void your warranty.
Common mistakes
- Deferring updates indefinitely, risking warranty cover and missing safety fixes.
- Letting a required telematics subscription lapse and then missing OTA updates entirely.
- Interrupting an update by driving off or cutting power.
- Installing unofficial software that can break systems and void warranty.
- Ignoring release notes, then being surprised when regen or driver-assist behaviour changes.
The bottom line
Software updates are now a core part of EV ownership, not an optional extra. Treat them like any other maintenance item: install promptly, prioritise safety and recall fixes, keep any required connectivity active, and apply them safely. Doing so keeps the car protected under warranty, secure, and running at its best.
Frequently asked questions
Are EV software updates mandatory?
Can ignoring updates void my warranty?
Do I need a subscription for OTA updates?
How do I install an update safely?
Can a software update improve my EV's range?
Sources & further reading
- GM Authority — Why you shouldn't ignore GM OTA updates
- Consumer Reports — OTA car software updates: are they safe?
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
