Automakers are holding your car’s wireless data hostage, and you’re paying the ransom “Right to repair” “Telematics” “Auto telematics” “Car”

The act of fixing your car has changed drastically over the past few decades. As vehicles have become more computerized, repair has as well, evolving from a purely mechanical exercise into something more digitized, more complex and more expensive.

For today’s drivers, repairs don’t just require a socket wrench set and a replacement part. A simple fix can end up needing pricey manufacturer software subscriptions and expensive digital diagnostic tools as well. In some cases, software can restrict even something as basic as replacing a brake pad.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. New technologies known as “telematics” connect your vehicle to the cloud, which enables cars to wirelessly transmit data such as your engine’s health and driving behavior. 

Wireless access to diagnostics data like this could and should open up a lot of repair possibilities. Imagine being able to figure out what kind of error your car has and what type of part you’d need to repair it as soon as a check engine light comes on, all without needing an expensive scan tool or a trip to the dealership.

The only issue? According to auto manufacturers, that telematic data doesn’t belong to you.

Thanks to software restrictions, auto manufacturers act as gatekeepers for access to telematic repair information, leaving drivers and independent mechanics powerless against the whims of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). 

Telematic information restrictions come with a bevy of anti-consumer consequences, as U.S. PIRG Education Fund found in our new report My Car, My Data, published earlier this February. Using these new technologies, manufacturers have created a two-tiered repair environment where dealerships have enhanced access to repair-friendly driver data, while owners and independent mechanics are forced to contend with software paywalls and proprietary tools.

How do telematics impact repair?

Across the auto industry, new cars are now being equipped with internet-connected modems that enable in-vehicle computers to connect with a manufacturer’s servers. Systems such as General Motors’ OnStar or Ford’s FordPass mean that manufacturers with remote access can see real-time diagnostics and vehicle data that can be critical for repair.

But manufacturers keep a tight lock on telematic repair information, so drivers and independent repair shops don’t have this access.  While your vehicle’s computer systems can already internally diagnose nearly any mechanical issue, the most you might see from your vehicle’s app is a notification to contact your local dealership’s service center.

A Toyota displays an in-car service notification prompting the driver to call the dealership.Photo by Jewett Perkins | Used by permission

Meanwhile, as the driver, your own car’s diagnostic information and data is held hostage. Cars now restrict data access behind expensive scan tools and proprietary software subscriptions that can cost thousands of dollars per manufacturer per year in licensing fees. Industry wide, these vehicle data limitations add significant costs – according to a 2024 study, data restrictions cost independent repair shops an estimated $3.1 billion every year.

Dealerships get an unfair advantage

Dealership service centers get an upper hand in several respects because of their exclusive access to telematic repair information. First, they steer you toward the dealership by sending marketing messages through emails, smartphone notifications and even  in-car displays. Some automakers, including Stellantis and Subaru, even go as far as to advertise for additional products and services.

If you follow those prompts and go to the dealer for service, dealers can have an advantage over an independent repair shop because they can diagnosed your vehicle before you even show up. 

Unfair competitive advantages in the repair market can lead to fewer third-party options and less competition, which can end up inflating repair costs for everyone. Over the past five years, U.S. motor vehicle repair costs increased 42%, outsizing the rate of inflation by 1.8 times. These disparities grow even more at dealerships – regarding pricing, consumers tend to be most dissatisfied at dealerships and most satisfied at an independent shop.

If manufacturers can restrict access to repair information, their own first-party solutions become the only option available, leaving repair economies vulnerable to price increases and padded profit margins. 

You should control your car’s data

When it comes to your car, you already own the steel. You should own the silicon too.

Your car’s data is a fundamental requirement for many modern repairs, and manufacturer restrictions just make it more difficult and more expensive to keep your vehicle on the road. Automakers’ restrictions give dealerships a technological leg up while blocking out DIYers and independent shops, paving the road towards a monopolized repair economy with fewer options and higher costs.

It would be ludicrous if the builders of your home charged a monthly fee just to enter your own utility room, but when it comes to your car’s computers, that’s exactly what auto manufacturers are doing.

Fair repair relies on access to parts, tools, and data – not just for dealerships, but for everyone. Your car and the data it produces are critical assets for repair, and when it comes to telematics, it’s time for manufacturers to hand over the keys.