Automakers Can Disable Car Features—Is Yours Next?
Ever wondered what happens to all those fancy connected features in your car as it ages? Well, it might come as a shock, but just because you access your vehicle through an app doesn’t mean it’ll always be there. Most new cars come loaded with connected services—everything from emergency calls to roadside help. Just think, for most folks, subscribing to these services can add up once the complimentary trial runs out. But, what happens when your vehicle gets a bit older? Spoiler alert: you might not have these services for long.
What Are Connected Services Anyway?
Connected services bundle together all the cool stuff your car can do online. This could mean automatic calls to 911 following a crash, being able to check your vehicle’s health, or even being your own Wi-Fi hot spot. Now, let’s talk about the money: most of these features require a paid subscription once the free trial expires—some run for as short as three months. For automakers, it’s pretty much a goldmine that brings in big bucks every year, but older cars? Well, they might not stick around to cash in.
The Problem with 3G
If you drove a car with a 3G modem, you might feel the pinch already. In 2022, the final 3G networks in the U.S. were turned off as companies switched to faster systems. Newer vehicles relishing in 4G, LTE, and 5G didn’t feel the change, but moldy standards are hitting the highways, hastening the day when even 4G could go by the wayside. Some brands might upgrade older modem tech, but it isn’t required.
Acura Pulls the Plug
If you thought hardware issues were the only headache for older vehicle owners, think again. Recently, Acura announced it’s shutting off access to its AcuraLink services. In a notification sent on May 29, they informed owners of a variety of models made within the last 12 years that by July 21, 2025, they’re out of luck. This impacts vehicles dating back to 2014—with some newer models still banking on 4G but now getting cross-legged as well.
- 2014–2020 Acura RLX
- 2014–2020 Acura MDX
- 2015–2020 Acura TLX
- 2016–2018 Acura RDX
- 2016–2022 Acura ILX
- 2017–2022 Acura NSX
So, if you snagged a shiny new 2022 Acura NSX Type S for a whopping average of $171,495, you’re losing those connected services right alongside someone stuck with an older 2014 MDX SUV. This means no more roadside help, recall alerts (although they’ll still come via snail mail), or tasks like locating a stolen car through the app will function after that cutoff date.
Acura who? They’re reportedly offering prorated refunds to affected customers, but zero explanation about razing support for relatively new models. When we contacted them regarding this switch-off, they told us it was entirely within their right as footnoted in the waylong terms and conditions.
Quoted: “As of July 21, 2025, AcuraLink services for certain Acura models will become inactive… We apologize for any women and men viably hamstrung due to this inconvenience and will issue refunds for any unused subscription portions.” Makes ya feel all warm inside, right?
Can They Just Do That?
You bet they can! Pretty lousy customer service isn’t illegal, and there’s no law compelling automakers to keep maintaining older models’ outdated features. In fact, the opposite holds true! To dig deeper into the matter, check the tiny print in the AcuraLink terms and condition’s roads and you’ll find they can end the services whenever they feel like.
Its inside there that you might stumble across the gem, ‘we can terminate these terms and services at any time’. There you have it! And don’t think Acura is flying this legal flag alone. Brands like GM OnStar, Hyundai Blue Link, and NissanConnect feature the same fine print, enabling them to drop you whenever they decide.
It Doesn’t Have To End Like This
While automakers obviously can’t control telecom issues, the companies can indeed follow a better process in supporting older models with hardware and software tweaks. Tesla does this effortlessly; their first-gen 2012 Model S rides the updates even over a decade later. If Tesla manages it, others could do so if they had the want.
And it’s not just Tesla. Audi once promised buyers its systems would be swappable for new ones to extend their cars’ lifespans. Curious why that’s fallen off the radar now…
Will We Ever Get Backwards Compatibility?
Anyone who owns tech knows it eventually becomes outdated. Phones fall short way faster than cars, which average just under 13 years on the road. With drivers keeping their rides around for longer than the latest smartphone, many can wind up stuck if other brands join Acura in laying the shutdown hammer even earlier.
So, what’s the future when it comes to whether any major automakers opt to keep supporting models they might not plan ahead for? After all, they paraded the idea of “planned obsolescence” to push car sales. Push back from clients mad about cut features is probably the only remedy that can curb organizations from pulling the plug for good.
Transformations by Motortrend.com
