NHTSA: Only FCA Vehicles Were Potentially Vulnerable To Hackers

We told you previously about how Wired magazine remotely hacked into a Jeep Cherokee and crashed it into a ditch. Fast forward several months and NHTSA has investigated the situation.

NHTSA has ended a five-month investigation into car radios. The investigation stemmed from a Wired magazine report in which the tech publication showcased the vulnerability of certain FCA vehicles to outside hackers. FCA recalled 1.4 million vehicles as a reaction to the potential for vulnerability. However, at the time FCA noted the recall was a precautionary measure verses a feeling there was a real need to recall the infotainment software in 1.4 million vehicles. NHTSA reached their conclusion about FCA radio units on the heels of fining the automaker $105 million over the reportedly lax manner in which the automaker handled vehicle safety concerns.

Reports indicate the recall of FCA radio units did fix the software issue, which left select FCA vehicles potentially vulnerable to hacking. However, FCA again refuted any real danger present for FCA vehicle drivers, feeling a the hack of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee by Wired was a very specialized situation and not one that the garden variety consumer would be likely to ever face.

Part of the findings by NHTSA reported on by the WSJ read in part, “Based on a thorough review of technical information supplied during the course of this investigation, there does not appear to be a reason to suspect that the infotainment head units Harman supplied to other vehicle manufacturers contain the vulnerabilities identified.” Similar Harman head units put into Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley vehicles were found to not have the vulnerability, which could allow remote hacking.

What do consumers ask your staff about new vehicle technology? Do your customers ask questions about the potential for vehicles being hacked? What is the policy at your store when it comes to educating your staff about the latest developments from automakers?