Too Much Software
Modern cars are some of the most complicated products on the market today. What used to be simple modes of transportation that were differentiated by size, powertrain, and brand are now filled to the brim with different features that are powered by various software.
There are instances where software isn’t as reliable as we expect it to be; sometimes they glitch and affects the performance of certain creature comforts. GM’s latest bulletin highlights the problem with too much software, with the Escalade’s heated seats not performing as intended.
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Heated
A report has been published by GM Authority that says GM issued a service bulletin (PIT6539). The bulletin explains that some Cadillac Escalade owners might have malfunctioning heated seats, in the sense that they first work normally on the first drive of the day, but end up inoperable as the day goes on. According to the report, the issue occurs when the car has been shut off for a longer period of time, which increases the in-cabin temperature and causes the malfunction. The bulletin states that the issue occurs if the cabin temperature exceeds 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
GM says that the possible software glitch that causes this anomaly is found in the Body Control Module (BCM). However, no specifics have been issued by the brand yet on what the permanent fix is because the current available information is based on a preliminary investigation into the matter. Since the Escalade isn’t a sole model, it’s a shared platform and parts, meaning that there are other affected GM models like the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. At the moment, the service bulletin encompasses the North American market.
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Ironic
The irony of the situation can’t be ignored: the fact that the heated seats malfunction when the cabin is too hot. Why anybody would engage heated seats at that temperature is mind-boggling, but at least GM is aware of the issue and working on a fix. The automaker says it will update or replace the preliminary information bulletin with a technical service bulletin once it determines if it’s a software fix or something else.
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