Lawsuits over 3G shutdowns start piling up

Ford and Volkswagen are the latest carmakers to face lawsuits stemming from the shutdown of 3G networks in the US.

As noted by the ClassAction.org website, a new lawsuit claims that Ford and Volkswagen did not warn buyers of some car models between 2014 and 2019 that the connected services on their vehicles would be “rendered obsolete” after AT&T shuttered its 3G network. That shutdown happened in February.

AT&T has a sizable connected car business. Following the operator’s 3G shutdown, Ford motorists could no longer use their vehicles’ MyFord mobile app to start, lock, unlock or locate their vehicles remotely, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also alleges that Ford and Volkswagen refused to pay for 4G upgrades to their customers’ cars. Officials from Ford and Volkswagen didn’t immediately respond to questions from Light Reading about the allegations.

The lawsuit builds on a similar one against BMW and Porsche, as noted by InsideTowers. And it may not be the last.

“What if you have a device that cannot be switched over – like a car or medical device? In these situations, legal recourse may be necessary,” wrote the lawyers at Colson Hicks Eidson in a post to the firm’s website. The post essentially serves as an advertisement to litigious 3G users.

To read the complete article, visit Light Reading.