Source: I have a Model 3, and frequently park in locations with 0 cell coverage.
I can't connect to Tesla from the app, but I just walked to my car and was able to open the door just fine.
In general: always carry the key with you; it's a slim card that goes in your wallet. Or use your phone's Bluetooth. I've only used the remote unlock once and that was to let a family member in where I couldn't go with them. I've also only had to use the card once, and that was when my phone's BT was having trouble.
If anyone is really stranded because of this (and is able to post on a forum about it), that must be some really bad luck: no fob, no Bluetooth despite a working phone, and no key.
I implore everyone to read this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29283262
It's an outage, you might not be impacted, but people are.
"Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith."
They're ok with employees losing productivity on Friday but more than a day is unacceptable.
Bluetooth keys work but not all Tesla cars have those. Some cars unlock by phone via the app through an internet connection, it seems.
I'm surprised remote unlocking is as easy as calling a number and convincing an operator that you're the owner. Another reason to avoid the brand, I suppose.
I've consulted on on stolen luxury vehicle cases and I can tell you this isn't unique to Tesla. If you know what to say and can say it convincingly you can locate, disable, and unlock a higher end car pretty easily.
You probably want to avoid cars altogether if this bothers you. For basically all cars, there are far easier and less time consuming methods to unlock the doors.
The problem that happened last time was that people opened the app to do something and logged out to try and fix it, thus clearing their credentials, and then can't log back in, and cant log back in to reauthenticate their device.
They should add some friction to the logout process. Like a server API call to allow you to logout.
But everything needs cloud! I mean you can't unlock something three feet away without sending some packets over 2000 miles round trip.
* Via Bluetooth from your phone. Model 3 and Y used this as the primary way of unlocking. This does not require a Tesla server. It's just local communication between the car and the phone. The car and the phone are paired.
* Via a key card. Model 3 and Y use this as the method when you get the car until you pair it with the phone and what you use if you want to give someone temporary access to the car (e.g service, valets).
* Via a key fob. Model S and X used this in the past (not sure if the latest refresh changed this but older S and X vehicles didn't support Bluetooth or Key cards) as the primary method.
* Remotely via the phone app. As in you make an API call to Tesla with your Tesla credentials and Tesla sends a remote command to the car. This requires Internet access for the device making the request and to the car in order to receive the command. This last bit is what's broken. Given the requirements this has never been very reliable and nobody would want to use this on a day to day basis.
So I seriously doubt very many people are locked out of their cars. I am able to get into my 2015 Model S via the key fob and my 2018 Model 3 via Bluetooth from my phone.
It took me long as heck to find a quality non-smart TV because I didn't want the lack of control, programmed obsolescence and shitty-ness of smart TV software.
I wonder if I won't be able to have a proper quality car really owned and controlled by me in the future.
EDIT: Ok, so it seems it supports a Keyfob. Then all is good.
Not at all. You can open it with a phone app (which does require connectivity for both the phone and the car) or a keyfob/proximity key card.
I've operated my Tesla many times well outside of any network connectivity.
EDIT: Full and accurate list of the four ways to get into a Tesla here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29283262
I am curious what you mean by a proper quality car since all cars have governors which limit your speed or have computers in them that prevent you from fixing things yourself. Though I do agree with you that I wish these restrictions were lifted, I doubt it will ever happen. Only way is either building your own car or buying an old one without these "features"
What I dislike is companies putting unnecessary, unsafe, crappy software that's full of tracking/spyware in their products. This is common with SmartTVs and lots of things in the smart/IoT space. I've seen the damage done and I just dislike the lack of choice and want to vote with my wallet.
