Automotive mobile apps continue to frustrate owners, finds JD Power study

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated with an app, you’re not alone. Updates, or lack thereof, can often cause issues when running on ever-changing smart devices, with clunky interfaces and frequent crashes, which we’ve all experienced regardless of operating system. .

However, when it comes to cars, the phone apps that come with them almost universally seem to be a sore point. According to research published by JDPower, drivers remain dissatisfied with the performance of their smartphone apps.

The frustration behind using phone apps stems from the fact that the software has become an integral part of the new car experience. In 2020, 45% of users were not using their car companion app. In 2021, this figure has fallen to just 25%.

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Despite the increase in usage, none of the 32 apps surveyed left respondents completely satisfied. “People want a one-stop-shop to find all the information about their cars,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of JD Power’s global automotive consultancy. Talk to automotive news, he recounted that a big complaint with car-based apps is that they still lack the features owners want. Many common wishlist options include navigation, window and door lock status, and other remote features.

However, the biggest complaint was that the apps run too slowly, which makes them useless. Compared to the previous year, the issues were exasperated by an increase in software issues in 2021. Another issue came down to Android users being unable to connect to vehicles – an issue shared by multiple manufacturers.

The top performing phone app in the survey was Tesla by some margin, which is hardly surprising. Meanwhile, Volvo topped the charts for ICE cars.

JDPower has also found that much of the app consternation is with dealers, who retain a crucial role in helping customers set up and navigate the software.