Dodge drivers have started noticing something quite annoying in their vehicles: pop-up ads on the dashboard screen. Yes, advertisements appearing while stopped at a traffic light or even while driving, and, of course, they are not wanted. Imagine being at a red light, about to start moving again, and suddenly, your car’s screen pops up with a video or an ad you never asked for. Scary, right? Well, this is exactly what many users of various Stellantis brands have been facing in recent weeks. Here’s everything that’s happening with this issue.
What happened?
Apparently, many Dodge, Jeep, and other Stellantis brand drivers have exploded in anger on social media and car forums, considering this not only an invasion of their privacy but also a very dangerous distraction.
What has the company said?
The company responded by saying that it was a system error and not intentional. But what if it wasn’t? Are we witnessing the future of in-car advertising? Users have already complained because some of these ads appearing on their screens promote extended warranty plans under the slogan “Buy with peace of mind.” Not only that, but many users have been unable to dismiss these ads.
The theories behind these ads
It’s clear that nothing in life happens by chance, and users have quickly come up with various theories about what’s really going on.
The first, giving Stellantis the benefit of the doubt, is the so-called “system error.” According to the company, the pop-up ads were a technical glitch and not an intentional feature. However, this has not convinced drivers at all, mainly because these ads appear only when the car is stopped (coincidence, right?) and, in many cases, they can’t be closed immediately, forcing drivers or passengers to interact with the screen to remove them.
Another widespread theory is the one we mentioned earlier: this could be a new business model based on advertising. Why? It’s simple. In 2021, Stellantis announced its plan to generate approximately $20.8 billion annually through its vehicle software, which would include new features and paid updates… Almost like any platform we use today, right? Like YouTube, Spotify, or even X.
However, many users argue that this theory doesn’t hold up because they can’t understand why Stellantis would risk upsetting its customers over just a few cents. Others, however, have responded that Stellantis NEEDS those cents.
Are in-car ads a safety issue?
Of course, anything that can cause distraction while driving (or even startle the driver) is a potential accident risk. Additionally, many users have reported that these pop-ups don’t even close properly and block access to essential systems such as the navigation system or the rearview camera. A complete disaster.
Ads in cars? The future?
This could be the first step toward an emerging trend where other companies adopt this model, Tesla, for example.
What do users think?
Complaints have been all over the place, and users, of course, are frustrated about rising prices in everything, first the vehicles, then the updates, and now a “premium” update to remove ads? This has sparked outrage among many who are reconsidering whether to buy another car from Stellantis or, at the very least, never repeat the brand once their current vehicle stops working.
For now, Stellantis has admitted that it was an error and promised to fix it soon, but they haven’t clarified whether this is part of a larger business strategy. Perhaps this was a test to gauge public reaction, and clearly… it hasn’t gone well.