Mazda stereos bricked by filename without an extension

Here's a fun one. Our local NPR station's digital channel caused some Mazda stereos to brick and get stuck on NPR:

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/02/rad...inment-systems/

The digital channel's metadata can carry pictures such as album covers. Someone at the station attached images without an extension on the filenames, which the Mazda stereos couldn't handle.

(I've heard a rumor that Ford F150's can also be affected, but sadly it can never be tested.)

I hope that Tesla's OTA connectivity is more robust than that! At least Mazda is doing the right thing, repairing these cars for free even though they are long out of warranty. I wonder if the radio station bears any responsibility?

tanstaafl.

Doubtful. Looks totally the fault of whoever did the firmware in those Mazda radios.