Car-mounted alcohol detectors malfunctioned due to a cyberattack, rendering vehicles unusable across the United States.
Intoxalock, a developer of in-car alcohol detectors, has reported being subjected to a cyberattack, resulting in a court order rendering some drivers who have installed the detectors unable to use their vehicles.
After hackers hit an Iowa company, cars around the country failed to start - Ars Technica
Intoxalock hack stops cars from starting across US | Cybernews
https://cybernews.com/news/intoxalock-hack-breathalyzer-devices-cars-wont-start-us/
Alcohol detectors are required to be installed by drivers convicted of drunk driving, and Intoxalock products are commonly used.
Intoxalock's alcohol detector consists of a small box and a plastic tube. The driver blows into the tube, and the car cannot be driven unless it shows an alcohol concentration below the legal limit.
Even if you pass this test and manage to start the car, you must pass 'retests' that occur intermittently during driving. When a sound signals a retest, you are given a grace period of 3 to 15 minutes during which you must pull over to the side of the road and blow into the engine again. Ignoring or failing a retest will not stop the car, but the horn and lights will activate, prompting you to pull over and turn off the engine.
Furthermore, Intoxalock users are required to have their devices calibrated at a local service center approximately once a month. Failure to do so will result in the device being locked out.
On March 14, 2026, this calibration system was hacked, preventing many drivers from receiving calibration. In Connecticut, 7-10% of users were affected.
On March 18, Intoxalock announced on its website's status page that it had 'authorized local service centers to extend calibration by 10 days.' Furthermore, it stated that it would 'cover all costs incurred as a result of the temporary system downtime, including towing fees.'
As of March 20, the system had not yet been restored, and Intoxalock announced that 'at this time, we need to extend this shutdown until March 22.' Then, on March 22, the company finally announced that 'the system is back up and running,' and that both installation and calibration are now possible again.
Intoxalock System Status
Please note that Intoxalock alcohol detectors are only available for rent, not purchase, and cost approximately $70 (approximately 11,000 yen) to $120 (approximately 19,000 yen) per month.
Intoxalock users complained about being unable to use their cars for extended periods and about the inadequate response they received.
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