This problem isn't just cars. I've had 2 washers fail in the last couple of years, each time the main logic board. The proplem is (mainly) the electronics, or more precisely, highly integrated, highly proprietary parts.

When they break, you can hardly diagnose them, let alone fix them, or replace them with 3rd party stuff. Buying replacements from the manufacturer (if you even can) is often uneconomic, and also risky, since maybe it broke because of some other failure, etc.

The solution isn't going back to simple wires and mechanics - his example of 'wiring in a tail light' would double the weight of the car with wires if applied to everything.

The solution is modularity and open standards.