You Can Do a Calibration “Wrong” and It Will Still Say “Passed” — Here’s Why That Should Scare You

Let’s get this out of the way:

Just because your scan tool says “Calibration Complete” doesn’t mean the system is calibrated correctly.Yes, that’s horrifying.Yes, it’s happening everywhere.

And yes — it should absolutely keep every shop owner, estimator, and calibration tech up at night.

Why It Happens:

Because the calibration tool is software.And like most software, it’s programmed to say:

“Did I complete all the steps in the script?”Yes? Great. PASS.

But that scan tool doesn’t know:

• If your floor was level

• If your target board was off by 4 inches

• If the radar bracket was bent

• If you even aimed the camera in the right direction

It just knows the procedure ran start to finish. Not that it was accurate.

This Is the Silent Killer of the ADAS Industry

Shops and calibration companies are sending cars out with mis-calibrated systems that “passed” — because no one double-checked the setup conditions.

That radar might be pointing at a telephone pole.That surround camera might be 3 degrees off and misrepresenting your parking space.

But guess what? The scan tool?Still says “complete.”

Final Word: “Pass” Doesn’t Mean “Correct” — Only the Process Does

If you didn’t:

• Verify the environment

• Confirm the equipment

• Physically measure everything

Then the “pass” is just a feel-good lie. And that lie could lead to a system failure.

Stop trusting the scan report alone. Start trusting the setup.