I think too much is made of modern electronic failures. I disliked all the computerized stuff when it first came out, as did many others, and some earlier units did have problems. Time has shown that overall, the newer electronics are mostly beneficial to overall reliability Most modern vehicles are far more reliable than vehicles 30 or more years ago, in part because of the electronics. Most also now have a failsafe or "limp home" mode that allows the vehicle to run, just not well, but can get you home if theres system failures. Most can also self diagnose if you know the codes and how to run them, and compact diagnostic units are commonly available, both stand alone units and that utilize a smart phone for display and some functions.
Vehicles last longer today, partly because they run cleaner, from computer controlled injection systems as well as cleaner fuel, and better oils, and better engineering overall. Im not losing any sleep over modern vehicles leaving me stuck anywhere, and definitely not because they are modern. They arent perfect, but I think you have to be even less mechanically inclined today than in the past. The same mechanical things can fail on modern vehicles, starters, alternators, whatever, but many of the old school glitches are gone, like points and condensers burning/failing, spark plugs fouling, carbs chokes or floats sticking or icing up.
When my trucks had more electronic widgets that gave problems, like the 1980s, Id go to the dealer, pay them the $30 or whatever to scope it, tell me whats wrong, go buy whatever widget they said failed, take it out of the box, look for it under the hood, replace it, and it usually was good after that. My Fords had various little sensors and odds and ends that went wonky now and then. My 92 and 95 Suburbans and 05 4runner have all been extremely reliable in the electronic sense and overall running. I replaced a transmission in one, a transfer case in another, both at 200K+ miles, but no little annoying electronic things, no major electronic failures, very little tune up or maintenance like older carbureted and points/condenser vehicles seems to need more often.
