NAV System Weirdness

My vehicle is a 2010 Prius with the factory installed navigation system.

During several short trips lately I have been testing the system to see how well it works when I use the "Go Home" verbal command.

The latest test was really weird. While driving in the direction that the voice said to go, I decided to get off track and see what would happen. I was eastbound on an interstate highway, but deliberately exited at the next off ramp. As expected, the nav system caught the fact that I was going in the wrong direction, and directed me to the next on ramp of that interstate - but had me enter WEST BOUND. Then it apparently caught that error and had me get off at the next off ramp and re-enter EAST BOUND. When I did that (and this is amazing), I was directed to exit at the next off ramp and get back on the interstate going WEST BOUND!

The nav system had me going around in circles, and no, I didn't make any driving mistakes - I just followed exactly what the nav system said.

So I re-issued the "Go Home" command and the nav system began directing me correctly once again.

Just think how confused I would have been if I had been on unfamiliar roads!

Why would this happen? I entered my home address correctly right after getting the car, and haven't touched that address since. My home address is in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio (a large city), and my street has existed for over 40 years. So there should be no missing map information. When I issue the "Go Home" command, the nav system works correctly MOST of the time, but not always. This is disturbing.

I am in contact with Toyota Corporate about this, but so far have not received any answers.

 

Furthur information:

I finally got in touch with the Toyota corporate technican that I had talked to previously several days ago. He promised me then that he would call me back within the hour to discuss what could be done. Well, he didn't call.

So today I called Toyota corporate again, at 1-800-331-4331. After a lengthy conversation I was finally connected to the same technician. He said that I would have to take my car to the dealer, and then the dealer would have to contact Toyota corporate so corporate could guide the dealer in correctly diagnosing the problem. At the same time, Toyota corporate would have to contact the NAV system vendor, Denso Corporation, and discuss the problem with them.

I then switched to a higher level Toyota representative. I told her that I was willing to work with Toyota and Denso to get the poor performing and inaccurate 2010 Prius Navigation system corrected.

I said that unless the Navigation system could be made to work correctly, then I want a full $1800 refund. She said that a refund request would have to go through legal arbitration.

So much for warranties.

 

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions, but we are not talking about a system that works fairly well, we are talking about a flawed system. Toyota hired Denso to design the mapping software, rather than do it themselves, and Denso dropped the ball.

The bottom line is: when one spends $1800 for a navigation system, one expects it to work, and to work well.

If it doesn't work, or if it is significantly inaccurate, then Toyota should either fix it, replace it, or provide a full refund - WITHOUT forcing the customer to go into litigation.

Here are some of the things that have recently happened with my Prius Navigation system.

1. On one occasion the navigation system lost track of my destination 15 minutes or so after I issued the "Go Home" command, and began issuing a series of directions that literally had me going around in circles. This occured when I was miles from home. I re-issued the "Go Home" and the navigation system corrected itself.

2. On another occasion it told me I had arrived at my home when I was actually 10 blocks away and on the wrong street.

3. And on yet another occasion I selected the shortest distance to my destination, which was displayed on the screen along with the other 2 optional routes. As I began following the navigation system voice instructions, it quickly became obvious that the navigation system was not taking me on ANY of those routes. No, there were no road construction or detours that might have disrupted the route. I got to my destination eventually, but it certainly was in a roundabout way.

My 4-year old Garmin portable GPS system has worked flawlessly since day one, and has been used in many areas of Ohio (where I live), Indiana, and Kentucky. Yes, it has occasionally mistaken a decommisioned highway for an in-use road, but has always quickly rerouted me. There was never any of the going-around-in-circles confusion or any of the other weirdness I have experienced with the 2010 Toyota Prius Navigation System.

So am I being unrealistic in expecting a full refund if Toyota cannot fix my flawed 2010 Prius Navigation System?

Perhaps, but I am going to keep following this up. It's the principle of the thing.

 

Please read my posts again. I did say that my Garmin works great in the areas where I have been, but the Prius Nav system does not. Perhaps it is because the Prius Nav system might have a defective antenna, or perhaps the Prius maps are flawed while the Garmin maps are not. Who knows? Whatever the reason, when one GPS works well (like my Garmin) while another does not (like my Prius Nav system) you cannot blame the situation on "crappy reception". They both are receiving (or trying to receive) the same signal.

Of course I know full well that removing the Nav system would leave a gaping hole, and I also know that the Prius Nav system is a multiple function device. So what is your point? Would you not want something done if your Prius had a broken or malfunctioning part? Would you say to Toyota: "That's OK folks, almost everything works. Don't worry about it.". Well, my Prius has a defective part, and Toyota should repair it, replace it, or refund my money.

Hopefully you won't have any problems with your Prius navigation system. However, many other members of this forum (not just me) have complained about the Prius Nav system and how poorly it works as a GPS.

 

Well then, why does my Garmin work flawlessly in the same geographical area where my Prius Nav system does not?