Navigation who can I complain to?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ May 1 2006, 11:25 PM) [snapback]248357[/snapback]</div>

I'm looking to complain as well. I've had Garmin Streetpilots for many years and really liked them. This is a big step down, mainly in software coverage and features. I've already complained to the dealer, and the Toyota Consumer center. I've heard nothing back.

Anybody know how to reach a senior manager in the southeast?

 

Some of the other players for the Nav system are listed here. Part of the problem is that the map data comes from a different source than the POI data so you need to be specific about your complaint. Most of the data providers have feedback pages on their web site if you have a missing street or business you want to report. That being said, complaining to Toyota worked once as they issued a free upgrade to version 4.2 in response to numerous complaints regarding earlier versions. Unfortunately, after I got the upgrade, I was sorry since 4.2 was not as good in recalculation logic and not an improvement for my area.

 

Clifford, I'm a GPS owner -- but not of one made by Toyota. I'll try to be of help. I'm not too sure what you mean by anything in your area that is "set right". If you're referring to missing streets, instructions to turn left at a no left turn sign, and routing the wrong way on one way streets, then all I can say is that those are occasional problems that all GPS users see -- with an emphasis on "occasional". GPS manufacturers buy their maps from one of a few map makers who literally have teams of people driving around noting left turn restriction, one way streets, and so forth. Sometimes they get it wrong, but it shouldn't be too often. If you are experiencing this kind of problem, document what you are seeing and complain to Toyota. If it's bad enough and you make enough noise, maybe they will do something for you, like upgrade the map or give you a refund. I have no idea, but if it's verifiably as bad as you say, then who knows? I would think you would need a dozen or so documented problems before they are going to take you seriously. If so, I would think the local dealer would be aware of the problem and might be of help.

If on the other hand, the gps is consistently losing it's lock, unable to establish a lock, putting you on the wrong road, or instructing you to turn when there is nothing to turn onto, then maybe you have a hardware problem that is covered by the warranty. One thing to keep in mind is that dense tree cover or tall buildings can also interfere with reception and screw things up.

And then there is a third kind of problem inherent to all GPS's. If you give it a street address, don't expect it to necessarily take you to that exact address. There is no way the map makers can record the exact coordinates of every address -- including that of your home. They will interpolate between known locations, so it's entirely possible that a particular address can be off by quite a large margin since the gps is just making an educated guess as to the location of individual addresses.

Lastly, one more thing. :blink: Many gps units are WAAS enabled which is a position correction sytem that enables them to get their accuracy down to as little as 9 feet, or even slightly less. Getting the first lock on the WAAS satellites can be tricky, and your unit may need some help. The manual may explain the procedure, or perhaps Toyota can be of help.

Jeff

 

I used to not be able to find anything... then I realized my mistake

If you put a space after the street number, it will not find the adress... stupid, I know...

Perhaps this is your mistake?

 

Really makes me appreciate my Garmin Street Pilot. Curiously, it has the opposite behavior regarding U-turns: If I take a wrong turn it recalculates immediately, but if there is just no way to get back to my route because I am on a road going off in entirely the wrong direction, it will take me miles along that route, only to turn around where there is finally some kind of loop where I can turn without making a U turn.

All in all it is great and gets me to within a block of my destination.

Tip regarding any GPS: Instead of entering your home address, find the "This Is Home" button and use it when you are sitting right in front of your house. Then it has the actual coordinates. Not that anyone should need that.

 

That is really strange! We just returned from a trip along the east coast - put 2500 miles on our Prius and the navagation system worked perfectly - got us right up to the front door of each destination. Could not have made it without it! We live in a new area - our street is only 2 years old and the system includes our street and all the adjoining streets.....where do you live?

 

I agree that the system is pretty basic.

My house address is listed incorrectly (in fact my entire cul de sac of 9 houses are all listed with the incorrect street number...and our houses are 9 years old).

Occasionally, I come across your problem where it for some reason fails to recalculate the route...or takes a long time to do it. However, it ususally does it instantly. As far as it trying to make you do a "U" turn...it is basing that on the streets it shows, and the average speed for that type of street. This is something that you can edit (in settings you can edit the "average" speed for a street, major street, and highway. Even though you know that the route it shows may not be as fast (due to hills, lights, etc.), it can not see those things. On older NAVs you could override its selected route with a "preferred" route...but not on the new one...all you can do is turn off the "allow freeway"...if that helps.

All we can do is hope that they come out with a new version soon.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clifford @ May 2 2006, 05:47 AM) [snapback]248478[/snapback]</div>

I have experienced similar problems with the Prius Navigation System. Roads that have existed for over 30 years are shown on the display but not named, and "guidance is not provided in this area." Even in areas where streets are named, where I can actually choose a destination and see it displayed on the map, guidance is often not provided to that location if the destination is not on a major road. In other instances, I have noticed major roads missing from the data base.

I have a TomTom navigation system, running on a PalmOne Zire 72 PDA. It provides accurate guidance in each of these circumstances. I regret to say that, having paid for the Prius Navigation System, I still need to carry the TomTom system with me when I travel.

I have notified Toyota Canada of my concerns, both by email and by letter. They were quick to respond, saying the navigation coverage issue is one they are addressing, and that they have conveyed my comments to the appropiate departments.

 

I like the NAV system. I just returned from a trip to Kerrville Texas from Cary, IL (near Chicago). It got me there without a hitch. . . . errr. . . . well, except it had a problem with one city along the way. It couldn't find it. After I finally pulled into the driveway of my son's house I pressed the Destination button and gave me the city as "Kyle-Buda" rather than Buda. But as far as getting me around the hill country -- no problem.

While my wife was driving I had some time to really get into the NAV manual and there are some additional controls for the NAV system that you get to using 'settings', such as re-calibrating the system based on tire wear, setting the speeds that the system assumes you are traveling on different types of roads, i.e. residential, main routes, and expressways. Which POIs to display and so forth. The manual is definitely worth a read, cover to cover.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 2 2006, 06:06 AM) [snapback]248485[/snapback]</div>

Yeah. Although I didn't have to do that for "Home," I did when I set up my parent's house. They live at a "T" intersection so it's obvious where they should be on a map.

My last NAV system consisted of a 2002 Thomas Guide of San Diego, a 1992 Thomas Guide of Los Angeles and Mapquest, so any sort of GPS system is an improvement. It has missed a couple of times (plus a time which was my fault), but it directed me to one place better than Mapquest. The database is quite old, I admit. For example, it lists a resturant by my house that's been gone for several years.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(champ @ May 2 2006, 10:16 AM) [snapback]248522[/snapback]</div>

Tell me where to complain in the Canadian division and I will ad my voice to yours. --- While the area immediately around my home is reasonably good, in the outskirts of the city (which has been developed for some 15-20 years) it still talks about guidance not being available. While Kingston is not by any means the largest city in Ontario it is not small by Canadian standards at over 100,000 and it is one of the oldest deeloped areas in the country! things should be better.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clifford @ May 2 2006, 08:47 AM) [snapback]248478[/snapback]</div>

This sounds to me like you have the setting for Automatic Route Recalculation turned OFF. Normally, when you make a choice that the car didn't tell you to (turned when it said straight, didn't turn, etc.), it will automatically recalculate the route if you have the option turned ON.

I believe it's in the MENU, SETTINGS section. There are 4 pages of options there and one of them is to have the Automatic Route Recalculation turned ON.

My NAV has helped me in at least 5 states. It does tell me sometimes that it can't provide guidance and to just use the visual (this is usually when I am going on dirt roads), but I expect that. I haven't had a destination yet that it could not find.

Hope this helps.

 

All in all, we are pleased with our Prius NAV system. While the voice-activated commands are sometimes amusing, its overall performance has been quite good. It is evident that one DVD disc can not contain every street address in the continental U.S. and Canada, nor can it contain detailed information for all the smaller towns. 90% or more of the time the indicated position is within 60-70 feet of our actual "on the ground" location. Much information can be discovered in the Navigation Manual (if one troubles to read it!) and an online DVD for the Lexus (same NAV system as the Prius) is helpful to beginners:

http://www.lexus.com/models/es/interior.html#dvd

...this works best on a high-speed internet connection. Note that the dash buttons on the Prius are different from the Lexus.

It seems that investment of time is good advice for those desiring the best possible results for ANY system. I probably would not have paid the extra $$$ for the Prius NAV system had it not already been there - but I am glad I have it. Could these complaints be equated to "I refuse to vote because it's too much trouble! *BUT* I retain the right to complain about the elected officials!?"

 

any nav system has inaccuracies because they rely on public records for information on house numbers and such. many times, this information has to be purchased. if they are accessing older information then it could be wrong. that is pretty common. its prohibitively expensive to purchase new data in some cases were the houes have been renumbered or minor street changes have occurred in areas where no other major restructuring has gone on.

my parents live on a street that is between 14th and 15 th ave in Lacey. there is 4 houses, 1602, 1604, 1606 and 1608. before those 4 houses AND on the other side of the street is a house numbered 14 something and on the other side is a house labeled 1532. their house was built 20 years ago. the rest of the houses were built 30 years ago.

not saying that this explains anything. but it does reflect on the lack of planning that most cities experience.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 2 2006, 06:06 AM) [snapback]248485[/snapback]</div>

If it's like my Quest, there's an option which prohibits routing a U turn. Gotta say that I love that Quest, and at $350 it's a lot easier to love than a $2,000 built-in system. B)

 

I've been an avid user of GPS receivers for about 8 or 9 years now. My first GPS was a Garmin GPS III, later traded in for a GPS III+ (which I still have), and currently using a Street Pilot III in our Sienna. So I've got a bit of experience comparing the portable units to that of the Prius' Navigation system (which I also have).

Each system has it's pluses and minuses. The biggest advantage of the Prius' system is that it is fully integrated into the car, has a larger screen, can operate in poor or no satellite reception conditions, and generally seems faster in terms of route calculation, redrawing of the screen, looking up POI's, etc, at least compared to the Street Pilot III. I haven't used the current Garmin or Magellan units, so their new hard-disk based units may be a lot faster than my Street Pilot III. The advantage of the portable units first and foremost seems to be their portability. In addition to that, the ability to create custom routes, define custom waypoints, and ease of firmware/software upgrades is a definite plus. I have noticed that map updates for the Garmin units is around $150 to $250, which is not that much cheaper than what a dealer charges for the latest DVD for the Prius.

All in all, I'm glad I opted for the Navigation/Bluetooth system when I bought my Prius. I'm also glad I have my Street Pilot III. They both have their place in our cars...

 

We've travelled all over the northeast with the Toyota nav in our Lexus and our Prius, and while sometimes it will make your head scratch it always gets us where we need to go. 110% satisfied.