Botched Lexus OTA Software Update Cripples Vehicle Navigation Systems
Your Lexus might not be your best navigation tool, unless you enjoy purple screens of death. A botched Lexus OTA software update has crippled the vehicle navigation and infotainment systems. Affected vehicles such as the RX350 are currently stuck in a boot loop following the update.
Cindy Knight, a Toyota spokeswoman stated, “We have not found the root cause yet.” The glitch can also affect radio controls, which are displayed on the same dashboard screen.
The company has not yet determined whether vehicles will need to return to dealerships in order to fix this latest glitch or if another OTA update will get customers up and running again.
In February, J.D. Power & Associates released their annual vehicle dependability study, which put Lexus on the top of their list. The company noted, however, that problems with infotainment, navigation and in-vehicle communication systems accounted for roughly twenty percent of all customer complaints. These problems will likely increase as vehicles become “smarter”.
The 2016 Lexus vehicles come with a plethora of smart apps. The Lexus Enform App Suite offers access to mobile applications through the vehicle's center-console display. Drivers can search local listings, stream music, listen to live radio nationwide, place restaurant reservations and buy movie tickets through this console. Other smart features include Bluetooth, GPS, voice command, Lexus Enform Destinations, Lexus Enform Remote, and Homelink System.
All of this smart technology means that the customers are more likely to experience glitches from time to time. And the purple screen of death is definitely more intimidating in a $40,000 moving vehicle than it is on a smartphone.
Cindy Knight, a Toyota spokeswoman stated, “We have not found the root cause yet.” The glitch can also affect radio controls, which are displayed on the same dashboard screen.
The company has not yet determined whether vehicles will need to return to dealerships in order to fix this latest glitch or if another OTA update will get customers up and running again.
Lexus has received complaints about the glitch nationwide. Knight noted that the Lexus’ Customer Experience Center has received complaints from the Chicago area and from the Southern United States. They have also received complaints from California via Twitter.Many of our owner's vehicle head units stopped working. We are working around the clock to find a solution. Stay tuned for more information
— Lexus (@Lexus) June 8, 2016
In February, J.D. Power & Associates released their annual vehicle dependability study, which put Lexus on the top of their list. The company noted, however, that problems with infotainment, navigation and in-vehicle communication systems accounted for roughly twenty percent of all customer complaints. These problems will likely increase as vehicles become “smarter”.
Here's why not to buy a Lexus @Lexus @Toyota #overit pic.twitter.com/yr2WuHV7y7
— Sean (@av8828) June 7, 2016
All of this smart technology means that the customers are more likely to experience glitches from time to time. And the purple screen of death is definitely more intimidating in a $40,000 moving vehicle than it is on a smartphone.
