The Navigation screen is awful at best. You can almost forget about seeing it during the daytime. Washed out and not even a shield helps. Also if your moving it will not allow you to put a destination in. The engineers never considered that you might have a passenger to type it it while it's moving. NEVER buy a navigation system from a manufacturer. They don't update them or it they do it costs more than a new one from Garmin. Purchase a Garmin, which is better and free updates.
I spent money on an anti glare screen and thankfully it only cost me about $10 because the only thing that can fix this problem is a sledge hammer. The nav is there pretty much just for decoration, a real joke. The only way you can possibly see this screen in sunlight is if you buy a pair of glaucoma sunglasses and squint as hard as you can. Unless you live in Alaska with very light daylight don't buy a Rav4 with nav or you might as well put your money in a barrel, throw gas on it and light it up.
Called dealership and service manager told me that she never had a complaint that the navigation does not work - glare and screen not being bright = cannot see the map. Called Toyota Canada and they said the same thing. Not their problem. Called back the Service Manager and took it in to see if they could fix it. They did an update on the system and if anything, it's worse. Def. not better. (Then, the Service manager told me her Highlander '13 's nav screen is similar -! How's that for "Really?" - she's not complaining, just accepting it. ) Went to the sales area and asked to see what the '15 nav. system looks like. Sale person said he was quite aware of the '13's problem (of course they are) and that Toyota has now fixed it!! Saw the new system and here's the change : the background is white (not dark blue like ours) and it's now readable. Asked the Service Manager if they could install the new nav. system in my car and they totally backed off - not possible, may not work even though it looks like the same space on the dash, etc. Said she would send the problem to Toyota Canada. (Like that's going to work.) I said I would not just accept this "problem" - which is really a defective system and would take it further. I will wait and see what response she gets. For navigating, I use my old Garmin. I want them to refund the cost of the nav system that I paid extra for, or do free services for that amount. We'll see what happens next!
Update from Jul 16, 2015: So- she sent the problem to Toyota Canada and they installed an update on the system = no change. Then they had me take a picture of the screen showing the edition that the car was using, sent to Toyota Canada, they had me come back and do another install and "Viola"!! the screen is now pink instead of indigo and it works fine. BUT- the glare is still a huge problem - so what to do? Put a piece of cardboard around the screen to shade it? Buy an anti - glare screen from Amazon (yes, they have this for car and year specific!!)
If you count all the complaints just on this one website regarding the NAV system, there are 38. Some are listed under electrical and some under accessories. Has Toyota done anything about this problem????
- Kathleen S.,
Huntington Beach, CA, US
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Display cant be read in daylight !!! Navigation cant be seen and even the radio information cant be seen. It's not glare .. the screen is just not bright enough !!!! Adjusting the contrast and brightness DOES NOT MAKE IT BETTER!! Seems with all the issues Toyota has had with safety that they would have a fix for this!! Either a software upgrade or replacing the unit!! Very dangerous. I love the car but cant recommend to others until this issue is resolved!!
The glare on the navigation system makes it impossible to use. I have told two possible purchasers of the RAV4 to check out the problem before purchase. Both declined to purchase the car and in fact chose another brand. I have owned nothing but Toyotas for the last 15 years (Tundra, Camry, Prius and now RAV4). This problem has caused me to loose faith in Toyota's quality. I will probably not purchase another Toyota product.
I have a 2013 Toyota Rav4 . In any significant ambient light level, the navigation screen is not visible. The glare on the screen is horrific. Notified dealership. They checked it out and confirmed that I did, indeed, have a problem. Dealership did upgrade on software a little better but what a waste of money stay away. This is a very dangerous situation, trying to position my head so that I can try to get a clear view of the screen. (which is still not possible) I feel like I have spent in excess of one thousand dollars for an option that is unusable. Plus the soft are never find anything and to get you must us the entune don't find that helpful I had a garmin install in my last Rav4 so much better Toyoyta is using cheap stuff that doesn't work this is my last toyota after 8.
I should have checked with carcomplaints.com before purchasing the car. Just bought the car and drove it cross country. It now has 4400 miles on it. The Navigation screen is unreadable during the day. I tried every adjustment combination and took the time to read the instruction book for the system. No use. The biggest issue is that when you are on the interstate and need to see the transition lanes for an interchange, you can't. EXTREMELY dangerous. It is totally unusable when you need it the most, like going through a city like Houston. Every transition becomes a nightmare. You find yourself taking your hands off the wheel to try to shade the Nav screen to see it. Impossible.
I have not been back to my dealer yet but, don't hold out hope for a fix judging by the comments of others. I will take it to the dealer when I return to CA in October. The NTSB needs to know about this issue. The manufacturer of the Nav system is JVC. I will follow up and report back.
Update from Sep 16, 2013: I made an error. Its a JBL Nav system, not JVC.
Cannot see the Navigation screen at all! Way too dark. Have been back to dealership 6+ times and all they have done has changed the contrast & brightness. This is UNACCEPTABLE!!!! I'm a Realtor and rely heavily on my Navigation system and this was my #1 requirement when buying my new RAV4. Dealership has changed Brightness & Contrast but still cannot see it! Especially during the day when it is Sunny. I live in Southern California - so basically that is every day.
Update from Feb 17, 2015: If I had to put in a complaint for everyday the Navigation screen has been an issue. You would have had one from me everyday since the day I got it. I can't say enough about how disappointed I am with this feature. That was THE ONLY REASON I traded in my old RAV is that it was a total new design with new NAV etc.... Bullshit This is the worst and the LAST Toyota I will ever have. My navigation system on my Mazda was much better and that was over 10 years ago!!! Serious issues about screen, wayyyyyyy too slow, not user friendly.
I'm so sick of hearing myself complain. I mention it everytime I bring it in - but get that "it is working as designed" Toyota left out several things that I really miss.......Place for my sunglasses - they slide everywhere now. The 2 glove boxes - much rather have that a big empty space. The button to open the back door - is in the WORST place possible. AND I can't believe that the Blind Space Monitor ONLY checks for cross traffic. I had something RIGHT behind me that I hit because it was dark and didn't show up on the screen.
Got the Navigation on this new car and it is not usable. I have the Navigation on our other Toyota Highlander
and it is ok. Toyota attitude terrible. Factory Field rep wont meet me - service manager says he doesn't know how to fix. Toyota telephone person adversarial. They wont fix it. Never had this happen nor had to work with a
manufacturer like this. AND I buy a lot of cars from this dealer. Believe me I know something is wrong--they say it is glare--sure but only with this car...Call me if you have same problem Barry Hoffman 617 584 5555
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The Navigation screen is awful at best. You can almost forget about seeing it during the daytime. Washed out and not even a shield helps. Also if your moving it will not allow you to put a destination in. The engineers never considered that you might have a passenger to type it it while it's moving. NEVER buy a navigation system from a manufacturer. They don't update them or it they do it costs more than a new one from Garmin. Purchase a Garmin, which is better and free updates.
- Phillip E., Troy, Missouri, US