Entune trouble... "LET'S GET IT FIXED"

[Donkey]

What do the forum community members think?

You are referencing a TSB that only applies to 2014 vehicles. They have a different head unit. Does not mean the older system may have similar issues, or that a prior TSB exists, but this TSB does not apply unless you have a 2014 model year vehicle. Are you trying to get functionality only available to 2014 model years in addition to the poor performance, like full functionality over bluetooth? That was not offered until 2014. I'm not disputing the issues, just trying to clarify what you said regarding limited functionality unless the usb cable was connected.

I'm not aware of NJ laws but when you purchase a vehicle you typically waive all rights to sue and agree up front to arbitration. In order to pursue this you need to let the dealership attempt all courses of action, which may include replacement of the head unit and software updates or reloads with everything specifically documented, for example make them write your words on the repair ticket: customer states radio does x, y, z, here is where it was duplicated and this is the fix we attempted. Don't pick up the vehicle until this is competed.

My 2013 Trail with entune works just fine, but I had 0 expectations for it. OEM head units are not on a rapid development cycle like the aftermarket, they are outdated before they even hit the lot. The radio works, sounds great and the navigation system has found us hotels in a pinch. Voice dialing functions surprisingly well with my iPhone 4S. I find the repetitive legal warnings and the app to be frustrating, but it works better than the unit in our Acura. It does reboot on occasion out of the blue, I attribute this to either a memory (non-ecc RAM perhaps, who knows) error, software issue between the phone and the system or some type of firmware issue. Perhaps one time it has locked up requiring a vehicle power cycle. I will mention it at 20k miles and leave it with them to diagnose, it is really not a big deal to me at all...not worth getting all worked up over. It will go for weeks at a time and have no issues at all, then it may reboot once or twice causing me to live without a radio or put the phone to my ear for about 20 seconds. The software/firmware has never been updated.

I sold and installed mobile and marine electronics all through college, mecp cert, sq comp setups, fiberglass, etc. I've torn up pretty much every type of vehicle, aftermarket car audio equipment gives me hives today. If this was a big deal to me I would just swap the head unit for whatever is out there now and be done with it, I'm sure some pac adapter exists for the steering wheel controls, hiding a new mic would be simple.

Toyota is not going to pay you to do this. Just my .02

Many variables here, good luck with your fix.

 

[rigtec]

Hi [MENTION=97423]Donkey[/MENTION],

You raise a few good points wrt the way that T-SB-0006-14 is written; particularly the model yrs (only 2014) the doc includes. The reason that I have this bulletin is because my dealership service mgr handed it to me regarding the trouble they were having understanding my truck's entune system trouble; the symptoms (reaching as far back as 2011) matched the document exactly! I'm completely with you about giving toyota the truck and letting them do what they need to do regarding the Entune repairs.

But at the same time, they have a responsibility to get it repaired within "a reasonable" time frame, after all this is not a problem that the customer created and has become impatient while waiting for the shop to get it finished; Toyota (or the vendor/sub-contractor) has created this issue themselves, "before the vehicle was purchased" and so has some responsibility to... "repair or compensate"! I don't know what the law says regarding a reasonable time frame, but I don't believe it can be an infinite amount of time on this repair; in the eyes of the law, there must be a "predictable cut-off". Thanks so much for your insight, it's much appreciated!

 

[Jaan]

>snip< If this was a big deal to me I would just swap the head unit for whatever is out there now and be done with it...

It's not that easy for me. I have serious health issues that make it very difficult for me to work like I used to. I made quite a lot of money 10 years ago compared to what I'm capable of making today.

$1500 to replace the head unit just isn't something I can swing that easily. I drove my last truck for 18 years saving up for a new one. One of the major reasons I got a new truck, is that I simply can't physically fix a car anymore. I went from a guy who could (and did several times) completely rebuilt engines and transmissions and even do body work on cars. Now I can barely wash the truck. This will probably be my last vehicle before I can't physically drive anymore.

I bought the truck in good faith and paid for the upgraded factory navigation. If this navigation only worked as well as my 7 year old Mio Digiwalker, I'd be happy as a pig in $#!t.

The long and the short of it is that I hadn't planned on spending money fixing the truck....if I wanted to do that, I'd just have kept my old truck as my daily driver. I'm simply one of those people who can't afford to throw around a few thousand dollars to replace stereos, perfectly good tires and rims etc. I just wanted a truck where every part worked...is that too much to ask for for $35,000?

 

[rigtec]

"...$1500 to replace the head unit just isn't something I can swing that easily..."

I'm hearing you Jaan, but I don't think that our 'means' ($$$) is the issue here. What I'm focusing on is the fact that we all have rights that protect us from purchasing substandard cars, trucks, and other machinery from any manufacturer that knows that they have an issue with their merchandise, but fail to disclose that (up front) to the public; the justice system, and the general public, frown on those kind of exchanges so there are laws 'in place' that deal with that sort of "shisty practice". Because we have soooo many members and visitors here that are having the very same problem(s), and across such an extended period of time, we know that Toyota was fully aware of this flaw in their product development way before now!

As far as just getting a better HU, you can get them a lot lower than you may see advertised on some "High-end' websites e.g., Crutchfield, Alpine, Pioneer, sony, kenwood... etc! Just shop around on sites like Amazon, Parts-Express, Ebay, even here (T4R) in the classifieds; and don't forget to consider 'Pre-owned' electronics... you may find some absolute gems out there! In the meantime, let's hope for a breakthrough pertaining to Toyota's 'questionable judgement' wrt their "Entune" system; the last thing Toyota needs now is more negative attention on their fine products! PS: "Really sorry to learn of the health issues that you're dealing with; I'll say a prayer!!"

rigtec, regards

 

[Jaan]

Oh, I know where to get cheap head units lol...I got my Dad a $162 (shipped) head unit with Windows CE from Hong Kong. For another $12 I got the backup camera. It's not great, but I installed Igo Primo 8 for navigation and it worked just fine. I just took it on a 2 week, 1800 mile trip and it worked fine.

It's just frustrating when I have to fix something that's new. I expect that for say, a Chinese made lathe, not a Japanese made truck.

 

[rigtec]

Hi gang...

I received a call from my dealership (svc mgr) to advise me that since our last conversation (during my last appt), he had conveyed my 'Entune' situation to 'Corporate', explained to those reps that my truck's navagation system was not pairing properly w/ my mobile (LG G2 mini) android cell phone. To that, their response was... "Ask him if he has wiped the phone clean of accumulated data and tried pairing again"; another words, have I performed a "Master reset". I had already explained to toyota that I have had three phones since I've had the 4Runner, two of them brand new. The one that I have now I got 4 weeks ago, again, brand new.

Corporate's response... "If the reset didn't work, advise him that his phone may not be compatible with the 'Entune' system"! The svc mgr asked me if I could leave the truck with them (AGAIN) for a few days so they can figure out just what's going on. My response to that... :mad2::rant::bat:. Additionally, I told this employee that I was done with their "Bull Ship" and them continually trying to 'Buy Time' at my expense! I also let them know that 'I WAS DONE'... and I planned to sue Toyota corporation for the two and a half yrs of 'stall tactics' and for selling this system BEFORE debugging it. And I reminded them that the "Toyota 4Runner Forum" can produce hundreds of electronic signatures at any time for a "litigation" attorney to file a 'class action' against the Toyota corp for this infraction, (These members are ALL having the very same problems); to say nothing of all the 'bad review publicity' to come afterwards!

At that he said: "So if we were to give you some funds towards an Aftermarket HU, hah.. how wo..would you fif..feel about something like that??" I said that I wouldn't promise anything, but if they were willing to settle it with me, I might be willing to come to the table... either way, I'm still buying a new HU, and I'm done w/ their BS! At this point, I must go fwd with this action, even if only to make a point to Toyota. I consider myself a loyal Toyota customer for a lot of years... we're a toyota family and that's all we've bought over the yrs! BUT... there's a limit to the "turn the other cheek" principle; sometimes, YOU have a responsibility to this loyal customer!

When I do retain an attorney I'll let you know just what's going on. I'll also mention filing a class action regarding this poorly designed navigation equipment and see what he/she says; I'd like to see you guys get this situation behind you w/o you spending your hard earned cash! Even if you get it resolved (new HUs') now and get reimbursed later... "Just remember to hold on to those receipts"! It won't happen fast... but it will happen! Regards

 

[shade4]

At this point, I must go fwd with this action, even if only to make a point to Toyota. I consider myself a loyal Toyota customer for a lot of years... we're a toyota family and that's all we've bought over the yrs! BUT... there's a limit to the "turn the other cheek" principle; sometimes, YOU have a responsibility to this loyal customer!

When I do retain an attorney I'll let you know just what's going on. I'll also mention filing a class action regarding this poorly designed navigation equipment and see what he/she says; I'd like to see you guys get this situation behind you w/o you spending your hard earned cash! Even if you get it resolved (new HUs') now and get reimbursed later... "Just remember to hold on to those receipts"! It won't happen fast... but it will happen! Regards

I have experienced similar stalling and lack of support from Toyota.

Buried in the Entune software agreement is a waiver against class action lawsuits, but that may not apply when safety issues arise from Entune flaws.

My suggestion to everyone unhappy with Toyota's inept Entune:

• Complain to the FTC about Toyota's fraud in the form of promised capability and utter unreliability
• Complain to the NTSB about safety issues, such as the backup camera not working when Entune freezes or the distraction caused by the screen freezing
• Post on social media how Toyota has gone silent on software updates, effectively orphaning customers who paid thousands of $$ for Entune
• File complaints with your local Better Business Bureau about lack of support for Toyota Entune
• Consider a small-claims court "breach of warranty" suit against Toyota for promising features and capability that just don't work

For my part, after owning Toyota vehicles for over 20 years I'm telling friends and relatives to choose another brand.

 

[rigtec]

"...My suggestion to everyone unhappy with Toyota's inept Entune:

• Complain to the FTC about Toyota's fraud in the form of promised capability and utter unreliability
• Complain to the NTSB about safety issues, such as the backup camera not working when Entune freezes or the distraction caused by the screen freezing
• Post on social media how Toyota has gone silent on software updates, effectively orphaning customers who paid thousands of $$ for Entune
• File complaints with your local Better Business Bureau about lack of support for Toyota Entune
• Consider a small-claims court "breach of warranty" suit against Toyota for promising features and capability that just don't work

For my part, after owning Toyota vehicles for over 20 years I'm telling friends and relatives to choose another brand.'

Hi shade,

ALL Great suggestions... and a worthy first post: 'Welcome aboard' and Best to you!

rigtec, cheers

 

[Bilbo]

I have experienced similar stalling and lack of support from Toyota. ...

For my part, after owning Toyota vehicles for over 20 years I'm telling friends and relatives to choose another brand.

Just curious: what brand are you recommending?

Personally, I figure that whatever HU I have, it will be out of date in a few years anyway. Out-of-date nav system. Out-of-date connectivity. Out-of-date apps. My '97 had a cassette player.

... Just to make it clear. I'm offended by the poor performance and programming associated with Entune. If Toyota made vehicles that performed as poorly, I'd be scared to drive one.