Apple CarPlay GPS wrong location issue

Hello,

 


I bought a car with CarPlay functionality (RAV4 limited 2023). I am using it with an iPhone 13 pro under IOS16.4.1a (latest OS to date). CarPlay works except for navigation apps. When I use either Waze, Google maps or Apple maps, the location gets switched between the actual current location and somewhere 20-30 meters from the car. Therefore the GPS guidance doesn't work since the actual location is incorrect.

 

GPS apps on the iPhone works fine when not connected with CarPlay in this car. GPS navigation system from the car works fine when the phone is not connected.

 

I tried to start GPS apps first before connecting it to the car. It usually works for a few minutes (1-5 minutes) then the location is again off by 20-30 meters. I tried to start the GPS apps after I connect the phone to the car and I get the same result.


If I disconnect the phone, the car and iPhone GPS give me correct location. If I reconnect them, both give me the wrong location. When the car is not moving, the wrong location remains at the same spot even after I

disconnect/reconnect the phone. So it's not giving a random location. It's off by 20-30 meters.

Has anyone ever seen anything similar?

iPhone 13 Pro

Posted on May 2, 2023 4:40 PM

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Posted on Oct 3, 2023 3:27 PM

Update: With CarPlay in my 2023 VW Taos, the GPS will suddenly and unexpectedly show me to be in the wrong location. The error is several hundred feet to several miles. This is very dangerous when you are on a highlway and it suddenly tells you to turn on a road that does not exist. I updated my iPhone to iOS 17.0.2. It did not help. I have rebooted both the car system and the phone. It does not help. Most recently, this happened when I was parked in my driveway. I was connected to CarPlay. The map in the car AND on my phone showed the same WRONG location. I simply turned off Wi-Fi on my phone and immediately as the iphone disconnected from the car, the map on my phone switched to the correct location. Incidentally, my phone works fine with CarPlay in my Bolt.

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127 replies

Dec 22, 2023 1:06 AM in response to sealclas

Update — I took my car to the dealer and there were no system updates available to install. They didn't know of a specific fix (they said). They advised me to totally reset the infotainment system and remove the CarPlay configuration from my phone. I did these steps (I'm very particular about all my settings so it was quite a frustrating and time consuming hassle to get it all set back how I had it in the car).


That was a couple weeks ago and so far it's been working fine. However, I'm not convinced that that actually fixed the issue. I'll post another update soon.


2023 VW GTI

Wireless CarPlay

iPhone 15


To summarize what I think is the issue:


Apple CarPlay treats the vehicle's GPS source as the #1 priority location source and uses it in CarPlay maps and that location overrides the iPhone's own location (what you would see on your phone if the iPhone were not connected to CarPlay). As long as the vehicle has a location available CarPlay uses it, even if the location is inaccurate (like showing you 1/2 mile off).


Test to troubleshoot while the location is bad:

If your vehicle has built-in navigation:

1 - Disconnect from CarPlay — If you have wireless CarPlay: put your phone in airplane mode. If you don't have wireless CarPlay just don't plug in.

2 - Check the location in your vehicle's maps. If it's still wrong, this confirms that the problem is with the vehicle's GPS/nav system. Contact your dealer for a fix.

If your vehicle does not have built-in navigation:

I'm not aware of anyone in this situation, so please post a reply and let me know if this is happening for you.

This is an Apple CarPlay problem, so contact Apple customer support and let them do a detailed troubleshooting session with you. They will eventually assign a support engineer to dig into the problem.

Dec 22, 2023 6:44 PM in response to Afeni16

I agree with you Afeni16. I posted an update yesterday.


Are they loaning you a vehicle while they have yours? Here's a thread that has some info about possible VW hardware issues: https://www.vwidtalk.com/threads/gps-broken-for-several-weeks.10001/


Someone mentioned the 5F module being the problem and having that replaced.


Has the dealer gotten any information from VW? Since this has been going on for a while it is a known issue. Are they intentionally keeping this a secret from the public?

Dec 27, 2023 4:15 PM in response to J-Apple324

I have an appointment at the dealer next week for a recall and this issue. They basically laughed at me and told me it was an apple issue, but we will see. In another forum I saw that someone was able to get them to trace the gps antenna wire and it was loose at the shark fin. I told the dealer this and I am hoping that they look at it.

Dec 29, 2023 1:09 PM in response to sealclas

Same issue here. I bought a 2023 Rav4 XLE Premium in September. The GPS worked the first week I had car and then next trip went afoul to the point it showed me driving in the middle of a river. Luckily my google search landed me here and I took the car back to dealership armed with intel from posts with same problem. Turns out it is a faulty Head Unit. They were able to recreate the problem on the test drive and with several technician's phone in the shop. Ruled out it is NOT the phone as the customer service rep has exact same model of phone and vehicle and his works fine. 10 days ago they told me part was ordered. Called today since no word and found out the part is "ordered" but they have no definitive ETA. Meanwhile i have brand new car which basically has no functionality. I have a severe handicap (it's almost embarrassing) when it comes to directions and rely on my GPS for even ridiculously easy routes so connecting my phone is not practical. The dealership states they have done all they can do since this is a supply issue with Denso. They apparrently have had issues with them in the past. I have very little confidence this will be resolved in a timely manner so I asked if I could return the car and they basically said they would only give me trade in value and I would eat the taxes and tags. My other option is to contact corporate engagement services which I will do before I look into legal implications of the lemon laws. I was a 20+ year Nissan owner and regret jumping ship.

Jan 13, 2024 11:50 PM in response to sealclas

I have the same problem with my latest cars : BMW iX 2023 and Subaru Outback 2023. Seems there is conflict between Car Navigation system and the Waze.

BMW solution: temporarily unplug the socket that connect headunit with the antenna (this is temporary solution). BMW promises to give software update in Feb/Mar 2024 to solve this issue.

Subaru solution: no solution yet. I still convincing them that the problem is not from my iPhone but conflict between Car Navigation and the Waze (but still, I believe the solution is software update from the car manufacture).


Jan 14, 2024 1:41 PM in response to DavidSat

DavidSat, If the vehicles have built-in navigation that works without CarPlay, disconnect CarPlay while you're experiencing the problem and take a picture of the maps with the incorrect location to show the dealer(s).


From my experience with a VW system, while CarPlay is active the car's incorrect GPS location is used by both the car and the iPhone and neither use the iPhone's correct location. When you disable/disconnect CarPlay you should see the location on the phone correct itself, while the vehicle's location remains incorrect.


Let me know what you find.

Jan 18, 2024 8:39 AM in response to ajcurtis88

You'll most likely have this issue using CarPlay with both Wi-Fi and wired (unfortunately).


It is actually a VW problem, not an Apple problem. Apple CarPlay is using the vehicle's GPS location and not the GPS location from the iPhone. I think that is intentional as it assumes that the vehicle's GPS is more accurate. Please check with your dealer.


Let me know what you find out.

Apple CarPlay GPS wrong location issue

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