Apple CarPlay GPS wrong location issue

Everyone complaining here should realise that Apple doesn’t react to comments on the forum. So everyone needs to submit a bug report to the Apple feedback site. You can search and find the address easily.

I had this same issue after updating my iOS. I found that by unplugging my device from CarPlay and setting my Google Maps location settings to “Always on” , then plugging back in, fixed the problem immediately.

I have the same issue with

• iPhone 15 Pro
• CarPlay on my 2020 VW Jetta Premium.
• iOS version: latest 17.5.1

I started reporting this issue in Beta testing and reporting the issue since March.

Whenever I enter my car and start using the navigation on CarPlay it works fine for about 5-10min, then the lag, and finally between 300 ft to 500 ft off. Once the screen gets locked the location starts showing incorrectly. I does not matter if my phone is locked or unlocked this issue persist. I see this issue on Apple Maps and Google Maps.

.

This is has become distracting and dangerous.

I have the same issue on a RAV4 2023 car, I was able to find a workaround for this by following the below steps:

1. Start the car
2. Wait for wireless CarPlay to start
3. Open the desired navigation app (add a route or not, depending on the needs)
4. Connect the phone via cable to the car.

From my point of view this is strange but it does work in my case. I saw the CarPlay connection remains on wireless after connecting the cable, but the location issue is gone.

I totally disagree. This creates a new distraction when it's supposed to be helpful.

Distractions like this one are one of the top causes of crashes.

I think I've caught more details of what's going on:

Here is the 'reported' accuracy of the GPS with GAI GPS while I am parked: Note, in the past it has report ~15-16 ft accuracy and still be off by a 1/4 mile.

I turn off my vehicle and for about two seconds it shows the ACTUAL accuracy:

Then about 10 seconds later: my accuracy of my phone normally:

If is very clear that the iPhone is NOT using what it has for greater accuracy when doing CarPlay. It's comically bad.

Just letting you know that my problems are done!

offset location issue, and erratic connection.

I had tried several cables which were fine with my iPhone and my previous car so I thought it wasn’t a cable issue.. but it was!

All it took was using a genuine Apple iPhone (or iPad?) cable, and no more problem!

Video Example

Toyota VOXY 2023 (Brand New December)

iPhone 15 Pro Max

iOS 17.2.1

Panasonic HU (manufactured for Toyota)

Same issue..

GPS Drifting both wired and wireless Carplay

all map apps (GMap & Apple Map)

already reconnect, restart, resetting location..

GPS navigation works fine on iPhone when not connected to carplay..

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.

I have the same problem on a Volvo XC60 hybrid, MY2024, with AAOS (up to date).

It's a wired CarPlay system.

I tried different things (hard reboot of AAOS and iOS, new cable, deactivation of Location history in my Google account, reinitialisation of the network settings of the iPhone) without any success.

But what seems to work since yesterday is to turn off the WiFi on my iPhone while driving.

Hi!

This problem is driving me crazy. Once it works for 10 minutes, other time it just works for 1 minute and frequently the waze app starts with my position a couple of hundred meters away.

Changing navigation app does not help. Position in the Car Nav is 100% correct. If I disconnect the phone from the car (carplay only works wired, Audi TT 2016 and iphone 13 pro) the app immediately shows correct location, to go wrong again as soon as I reconnect.

So... it seems that apple could solve the issue - even if it was woth the option of using the phone GPS instead of the car GPS when paired in Carlpay!!

Would this be difficult? Doesn't seem so, and would solve the problem for thousands of people. I guess that there should be more than one thousand affected for each post in this forum.

I am seriously considering of changing do Android phones in order for this feature it to work correctly (my wife's android works flawless, 100% of the times). I guess apple is simply not worried with its community problems, and this is a potential safety issue!

J-Apple324 wrote:

Yes! Note to Apple: This can be a very dangerous driving issue when navigating in unfamiliar, busy areas!!

I'm not sure how they would not be sued for negligence here.

This is potentially EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and LIFE THREATENING!

Please take this very seriously and take action immediately.

Apple doesn't read here for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let then know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Meanwhile, I would point out that your post is somewhat hyperbolic. Many of us managed to navigate in busy areas without cell phones for decades without incident. In fact, in the U.S., auto fatalities have increased in the last 50 years, not decreased.I'm not blaming cell phones for that, merely pointing out that they are not the panacea you seem to think.

Stay alert and always keep a road atlas in your car.

Why cannot Apple priorities this issue ?

Make Maps always follow Device's GPS Sensor instead of relying on Vehicle's antenna. Or introduce one toggle button and give this flexibility to User.

I have the same issue on 2 iphone 14 with the same car, a skoda fabia 2022 model. We’re on ios 16.5 now but had this gps issue since we first bought the phones several months and ios updates ago. Before the latest ios 16.5 update I had figured out that if I disabled wireless carplay and only used usb cable then it would work fine but recently after ios 16.5 not even that works anymore. We both have apple care plus as well an I called several times but the only thing to try the support reps can come up with is a full reset of the phone which I didn’t want to do at the time bec it’s a big inconvenience to us especially since these are brand new phones so I just used via usb only but now with that broken as well it looks like I have no choice but to try the full reset. Until then I have to have a 4 year old android phone in my car that doesn’t even have a sim card just to get navigation and get from a to b. These were our first iphones and safe to say they will be our last ones as well…

Not quite but… my current hypothesis: this really happens when we have bad air quality. I have noticed this is horrible during the bad air quality days. Yesterday it took a while to report GPS accuracy +/- ~ 15ft. It was 350-500 +/- for a while then eventually settled down. I ‘believe’ that when your iPhone does Car play, it must leverage whatever GPS the car has plus it’s dead reconning capabilities where the phone by itself combines a bunch of other things to nail down the location. e.g. when not in carplay, use iphone goodies to determine position, when in car play, only use the car.

Having said all of that:

• I have an aftermarket receiver with Carplay support. Are you in the same boat? I would guess not
• My vehicle did it with either wireless or wired car play
• I also recently did a firmware upgrade on my head unit. Any software updates on your side?
• I also tried on another car with wired car play and that one did not do it