CarPlay GPS Issues

[NewGuy]

I have this problem too, but as I explained in another thread, it only started for me recently. For nearly two years I kept the phone in my pocket, and the GPS was flawless. Then one day in the last couple of months it stopped working unless I haul the phone out and put it on the dashboard.

I believe that though CarPlay is designed to use the car GPS when there is one, it has stopped doing so. My guess is that something broke that functionality in either a Ford software update or an iPhone software update.

Getting a fix for something this subtle, in a two-vendor environment, is beyond my patience level. Current plan is to start thinking about it again if it doesn’t magically get fixed in iOS 17 (next week), or in my iPhone 15 Pro Max (next month???).

This.

Sponsored

 

[dj_stang]

I have this problem too, but as I explained in another thread, it only started for me recently. For nearly two years I kept the phone in my pocket, and the GPS was flawless. Then one day in the last couple of months it stopped working unless I haul the phone out and put it on the dashboard.

I believe that though CarPlay is designed to use the car GPS when there is one, it has stopped doing so. My guess is that something broke that functionality in either a Ford software update or an iPhone software update.

Getting a fix for something this subtle, in a two-vendor environment, is beyond my patience level. Current plan is to start thinking about it again if it doesn’t magically get fixed in iOS 17 (next week), or in my iPhone 15 Pro Max (next month???).

Yes my understanding was that manufacturers are forced to give carplay access to the vehicle’s GPS in order to support wireless. So I’d be surprised if there even was a fallback. I’ve had similar issues on both wired and wireless.

 

[Tangible]

So I’d be surprised if there even was a fallback.

Well, there’s certainly a fallback to the phone’s own gps, as evidenced by the fact that CarPlay works in cars that don’t have gps.

My guess is that the iphone is asking the MME whether the vehicle has gps, and falsely interpreting the answer it gets as a “No”.

 

[mpshizzle]

I do not have an iPhone, but I do a lot of traveling with coworkers and a partner who do have iphones. This is not an issue that is exclusive to Mach-E. I've observed this issue on my co-workers iPhones with rav4, numerous suburbans, my own Mach E with my partner's iphone,and even a few jeeps.

I don't want to be that guy, but this seems to be a universal carplay problem.

I suspect it's some kind of bug with carplay taking signals from the cars built in gps. Android auto also uses the car's GPS and I've never had any issues with it

But I've observed it dozens of times with multiple iphones and multiple vehicles

All that said, it does seem to happen less frequently than it used to

 

[JohnnyForensic]

This would be a Ford software stack issue, technically. Wired CarPlay has the option from the automaker to use either the car’s GPS information from its antenna or the iPhone’s. Wireless CarPlay is required to use the car’s GPS information because it’s assumed the phone will be in a pocket or a bag and might not have clear view of the sky. I think there’s something broken in Ford’s technology stack, because I too have found poor Apple Maps performance when my phone is in my pocket or otherwise obstructed, and it works fine when on the dash or in a cup holder. It’s clearly not using the car’s GPS antenna/information for positioning.

(I lifted this image from another website’s thread on the same issue; it comes from one of the Apple Developer educational sessions about programming to CarPlay.)

 

[mpshizzle]

This would be a Ford software stack issue, technically. Wired CarPlay has the option from the automaker to use either the car’s GPS information from its antenna or the iPhone’s. Wireless CarPlay is required to use the car’s GPS information because it’s assumed the phone will be in a pocket or a bag and might not have clear view of the sky. I think there’s something broken in Ford’s technology stack, because I too have found poor Apple Maps performance when my phone is in my pocket or otherwise obstructed, and it works fine when on the dash or in a cup holder. It’s clearly not using the car’s GPS antenna/information for positioning.

I disagree that it's just a Ford software problem. I've seen this on dozens of vehicles from various makes

 

[JohnnyForensic]

I disagree that it's just a Ford software problem. I've seen this on dozens of vehicles from various makes

Let me rephrase. I believe this is an auto manufacturer stack software problem, not an Apple iPhone software problem.

 

[dj_stang]

I disagree that it's just a Ford software problem. I've seen this on dozens of vehicles from various makes

I think more likely is a faulty implementation across multiple automakers.
We know how reluctant they are to integrating CarPlay except by sheer demand from consumers, some charging bogus subscriptions (BMW), GM removing it entirely, etc. I don’t think Ford is like this but for the OEMs a perfect world would be one without CarPlay.

 

[mpshizzle]

Let me rephrase. I believe this is an auto manufacturer stack software problem, not an Apple iPhone software problem.

I think more likely is a faulty implementation across multiple automakers.
We know how reluctant they are to integrating CarPlay except by sheer demand from consumers, some charging bogus subscriptions (BMW), GM removing it entirely, etc. I don’t think Ford is like this but for the OEMs a perfect world would be one without CarPlay.

I mean, there's no way to know for sure, but observing this across multiple vehicles of various makes with different iPhones certainly smells like an apple problem. iPhone is the one common factor between all of them... seems like that'd be a mighty big coincidence that EVERY manufacturer makes the same implementation mistake. At best, if that really is the case, that would point to a poor API implementation by Apple, which is still not the auto manufacturers fault.

Android Auto also uses the car GPS and has NEVER had this issue. Just saying. (AA also has a plethora of other bugs, but that's a different discussion)

 

[mpshizzle]

As a side note, yes. I agree with the sentiment that Auto Makers are reluctant to support carplay and Android auto. Why let you use your phone for free, when they can charge you a subscription for the same function?

I'm looking at YOU GM ?

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I have this problem too, but as I explained in another thread, it only started for me recently. For nearly two years I kept the phone in my pocket, and the GPS was flawless. Then one day in the last couple of months it stopped working unless I haul the phone out and put it on the dashboard.

I believe that though CarPlay is designed to use the car GPS when there is one, it has stopped doing so. My guess is that something broke that functionality in either a Ford software update or an iPhone software update.

Getting a fix for something this subtle, in a two-vendor environment, is beyond my patience level. Current plan is to start thinking about it again if it doesn’t magically get fixed in iOS 17 (next week), or in my iPhone 15 Pro Max (next month???).

Hi there. Can you send us a DM with your VIN & dealer name/location? To send a direct message, just click on our username and select "Start Conversation". I’ll see how I can assist on my end.

 

[adamtstipp]

This happens to me at the worst times. I've missed exit notifications and it's turned me the wrong direction on city streets multiple times due to the bad gps signal (or car play bug or whatever is going on). Super frustrating.

I almost always use Apple Maps and can't recall if Google Maps on an iPhone does the same thing. Can anyone confirm? If Google Maps doesn't lose signal I will switch to it.

 

[kdonnel]

This would be a Ford software stack issue, technically.

I would have thought the same but have been able to fix the issue by rebooting my phone so it would seem to be at least in some cases an Apple software stack issue.

 

[Tangible]

My iPhone went to iOS 17 today. I regret to report that my hope that this would magically solve the problem was in vain.

 

[Tangible]

Good news, everyone: I replaced my iPhone 14 Pro Max with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and now my problem is gone. The map tracks perfectly with the phone in my left pocket. A simple $1,100 solution.

There are several possible explanations:

1. The 15 has better GPS, so even if it’s still not using the car’s system it’s good enough.

2. There was something wrong with my 14.

3. The new phone had to establish a new connection to the car, and the old phone‘s connection was corrupted in some way That survived rebooting and new ios17 phone software.

My guess is #3.

Sponsored