Let's get as many names as possible and deliver this to Toyota USA, and Toyota Canada. If you have purchased a Toyota or Lexus with a navigation system and are unhappy about it, or was considering buying a Toyota/Lexus with the GPS but have changed your mind because of the loss of functionality in the GPS, then please sign this petition!
What is the Toyota Navigation Override Controversy? [from toyotaoverride.com]
With the release of 2007 models and the 6.1 Navigation software package, Toyota removed the existing 'override' that had been present in their cars since at least 2000. That override feature (a series of on screen inputs) had allowed the use the Navigation and Phone systems while the car is in motion- so for example, the passenger could look for food in the midst of a family trip. Instead, in order to use the touch screen on a 2007 Toyota, you need to pull over to the side of the highway or actually exit and park the vehicle. In some cases prospective buyers were misinformed that the override was still present.
Toyota's change in the car's operation lowers the bar for consumer rights:
- Many times it is more dangerous to pull over and stop to use the system.
- Toyota treats the car like software (even if you buy it, you don't actually own it, you only have a license to use it the way Toyota tells you to use it).
- Toyota made an important and to some customers critical, change in vehicle operation and customers were and are still not notified of that change before buying their cars.
- Toyota's stonewalling and refusal to accept that customers are annoyed /furious / inconvenienced is an indication that customer service is no longer paramount to Toyota/Lexus.
- Toyota is not my Mother
If you believe Toyota should fix this problem, here's how you can help:
- Call Toyota Customer Service at 800-331-4331 and ask to have the override restored.
- Place a review at Autosite , Edmunds, or Consumer Reports
- Tell your friends and neighbors that the override is no longer available. They may prefer a Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Saturn or a portable GPS unit.
We the undersigned have signed this petition to have Toyota restore the Toyota Navigation Override that was available on Toyota vehicles prior to 2007. It has been made public to us that the decision to remove the override was a "liability decision" made by the legal teams.
There are several different navigation options, all without the functionality of the GPS disabled while moving. In many cases, it is much more dangerous to pull over to use the GPS system, such as while on a busy freeway. Other important features, such as callerid are disabled while moving, which completely renderes the visual call display useless.
As you can see by the names listed, this is an important issue to your loyal customers and potential customers. This list includes names from exisitng loyal customers, as well as customers who were previously considering purchasing a Toyota or Lexus with a navigation system, but have reconsidered their decision based on the navigation system.
We thank you very much for the time that you have taken to read this letter.
