GeorgeParrott
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2010
- Messages
- 207
As one of the truly enthusiastic early adopters of the Nissan Leaf (VIN # 320, ordered on Day 1 of accepting orders for the US delivery process of this model), I was shocked as I took delivery of my car at North Bay Nissan (Petaluma, CA.) when I tried to set the GPS for my home in West Sacramento and it would not accept the address.
I soon discovered upon further investigation that NONE OF THE STREETS in my West Sacramento neighborhood were in the Nissan GPS software even though the area had been populated for about FIVE (5) years. We had taken delivery of a 2011 Chevrolet Volt a month before our Leaf arrived and the GM GPS Software was totally current for our home area, by the way. I checked with Nav Teq about their support for the Nissan software and they were able to confirm to me that they had supplied Nissan current and updated maps on a regular basis, but Nissan was (very) slow in updating the software supplied in ALL their new cars.....slower it appears than much of the rest of the industry.
It is imperative, because of critical RANGE CONCERNS that electric vehicle directional/mapping software be current and accurate, and clearly Nissan is well behind in that regard for the first year's production of the LEAF. I checked with my closest Nissan dealer (Hanlee's Nissan in Davis, CA.) last week and found that the current 2012 Nissan Leaf has GPS software that is much more updated/current than our 2011 and am shocked that Nissan has not made this UPDATE available as a complimentary "upgrade" to our 2011 cars.
My personal records show that I have called and reported this problem/frustration to the Nissan Leaf "customer service/support" agents at least FIVE (5) times over the last 16 months with absolutely NO RESPONSE by Nissan management. Everyday that we drive the car from the house, we are reminded of this failing on the part of the Nissan GPS (compared to our VOLT), and I am firmly convinced that accurate local maps are crucial for safe and confident use of such a range-critical car and Nissan does not seem interested in providing its owners with that kind of support at ALL.
I soon discovered upon further investigation that NONE OF THE STREETS in my West Sacramento neighborhood were in the Nissan GPS software even though the area had been populated for about FIVE (5) years. We had taken delivery of a 2011 Chevrolet Volt a month before our Leaf arrived and the GM GPS Software was totally current for our home area, by the way. I checked with Nav Teq about their support for the Nissan software and they were able to confirm to me that they had supplied Nissan current and updated maps on a regular basis, but Nissan was (very) slow in updating the software supplied in ALL their new cars.....slower it appears than much of the rest of the industry.
It is imperative, because of critical RANGE CONCERNS that electric vehicle directional/mapping software be current and accurate, and clearly Nissan is well behind in that regard for the first year's production of the LEAF. I checked with my closest Nissan dealer (Hanlee's Nissan in Davis, CA.) last week and found that the current 2012 Nissan Leaf has GPS software that is much more updated/current than our 2011 and am shocked that Nissan has not made this UPDATE available as a complimentary "upgrade" to our 2011 cars.
My personal records show that I have called and reported this problem/frustration to the Nissan Leaf "customer service/support" agents at least FIVE (5) times over the last 16 months with absolutely NO RESPONSE by Nissan management. Everyday that we drive the car from the house, we are reminded of this failing on the part of the Nissan GPS (compared to our VOLT), and I am firmly convinced that accurate local maps are crucial for safe and confident use of such a range-critical car and Nissan does not seem interested in providing its owners with that kind of support at ALL.