With Garmin and other GPS manufacturers there is a place where you can report mapping/nav inconsistencies. I haven't done any homework on who supplies the maps data to whoever builds the nav in our trucks, but maybe one of you have and can point me there so I can report some issues?

Thanks

 

How often do they update the maps also?Stoney trail here in Calgary is not on my nav and its a major bypass ringroad for Calgary. If you didn't know about it would cut off 45 min off a lot of peoples drive.

 

Sadly, they don't update nearly enough. I think they just update it by model year. I called the number listed on the Nav screen itself and spoke to someone in Ford Customer service. She explained there was not yet a map update for our units. I tried to explain that the '11 trucks were very much an extended model year, but no dice.

I also supposedly am signed up for some sort of a mailing list where I will be notified when a new DVD is available. I am not holding my breath. I love the convenience of the factory Nav, but it seems like I have replaced one set of hassles (portable GPS suction cup and power cable down the dash) with another (lack of updates).

I applaud Ford for their efforts with Sync, but being in the tech field, I have to remind myself auto companies will never move as swiftly as we would expect them to. They treat auto electronics with the same change control process they do the rest of the vehicle. They probably think there are good reasons for doing so, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating for technically-literate owners. Case in point: The MyTouch system as found in the Edge and the new Explorer offer the ability to create a personal WiFi hotspot in your vehicle using a USB data "stick" but guess what? That feature is only supported on ONE device from ONE carrier. SERIOUSLY???

It will be interesting to see what (if anything) is done with Nav & Sync in the '12 trucks. I like where they appear to be headed with MyTouch, but I hope they get the bugs worked out first.

 

Yes. The maps are generated by Navteq and I think I saw an error reporting link on their site. Garmin I also believe uses Navteq maps. Speaking of the Nav, I just took my first long trip with it. I brought along a Garmin and did a comparison. There are some quirky things the truck Nav does. When I set up both for the same destination, the Garmin's destination arrival time was a good 45 minutes sooner that the Ford.
Figured out that the default road speeds in the Ford were a lot lower. When I raised the city streets to 35 from 25, the major roads to 55 and the highway to 65, I was within a few minutes of the Garmin.

Also, if you select fastest route on the Ford, I found that it wouldn't allow you to temporary avoid a major road. You could only permanently delete it and then add it back in later.

It also looks like the POIs are not very current, at least not for the part of the country I live in.

 

You are correct Marauder92V, Navteq supplies the maps for our units. Here is the link to purchase an update: NAVTEQ Maps

Here is the link to report missing/bad/new map content: NAVTEQ Map Reporter

I wouldn't bother going to Ford or their customer service to purchase any updates. They don't know what they are doing in this space, they only resell the product. I prefer to go straight to the source.

I have seen various updates on eBay, but not sure how reliable or usable the media is. You should be safe as long as the version number is correct, but I have seen some restricting behavior on eBay purchased updates for my older Garmin units.

I wish we could buy a lifetime subscription update for these vehicles like you can with the Garmin portable units. It would make life a little easier for me.