Was curious about the apparent age of the uConnect Maps, and inquired. This was the response:
"Hello C,
Thank you for inquiring about HERE Technologies. The latest map update for your Ram 1500 is version 2019. This can be ordered online by visiting our web store at www.navigation.com.
Generally map updates are released every 12-18 months. Our most current map update was released December 2019.
If you need additional assistance, please send us your feedback by replying to this email.
Kind regards,
HERE Technologies
Customer Service"
Excited, I went to that link, and eventually wound up at the usual uConnect site. 2019 & 2020 RAM 1500s are not listed there, but this was:
"If your car or truck is not listed on the homepage vehicle selector, our Contact Center is here to help. Use the contact form, live chat, or call: 1-866-422-8182 Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00pm EST."
So I called. Short answer is, NO, that December 2019 update is, in fact, not for 2019 vehicles.. Nor 2018 RAMs. Just 2017 and back.
Then I was told that the next update for 2018, 2019, 2020 RAMs is planned for January. January 2021.
At which point I freaked.
Well not really, but I was considering it. I was nice to the person on the phone, but that answer was beyond my ability to imagine. Turns out, HERE is just a distro company, they don't do any map data work.
SO, I want to start a public campaign to shame FCA into dealing with this. Everyone who considers paying for NAV in a RAM should know, the maps are going to be old. Potentially years old. And updated WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT.
I'm planning on writing Letters to the Editor to the major car mags, and car sites. Anybody know anybody in the business? Maybe we can get someone to do an article on TECHNOLOGY FAILS, and FCA's NAV map update policy would be a feature of that story.
What do you think we should do? YouTube? Class Action Suit? (this we'll get to do about the false mileage data FCA has been feeding EPA on the 1500 DT, so maybe keep that arrow in the quiver) Anybody know anybody at FCA?
"Hello C,
Thank you for inquiring about HERE Technologies. The latest map update for your Ram 1500 is version 2019. This can be ordered online by visiting our web store at www.navigation.com.
Generally map updates are released every 12-18 months. Our most current map update was released December 2019.
If you need additional assistance, please send us your feedback by replying to this email.
Kind regards,
HERE Technologies
Customer Service"
Excited, I went to that link, and eventually wound up at the usual uConnect site. 2019 & 2020 RAM 1500s are not listed there, but this was:
"If your car or truck is not listed on the homepage vehicle selector, our Contact Center is here to help. Use the contact form, live chat, or call: 1-866-422-8182 Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00pm EST."
So I called. Short answer is, NO, that December 2019 update is, in fact, not for 2019 vehicles.. Nor 2018 RAMs. Just 2017 and back.
Then I was told that the next update for 2018, 2019, 2020 RAMs is planned for January. January 2021.
At which point I freaked.
Well not really, but I was considering it. I was nice to the person on the phone, but that answer was beyond my ability to imagine. Turns out, HERE is just a distro company, they don't do any map data work.
SO, I want to start a public campaign to shame FCA into dealing with this. Everyone who considers paying for NAV in a RAM should know, the maps are going to be old. Potentially years old. And updated WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT.
I'm planning on writing Letters to the Editor to the major car mags, and car sites. Anybody know anybody in the business? Maybe we can get someone to do an article on TECHNOLOGY FAILS, and FCA's NAV map update policy would be a feature of that story.
What do you think we should do? YouTube? Class Action Suit? (this we'll get to do about the false mileage data FCA has been feeding EPA on the 1500 DT, so maybe keep that arrow in the quiver) Anybody know anybody at FCA?