Navigation system missing on 2021 Tacoma TRD 4x4 Off Road

I 'assumed' the console would be like my 2018 TRD. I didn't think to ask..I bought the 2021 today only to learn that there was no navigation system . I have to use my cell phone. I do not like that even any at all. I thought the technology package would include that. And the technology package is an expensive option that just warns you if there is a car beside you and a black exhaust tip. Can a Toyota system be software upgraded to add the navigation system.

I read elsewhere on the forum that the cell phone navigation system could use satellite then in the same post said if there was no cell service maps could be stored. which is it?

Thanks

Ric

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

For my 2019 OR, navigation requires a Toyota sim card to work. Don't know if it's the same for your year.

 

It’s both. It depends on the app on your phone, some apps depend on cell signal to download maps, some apps can download sections of the map prior to use and not need cell signal if you downloaded the maps.

 

And, if it makes you feel better, I'd trade navigation for a power seat. I don't use it. It's not nearly as good as google maps on my phone.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Flipside! I only move my seats once a year or so, or if I am cleaning them.....I'd way rather the manual seats! Don't care about nav one way or another.

 

I'm not surprised. A lot of cars are moving away from Nav. Waze does a better job 99% of the time anyway.

My city is exploding at the minute, there are streets that I drive on that didn't exist when I bought my 2018. Sometimes navigation gets hopelessly confused, and it's going to get worse as the car ages. (Re: one of the reasons I live by the rule to never rely on navigation-always review the route before you shift out of park.)

I drove a family members 10 year old Cadillac recently- the maps on that thing we're beyond useless.

Its a secret blessing that yours isn't equipped.

 

Power seat has a lot more movement range, with my fucked up discs, I’d take the seat well over the nav since I use mostly waze and Gaia over the old navigation

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Hi, Ric,

I just traded my 18 for a 21 and discovered that my $40,000 truck didn't come with Nav. Like you, I assumed that Nav was still standard, but I quickly learned that it is no longer standard on the off road. Although Toyota's Nav system isn't the greatest, I still prefer it to carrying my cell phone every time I need to use Nav (I just moved to Florida).

I was told by the salesman at the dealership that I could download Nav to my system but I haven't found the procedures yet, if it is possible.

Mike

 

I feel your pain. After spending a day and a half downloading the "toyota" app. and then the "Toyota+Alexa" app. and then the "entune" app. All needed to get the navigation going. I assumed that my google maps would feed into the display but NOOOOOOoooooo. After having discovered that it will be several months of "free" before costing something. And having signed up for a "wi-fi" program from my cell service that will allow 2gb but doesnt say whether it is monthly, dailey or the cost. And lastly finding out that I still dont have a compatible navigation app downloaded that communicates with the Toyota apps...... my frustration level for this new truck has reached the throw it through the window level. The icing on the cake was them thanking me for giving access to all my vehicle information and throwing back in my face my milage...and operational characteristics. I now will wait for them to disavow a warranty cause i went over the rev limit and they got it on a server. Toyota should be better than this.

 

I have the same vehicle and the same problem, the salesperson told me that it comes with maps and CarPlay and didn’t bother to look into until I needed it off road and didn’t have reception to look at the map. I find it very useful, if I had known that I didn’t have it I would have clearly purchased it! I thought the only thing my car didn’t come with was the 360 camera which at the time didn’t think I needed.

 

So has there been any resolution to this? I have a '21 Sport and there is not native Navi either. If we go through the dealer, do we have to pay for Navi?

 

Nope not much has changed just that they charge for navigation and scout. So the only thing you can do is either buy the navigation from the dealership which is very expensive for no reason, or just change your head-unit completely.

 

I have a 2021 Tacoma TRD Offroad 4x4 truck, I got it with the technology package, but not the premium version and I didn't get navigation either. However I did noticed I can get Google Maps navigation by plugging my android phone into the USB port under the radio, once it says it's connected than push the Map button. Turn the settings to satellite and the radio will use your cellphone signal/GPS for navigation. I used it a few times for four wheeling and browsing different trails. Not sure if you guys knew about this feature on the 2021 Tacomas.

 

Ya we did brother, it’s the same for apple play but that wasn’t the problem the problem that we are all upset about is that we don’t have navigation from the factory head unit, also I would use my phone but I lose cell service when I’m off in the mountains going off road so it would be nice to have that feature kinda like the new broncos.

 

Don't you have Car Play or Android to allow your phone on the screen?

Factory NAV sucks. Both in how it works and the robbery they want to update it.

 

I just took delivery of my taco today. And was disappointed it didnt have the on board nav system. I am going to try this out, see if that works.
If the dealer were to "install" the nav system, what is the cost? It looks like, to me, its a simple micro chip-which googling showed was about $30. Or do they have to unlock it somehow?

 

Those SD cards from dealers are usually 300$

All the Canadian TRD models come standard with maps haha.

I honestly would never use anything but google maps right now.

All factory navigation sucks. Period.