So my iPhone X constantly loses GPS signal in my Tesla Model S. I took my a trip to a Florida and used Waze perfectly in my Nissan Rogue rental so that pretty much eliminates it being an issue with my actual phone. My attention turned to my car as some older Tesla’s have metallic windshields that degrade signals. However, I just tried a spare iPhone SE in my Tesla and Waze behaves very good. I am now lost on the issue could possibly be? I have an appointment for Tesla to replace my windshield as my insurance will cover it anyway.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone X Weird GPS issues in my Tesla
- Thread starter mbhforum
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Neighbor owns a Tesla, been in the shop more than his garage. I am tired of running him back and forth to the dealer.
Not trying to divert you to something else, I would pose your question on a Tesla forum. I guarantee you will have more feedback there on such a specific issue.
I’ve had mine for two years and I’ve had a few problems such as door handle not presenting, trunk not opening, air conditioning stopped working and just had to have my horn replaced. I’ve also not been to a gas station in two years and saving money, won’t ever need to replace my brakes and most importantly the car drives like a dream. You take the good with the bad, most people don’t have the issues your neighbor has and every car has their lemons.
I’ve tried that already. Not much feedback either. I figured to try here thinking I might be able to find something different between the iPhone SE and X that I am missing?
Electric cars use regenerative braking which puts much less stress on brake pads.
When I upgraded from my iPhone 5 to my X, I did notice a decline in GPS performance. I don’t know if it’s all units or not. If GPS is degraded, it might work fine in a good signal environment, and poorly in a worse environment.
The windshield is one possible culprit— the UV coatings can sometimes degrade GPS reception as well.
Another possibility is that the Tesla might be leaking RF interference. I don’t know what all the car is loaded with, but USB3 has been known to interfere, and if it has its own GPS it could be leaking as well. The radar systems are probably too high frequency to be a problem on the emitter side, but if the signals downconverters leak, they might be in band.
The windshields are probably the same vehicle to vehicle (so I’d be surprised if swapping to another factory part would fix this), but the electronics can vary a lot unit to unit if a shield isn’t well soldered or something...
This is good advice.
This is helpful. Older Tesla’s were known to have mettalic windshields so it might be a combination of poorer GPS signal along with a windshield causing signal issues. Tomorrow, I will test my wife’s iPhone X in my car to see if it exhibits the same behavior.
Poor Newton’s Apple doesn’t have problem with neighbor having lemon Tesla. He doesn’t benefit from dream ride, or low break wear. He is just sick of driving him to dealership. Maybe neighbor should Uber instead of taking advantage of Newt.
If you roll down window and hold phone outside car does GPS reception improve? Easy check. Does your Tesla have sun roof? Another easy check and would give 360 view of satellites. If reception improves, pretty much figured out car is shielding signal.
Last edited:
Yeah, those aren't problems you should have with a new $100,000 car. Also, good luck with tires. Teslas slaughter tires.
Back on topic: OP, try another phone in your car and crossreference your results with a Tesla forum looking for similar issues. I would say get in another Tesla, but that seems like a tough thing to do.