When I plot a course on my Tesla Model Y to take me to a certain address, it keeps suggesting that I turn onto a dead end drive that has zero outlet to the destination address. the dead end is clearly reflected in Google Maps and Open Street Maps (and Tesla uses Google Maps). And yet the Tesla navigation keeps trying to tell me to turn onto a dead end street that doesn’t connect.
So I called Tesla this afternoon and this woman told me it was a very unique issue. She went to speak to her team. She said “on our end, we’re taking a reading with google maps and if there is a disconnect, there’s not a way to report it on our end.” I said can’t you file a ticket with engineering to fix this, or how can I escalate this to someone else? The woman responded: “There’s not anyone you can escalate this to. You have to wait for it to update.” (I’ve waited 1.5 years so far for this to be updated).
Tesla is adamant that it’s Google’s problem, but how can I report something on Google Maps that reflects accurately? People keep saying to update it on OpenStreetMap but the dead end street in question is accurate on OpenStreetMap as well. Can anyone speak to this issue?
You will need to contact Google consumer support to get things fixed in Google Maps. Which typically does not really work even if you are paying client.
So, to sum up:
Google Maps is correct.
OpenStreetMap is correct.
Tesla (presumably based on either or both) is incorrect.
This is a Tesla problem and only they can fix it. Since they have refused to do so, tough luck. That’s the issue with proprietary systems. When they work, they work well, when they don’t, you are out of luck.
I don’t know for sure whose fault it is, but either way, you lose. The only options I see (and I don’t own or operate a Tesla vehicle) is to install an open source routing app based on OSM with the community and developer ethos to improve the app, or - if that is not possible - choose a car from a different manufacturer (i.e. not Tesla) next time you buy one. Caveat: Others may be even worse.
i did that, and it only gives me options like report a place that doesnt exist, or report a place missing. none of those are applicable to what i’m trying to report. can you show me the EXACT SELECTIONS to choose under google report that are actually applicable to me because I was unable to find any applicable to my situation
Tesla uses neither for routing (it does use google for display purposes). Current speculation is that tomtom is the source of their routing data, but that might not be true all over the place either.
Many OSM contributors might be surprised to know that Google Maps has a (very limited) street editor that you can use to submit changes. Someone reviews your edits, and you get an email back about whether or not they accept the changes. It’s hit or miss, I’ve provided edits after a major reconstruction project in my area and had them been rejected. As a result Google’s navigation gave laughably wrong results for quite awhile (take a highway exit to a ramp that has been demolished).
So, it is not very “good”, but yes, there is definitely a way to tell Google about map changes. Whether or not they listen to your input is a crapshoot.
Also, I am not sure if everyone has these options or only certain users. But this is what I see on my account:
You right click on the map:
That brings up this list of options:
When you click “add or fix a road”, you get this editor with nodes you can drag around:
I did some research:
Tesla uses Google Maps for the map (visual display). For navigation, however, data from one or more other providers is used, possibly depending on the region. Some say that data from TomTom is used for navigation, others say Mapbox. It cannot be ruled out that data from OpenStreetMap is sometimes used in some way.
Anyway, here is Tesla’s email address to which routing errors can be reported: navfeedback@tesla.com
In several cases, the problem was fixed in one of Tesla’s next map updates.
FWIW driving last week in a southern European country I came across a newish (as in roughly a year old) road segment that Telsa navigation doesn’t have and which is present in both OSM and google. Unluckily both Here and Tomtom are currently missing the road which means it doesn’t really help with deciding what they are using.
In general though whatever they are using for navigation there has lousy geometry in numerous places. That is easily visible as the navigation route indication varies considerably from the gmaps display.
I’m trying to file a ticket now with TomTom but they’re saying I need an account to request support. That is so annoying. Let me try to reach out to them via Twitter (X)
Slight tangent, but how did you manage to call Tesla and find somebody that knows anything about navigation? I mean this isn’t possible for a legacy car manufacturer, and would require a couple of billion years of Sundays for Tesla.
This is a very good tool for creating a ticket with TomTom. For quick processing, it is recommended to attach a photo, video or other file that illustrates the problem. You can also see the status of the review.
been trying to get an out-of-date turn restriction near my house removed for months…
