Vehicle Touchscreen Failure: Convenience, Frustration, and Growing Safety Concerns

Over the last decade, vehicle interiors have undergone a dramatic transformation. Physical buttons, knobs, and gauges have been steadily replaced by large digital touchscreens that control everything from navigation and climate settings to audio, safety features, and vehicle diagnostics. While this shift has made dashboards look modern and high-tech, it has also introduced a new set of frustrations—and, increasingly, safety concerns.

A recent Spotlight on America investigation highlights just how widespread these issues have become. In their report, “Vehicle touchscreen frustration and safety concerns,” Fox 17 examines real-world failures, driver complaints, and the growing unease around touchscreen-dominated dashboards. You can read the full article here:
👉 https://fox17.com/news/spotlight-on-america/vehicle-touchscreen-frustration-and-safety-concerns-dashboard-automakers-blackouts-frozen-screens-software-glitches

When Touchscreens Stop Working Altogether

One of the most troubling problems discussed in the Fox 17 report is what happens when touchscreens fail entirely. Drivers have reported blackouts, frozen displays, delayed responses, and software crashes that disable speedometers, backup cameras, navigation systems, and climate controls—all while the vehicle is in motion.

In one example highlighted in the article, a pickup truck owner experienced a complete dashboard blackout while driving, leaving him without access to essential driving information. Situations like this turn what is supposed to be a convenience feature into a potential hazard, especially when critical data is routed through a single screen.

Software Glitches Are Becoming Recalls

These aren’t isolated incidents. According to the Fox 17 investigation, multiple major automakers—including Toyota, Lexus, Ford, Hyundai, and Tesla—have issued recalls related to touchscreen malfunctions. In many cases, the issue isn’t a physical defect but a software problem that causes displays to freeze, reboot, or go dark.

As vehicles become more software-dependent, even small bugs can have outsized consequences. A glitch that once might have affected a radio station preset can now impact rear-view camera visibility or vehicle warnings.

Distraction by Design

Beyond outright failures, touchscreens also introduce a subtler safety issue: distraction. Studies cited in the report suggest that interacting with touchscreens often requires drivers to take their eyes off the road for longer periods compared to traditional physical controls. Simple tasks like adjusting temperature or audio volume can involve navigating menus, swiping, or tapping small on-screen icons.

This added cognitive and visual load matters. Safety advocates argue that when drivers are forced to look down and interact with screens, reaction times increase—and the margin for error shrinks.

A Growing Pushback Against “Touch Everything”

The Fox 17 article notes that dissatisfaction with touch-only interfaces has grown loud enough that some automakers are beginning to reconsider their design choices. There is a renewed interest in bringing back physical buttons for high-frequency functions like climate control, volume, and defrost—controls drivers rely on muscle memory to operate without looking.

This hybrid approach suggests an important shift in automotive design philosophy: technology should support the driver, not demand constant attention.

Where the Industry Goes From Here

Touchscreens aren’t going away. They offer flexibility, updatable software, and integrated features that physical dashboards simply can’t match. But the reporting from Spotlight on America makes one thing clear—when screens replace too much, or fail too often, the trade-off becomes hard to ignore.

As lawmakers consider studies on driver distraction and automakers face recalls and lawsuits tied to infotainment systems, the future of in-car interfaces may depend on balance rather than minimalism. Combining reliable hardware, stable software, and thoughtfully placed physical controls could be the key to safer, more intuitive vehicles.

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About the Author

Daniel Gigante has over 18 years of experience in the automotive industry, with a focus on vehicle technology, infotainment systems, and real-world reliability. He writes about automotive design, touchscreen usability, and how modern technology impacts everyday driving.