Why Car Touchscreens Are Becoming a Problem for Drivers

Almost every new car sold today has a touchscreen, and large displays have become a common selling point among higher-end vehicles. It makes sense: we’re told big screens are great in our living rooms for sports, movies, and video games. This applies to phones, computers, laptops, and tablets, too — bigger is better. But a vehicle’s main function is transportation, which must be done safely, and larger screens can be a distraction.

What’s making the issue worse is that controls that were once physical buttons are increasingly being moved into screens and touch-sensitive interfaces. Opening a window or adjusting the temperature — once done by flicking a switch or twisting a knob — has been replaced by a process not far removed from modifying a spreadsheet on a computer. Not only does it take longer to locate these controls, but it also pulls the driver’s attention away from the road.

What many drivers already feel is now being confirmed by regulators. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which independently tests and rates vehicle safety, says touchscreen-dominated interiors pose a growing distraction risk. Beginning next year, it will require physical buttons for key functions in order for vehicles to earn its highest safety score.

“The overuse of touchscreens is an industry-wide problem,” Matthew Avery, Euro NCAP’s director of strategic development, said in a press release. “Almost every vehicle maker is moving key controls onto central touchscreens, obliging drivers to take their eyes off the road and raising the risk of distraction crashes.”

Beginning next year, Euro NCAP will require physical switches for certain functions to qualify for its top rating, including turn signals, hazard lights, the horn, windshield wipers, and activation of the eCall SOS system.

Automotive design trends often span the globe, so if one region pushes for usability-focused rules, it’s only a matter of time until these changes show up in cars in Canada.

Is this plan justified? Screens have proven to be distracting time and time again. A 2019 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that even the quickest task like making a phone call took 17 seconds to complete, while other tasks took up to 40 seconds. Older drivers needed even more time for actions such as entering navigation directions. A distraction lasting just two seconds is known to double the risk of a crash.

Other research, including a study by U.K.-based publication Auto Express, found it can take nearly seven seconds to raise cabin temperature settings or more than six seconds to turn on heated seats — functions that once relied on physical switches.

Screens Are Not Just Unsafe — They’re Also Annoying

Screens aren’t only a safety concern — some are downright irritating. One recent example is Stellantis America’s introduction of advertisements in infotainment systems, allowing the automaker to push extended warranty offers directly to a vehicle’s screen. The feature initially glitched, displaying the ad every time the car stopped. While the issue has since been resolved, the idea that an automaker can push content or ads at will represents a fundamental shift in the user experience — and not for the better. Some Subaru owners in the U.S. have also reported receiving SiriusXM ads on their screens, urging them to call for exclusive offers.

Then there’s the promise of over-the-air (OTA) updates. In-car software can improve over time, with updates adding features, refreshing maps, or improving performance and stability. But what happens when those updates come at a cost?

For instance, a paid update offered to some Tesla Model S and Model X owners removes certain functions that were previously standard. The update, available to vehicles built before 2018, improves performance and adds features such as YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu streaming, but it removes AM, FM, and SiriusXM radio, nudging users toward streaming apps or requiring an additional paid radio upgrade.

Meanwhile, vehicles like the Honda Civic now use Google’s Android-based operating system. Over time, some apps may stop receiving updates, potentially losing functionality or support altogether.

Repairs and Reliability

These frustrations, however, may seem minor compared with the reliability concerns and costs associated with in-car screens.

“Issues with in-car electronics are by far the most common problem owners report to us,” Steven Elek, program leader for auto data analytics at Consumer Reports, said. “Sometimes malfunctions are significant enough to require hardware replacements, though we find that most are remedied with a software update.”

An infotainment update isn’t like the quick prompt on your computer. It can take months to roll out across Canada and may require lengthy downloads and installation processes during which the car can’t be turned off.

More serious problems arise when the screen itself fails, requiring repair or replacement — an expensive proposition. Depending on the vehicle, parts alone can range from several hundred dollars to more than $1,000. Subaru Outback owners on online forums report repairs costing about $1,200, while Mazda CX-5 owners on Reddit say they’ve paid roughly $800 for parts and labour to replace head units.

Some owners may be covered under new-vehicle warranties. Kia, for example, covers audio systems for three years or 60,000 kilometres. After that, repairs are typically out of pocket. Subaru Canada recently extended warranty coverage for infotainment systems on certain models from three years or 60,000 kilometres to eight years or 240,000 kilometres.

BYOT: Bring Your Own Tech?

So can the industry put the cat back in the bag — or more accurately, can a new car exist without screens? American electric vehicle (EV) startup Slate thinks it has a partial answer.

The proposed Slate Truck features manual controls for climate settings and windows. There’s no built-in infotainment screen or even a stereo. The company believes it’s appealing to buyers fed up with digital controls that complicate the user experience and inflate vehicle prices.

Buyers can opt for add-ons like a radio or screen, but the alternative is to use the screen they already own: their smartphone. Through an app, the phone can interact with the vehicle, reducing upfront costs while still providing navigation, charging information, and software updates.

The Slate Truck won’t be for everyone. With limited range, it seems best suited for short commutes or budget-conscious buyers. Still, other automakers appear to be getting the message that too many screens can be a bad thing.

Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt said earlier this year that future VW models will feature physical controls for volume, heating, fan speed, and hazard lights. “We will never, ever make this mistake again,” he told Autocar. “On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing anymore. There’s feedback, it’s real, and people love this. Honestly, it’s a car. It’s not a phone. It’s a car.”

It’s a bold statement from an automaker that’s been heavily criticized for its in-car technology, but one worth sticking to. Whether manufacturers truly scale back screens and return to safer and less distracting physical controls remains to be seen, but at least some are finally moving in the right direction.