Toyota app very rarely updated

When updating my phone I always watch for a Toyota app update. Many of my favorite apps have active developer teams constantly improving, optimizing and perfecting aspects of their builds, adding features and listening to user requests.

The Toyota app is very rarely ever updated. The last update was nearly 4 months ago. Reviews of the app are 2.1 stars (over 8.5K ratings). This is a dismal app score for such a massive corporation with a well deserved reputation for vehicle reliability and performance.

Toyota needs to hire an entire cohort of new app developers post-haste with focus on the Toyota app. We need regular updates (at least monthly, ideally weekly) addressing the numerous issues, improving/optimizing and innovating new features to make this the best app of the other vehicle corporations.

WTF Toyota letting this stagnate for so long. Make it better

 

Whats broken on the app that needs updating? Or are you just looking for more features?

 

Hi @eddiefromcali more features are always welcome: both user requested and innovated by Toyota. However there is also a multitude of major issues to address. An app like this requires constant updates and improvements.

Looking at just a small number of reviews the list of issues is exhaustive. I could paste hundreds of pages about what I’m seeing. Below is just a start.

QR code/9 digit code/PIN debacles continue for thousands of new owners. Connected services are a bug filled nightmare. App or vehicle logging out, issues with subscription payments, repeated requests for permissions to connect, digital key issues, Apple Watch issues, CarPlay issues, Android issues, app crashing, remote connect failures, and so much more.

Note that this app isn’t just for the third gen Tundra, it is connecting to all newer models of every vehicle type. Reviews reflect across the entire fleet and it’s not pretty. This is not an app that can just languish on the App Store updated only quarterly, it requires an active developer team with daily code commits, project management oversight and review with ambitious update goals.

The app does not seem to be a priority for Toyota at this point, they are not investing in it to nearly the corporate scope they should be.

 

As a software engineer, I may have a bit of insight here: A company will only invest its resources in areas that generate the most value. In other words, this app probably doesn’t bring in much revenue for them since it’s only going to be used by a current customer (down funnel). Like most, they’re targeting new customers/the purchasing experience (top of funnel) since it has higher traffic and generates the most revenue.

There are probably highly competent engineers who know there are problems in the app that they would like to fix, but then there’s highly profit-drive c-suite management who couldn’t care less unless it generates revenue or deeply impacts their brand value. On that note, Toyota is a vehicle manufacturing company that mostly deals with B2B transactions, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they outsourced their consumer-facing apps (cheaper since they don’t have to pay salaries nor any benefits).

 

Thanks @GLaDOS everything you write rings true as can be. I’m very confident you’re absolutely correct on all fronts re: Toyota’s lack of investment in existing customer vs preference for attracting new customers, as well as outsourcing their software development to save costs.

I would argue that pleasing existing customers is an investment in future purchases as well, however this doesn’t always ring true with corporations. I’m going to do some digging re Toyota’s development team to learn more. I have noted that many of Toyota’s other mobile apps including the dashcam are absolutely terrible.

 

https://platform.uno/blog/toyota-migrates-mobile-app-to-uno-platform/

This entire article confirms what you wrote @GLaDOS . All this language seems to attempt to justify/glorify why Toyota switched outsourcing of their app development from Xamarin Farms to Uno Platform, and saying they’re so fantastic for having done that. Real reason as you indicated however means cutting costs and avoiding real investment in their own app development team.

I appreciate your thoughts re interpreting the article for us. The links below may be related to the platforms/third parties they’re using.

https://innowise.com/xamarin-application-development/


“One developer for multiple platforms
Instead of hiring multiple native app developers, a single Xamarin developer can write code for an app that runs across various operating systems, including iOS, Android, and Windows. Reduced labor costs are one of the most apparent benefits of Xamarin app development.”

https://platform.uno/

 

Not a mobile developer, but as I expected, Toyota is a B2B (business 2 business) company, so it doesn’t surprise me they’re outsourcing their customer facing applications. That said, whoever is in charge of their architectural decisions is probably on the older side as C# and dot net development has been around for quite awhile; although, I feel it has fallen out of favor for other cross-platform and non cross-platform languages: JavaScript, Python, Java, Kotlin, Flutter, Swift… to name a few. The biggest pain point I see is that they’ve invested in using Microsoft software, so they’ve tied themselves to enterprise solutions (circling back to the above about adding/fixing features that generate value, but also having to maintain that aging software to be compatible for newer hardware is expensive). To avoid kicking off a debate of enterprise vs FOSS software, I will say that Microsoft doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to testing their software. In fact, they dropped their QA teams in favor of… making YOU the beta tester!

 

It’s hard to improve upon perfection.

 

Do yourself a favor and delete the app. If it does not get updates its insecure and you don't need your driving data leaking on the interwebs.

 

Toyota app was finally updated this week after over a 5 month hiatus since the previous update. No new features I noted, seems primarily only minimum maintenance to address changes in iOS18.1. Deeply underwhelmed by lack of any attempt to address the tsunami of user requests in comments and the dismal 2.5 star rating after 11K reviews. This is one area where Toyota is absolutely failing in terms of innovation and their philosophy of constant improvement “Kaizen”.

 

My wife has a 2023 Tucson and the Hyundai mobile app has much more detail and functionality than the Toyota app. I still refuse to subscribe to the remote services since they bundle it with other services that I don't want or need. It was originally offered as a stand alone service for $80/year during the one year trial. After the trial expired it was available only as a part of a bundle. Nope - not doing it,.

 

This must be a generational thing. I could give a rip about the app.

 

No sh$t......Don't know how we survived with our eyes looking forward instead of down all the time. And I just realized I'm spending time in a forum. My phone is pretty clean though. Could still survive with an old flip phone.

 

So its the OPs fault that they finally did an update! Thanks OP! The updated app will not work on my Samsung Galaxy S8+. I'm not trying to buy a new phone but I liked the features. Was it secure? It seems that based on breaches and data thefts everyday including banks, governments, and credit agencies that nothing is really safe or secure.

 

It’s not often you have to update perfection….

 

Perfect paranoia is perfect awarness !

 

I like the fact that it has an app, but the app is almost useless.

Why can't I use it to control the HVAC, or lights?

Pop the tailgate?

Extend running boards?

Open gas port?

Drop individual windows, or sunroof?

Set auto-wake up times so it is preheated/cooled for my morning commute without having to think about it?

All of these are electronically controlled - seems no reason these can't be added?

 

I would say it's pretty normal. It's better than my Porsche app which is difficult in the most Germanic fashion. Not as good as my BMW just because that app is faster and has 360° camera access. About even with the Volvo.
What is a world class car app?

 

And on line 2 everyone pisses and moans about how complicated, unreliable and expensive pick-ups have become.

 

Being able to live view the cameras would be killer

 

It was the first view I had after Helene hit Asheville.

 

More like this?

 

Off topic - I hope you are holding up alright, and the family is safe. I know the news is always biased, but recovery doesn't seem to be going well with FEMA....

 

Exactly. Is this Photoshop, just not available on our trucks, or my user error?

 

When I updated my app for the Land Cruiser, all that popped up. The LC also doesn’t shut off when you open the door after remote start. I don’t understand why the Tundras can’t be updated to perform these functions.

 

The Lexus app is like the one above, and it doesn't shut off when you open the door either. Come on Toyota, WTF?

 

No Shit I find it annoying

 

They don’t give a crap. The cash just keeps rolling in. Corporations LOVE the “Services” model. Absolute easiest way to make money. Let’s just say they’ve sold 300K 3rd Gen Tundras (prob higher) and let’s say half of them pay $15/mo for Services (prob higher). That’s 2,250,000 dollars minimum rolling in a MONTH for very little cost. And that’s just the 3rd Gen. All their vehicles are this way now. And they’re making money on our location and driving data on top of that. We’ll never get anything new but a price hike. How about a digital key? (Like other models have in the App) Or some software updates to fix our fuel gauges and start/stop issues?

 

LOL, OP is wanting app updates and I went in last week and disabled all of the android permissions for the Toyota App!!! Must be a generational thing as said above!!!