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- 16 reviews
- 6 likes
I recently attempted to update my Garmin GPS and immediately after updating, it no longer worked. The unit stated ‘Corrupted files’, contact Garmin. I contacted Garmin and they offered me a refurbished unit at a cost of $156. The unit I originally bought had no technical issue of any kind until it was updated with new files. Only after rejecting their offer to sell me another unit did they suggest I could request an engineering escalation to possibly reinstall the files. You might think this is good customer service but they didn’t offer me thi...
Read mores until I complained about paying money for a 2nd hand unit when it wasn’t the unit but the files I updated with that was the problem. I shouldn’t have to pay any money for a problem that occurred by using their app to update my unit. I paid over $400 to buy it originally. They then offered me the same replacement solution at $65. What? No steak knives? I rejected that offer too. I don’t want another one of these units and I don’t like dodgy business motives. They wanted me to give them my unit back in exchange for a refurbished one; I guess so they can do the same with the next person who receives a dodgy update. Probably very easy to put the files back that the update ruined. Regarding navigation? Garmin road navigation is the worst I’ve ever experienced. My very first use of this unit took me to a dead end road only two streets away from my house (I live only 10-15km from the CBD!). Like other people have mentioned, the navigation is most often terribly inaccurate and inconvenient. Longer than necessary routes are regularly what is presented when plugging in an address. I’m always needing to ignore the Garmin and use my phone (google) to avoid going the long way. Also, whenever I leave the city and go to rural places it will direct me to unsealed roads when I have specifically plugged in to avoid unsealed roads. I like the voice control (hands free) aspect and I think it works reasonably well. The camera is ofcourse helpful incase you have an accident but I never have. I honestly think Garmin might be scamming people with this update corrupted files situation. The unit I have, although terrible with navigation did not have a malfunction until I updated it on the Garmin app. My advice for anyone is to avoid Garmin, mostly because of the poor navigation but also because of terrible customer service. They don’t communicate with you in any specific way relating to the issue you have. They simply tell you that there is a problem with the unit and they can provide a solution that involves giving them back the unit you have to replace it with another refurbished one at a cost to you. The corrupted files from the update were the problem for me so really I should just need to have the right files put on the unit. I have chosen to tell Garmin what I think and look forward to buying a very simple (much cheaper) non-Garmin unit. Accurate navigation is everything. Customer service comes in next. They fail with both of these in my opinion.Purchased in October 2018 for $420.00.
I have lived at my current address for 13 years.When I enter my address,it replies that it cant be found.After 13 years and many map updates,It still cant find me.
Purchased in July 2019 at Canadian Tire for $300.00.
Cannot remove direction banner, speed camera alert shrinks before reaching the camera. Cannot turn off school alerts or any of the other alerts, despite there being a setting to do so. FPS rate on camera gives jittery playback. Wish i had reviewed it before i bought it. I live near a school,and so does my girlfriend, so the school alerts go off, non stop even in the driveways.
Purchased in March 2020 for $495.00.
Find out how Garmin DriveSmart 51 / 61 LMT-S compares to other GPS Navigation Systems
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- 2 reviews
- 1 like
I've has this unit for a few years now and tested it all around Australia, and I have come to hate the thing. It seems hellbent on finding the worst route anywhere. It takes you on C roads when there are B roads, and B roads when there are A roads. It can't find the fastest or the shortest route unless there is only one road between you and the destination, and even then you can never be sure. It might take you on a side jaunt somewhere. And when you detour off the set route while driving it gets hopelessly confused, tells you you to go back wh...
Read moreen it would be better to keep going or tells you keep going when it would be better to go back. Often when you enter a destination it will give you options in the USA or Africa, just annoying. It never seems to update. It still has roads from many years ago that no longer exist, especially the Pacific Motorway up and down the east coast. It thinks every truck stop has fuel when it is only a layby. Sometimes you can't see the purple route because it's off the screen or obscured by blue restaurant signs. The voice command is useless. The worst is that Garmin refuse to take feedback on all the issues, so it never gets any better.Purchased in December 2015 for $350.00.
- 9 reviews
- 9 likes
Having used a Nuvi 760 for the last 10 years I decided to treat myself with a new GPS and boy did I make a mistake. The 760 had a very user friendly interface and you could make it do nearly anything but make a cup of tea. My new Drive Smart 51 is the most complicated piece of junk. Instead of keeping the interface simple Garmin have gone for a new user unfriendly smart phone type system. They have changed the simple words such "Routes" to "Trip planner", "Favourites" has become "Saved". Even though I loaded all my favourites with their own dis...
Read moretinctive symbol so I could easily identify them on my maps they show up as a brown flag. The 760 had the facility to change the properties of my Favourites but the new GPS doesn't. When planning a Route, I can only use 29 way points whereas my 760 was 50. One plus is that I can save more favourites (1000) and more than 10 Routes. Garmin should go back to making quality GPS's and not try to emulate a mobile phone. Leave that to Apple and Samsung.Purchased in September 2019 for $279.00.
Unable to load pois, for campsites, giving it untill next , if it cant be sorted then its on ebay
Can not load pois, have tried every way to do it poi loaders club loaders file transfer you name it I have tried. Unfortunately garmin accept no responsibility. It mostly crashes on no usb connection, yet have tried all sub modes in catorgaries
Purchased in June 2019 at JB Hifi Home for $239.00.
- 20 reviews
- 29 likes
Garmin express program
This program is essential for updating software and maps. It is garbage. Its servers are slow and small updates take over 1 hour to download. It fails to recognize the connected gps and fails to know when the gps software is updated. The update software fails and constantly loops (without telling the user there's a problem).
It will not turn on
The screen goes black and won’t turn on. It may be linked to the terrible batteries Garmin use that don’t last 60 seconds without a power source. It’s so unintuitive that it won’...
Purchased in May 2016 for $300.00.
- 57 reviews
- 57 likes
Bought this to use overseas as it has Voice Command which is a critical feature for driving in Europe. It can also accommodate extra maps by way of a micro SD card, so I bought the Garmin City Navigator Europe NT Full Coverage 010-10680-50 maps for the outrageous price of $139.00 to work with this GPS whilst driving in Europe. To my horror I discovered that the Voice Command feature does not work on any maps but with what was originally loaded onto this GPS. For example, when trying to use it for France, it says this feature (Voice Command) is ...
Read morenot available in British English. It was the same for the UK and ALL other European countries. Over and above, the maps were horribly outdated. Although Garmin stated the European map I bought was 2018 and current, it could not locate an address in Spain which was in existence for 12 years plus. In fact, it could not locate the entire village. Yet Google Maps found the address in seconds. This GPS does not come with a mains charger - it is an extra and from full charge, you'll be lucky to see 20 minutes until dead flat albeit Garmin claim 30 minutes which in itself is ludicrous. If you want to enter an address while in your hotel room for example, unless you have a wall charger, forget it. The Garmin DriveSmart 51 LMT-S is overrated and overstated and we are clearly being mislead by Garmin. Avoid at all costs - especially if considering this item for overseas travel. Rather hire a car with a GPS.
This is the 2nd Navman I've had in 3 months! Both have just died on me without any reason! Horrible product , never purchasing a Garmin again! Looks good but works horribly, maps arnt in date , hardly any signal strength , absolutely terrible! Will be going with tomtom or Navman next!
Find out how Garmin DriveSmart 51 / 61 LMT-S compares to other GPS Navigation Systems
Know better, choose better.
- 2 reviews
- 4 likes
Will not update software.
Takes forever to find satellites (usually never unless multiple restarts).
Will not connect to phone.
Voice commands do not work.
Manuals worse than useless
Support incomprehensible, uncontactable
I have never had such a frustrating product in 30 years of using high end tech. Usually such products are ok, connect and do what they should. This thing - terrible. But it isn't only the device, everything about Garmin appears to be impossible. Manuals, support, everything.
- 8 reviews
- 5 likes
One, the maps are very old and WRONG, if you use your gps for a 5 km trip...the directions will probably end up a 10 km trip...it might look flash...but very poor in my opinion, will never buy Garmin again after the experience with this one... and will go back to either Navman or Tomtom...they may not look as flash... but at least give decent directions
Questions & Answers
where is the clock
On mine, its down the bottom on the RHS..
thanks for the reply but it is not on mine what about voice directions
Can l update maps on a Garmin drive 61LMT-S GPS with out a computer thanks
Can it output sound to radio (Bluetooth?) headphones.
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Details
 Garmin DriveSmart 51 LMT-S2.4(15) | Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S3.6(26) | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | GPS Navigation Systems | GPS Navigation Systems |
| Price (RRP) | $279.00 | |
| Screen Size | 5" | 6" |
| Display Type | VGA | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | |
| Features | Free Map Updates, MicroSD Slot and Voice Control | |
| Battery Life | 1 hours | |
| Dimensions | 140 x 84 x 18 mm | |
| Weight | 0.17 kg |
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