The Federal government has ordered the recall of in-car navigation systems due to driver problems.

 

These devices give motorists directions by map and voice. Defective 2007 units, manufactured by Alpine Electronics and Garmin International, have caused people to arrive at the wrong destination and suffer unnecessary repairs.

Fred Cushman, 76 of Fairfax, Virginia tells his story. “We love our nav. But one day, I went out for milk and put it on just for fun. I was going to the SunnyFast about 2 miles away. When I had to stop for gas at the SunnyFast across the city, I thought something might be wrong but I kept going. Before, I knew it I was in downtown Richmond. That’s a 100 miles. That ain’t right.” This also distressed Mrs. Cushman, who thought Fred, just went for milk.

In-car navigation units have also caused repair problems. The nav-voice sometimes stutters. Drivers stop, inch forward, and accelerate repeatedly. Owners have had to replace brakes as soon as 10,000 miles.

Recently executives from Alpine and Garmin were called before a Congressional Committee. They didn’t show up. Someone saw them renting a car at Reagan National Airport. They were last spotted in Georgia headed south on I-95.

Note: Ripped from the headlines and totally made-up.