LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. - A Call for Action alert: A popular GPS you rely on to find your way, may actually get you lost! It's a problem our Call for Action Volunteers discovered while responding to a call from a viewer just like you.

Gilbert Sowders had already returned his TomTom GPS four times, when he called Call for Action for help.

"All I know is it was driving me nuts telling me to turn around and go back where I came," said Sowders.

Our Call for Action volunteer called TomTom, and figured out it's a software problem affecting only Lee County.

"It works everywhere else, but not Lee County," said Sowders.

WINK News contact Tom Tom who told us, "We always working to improve our maps and map coverage. With road networks developing and construction, maps are always changing. Florida has been an especially difficult area for mapping companies to keep updated as new communities are continually developing."

Sowders took his Tom Tom back to the store, and let them know the problem. Best Buy did exchange his Tom Tom for another brand of GPS. Still, he wishes someone would have warned him. "I think if anyone wants to buy a Tom Tom, the store they buy it from should tell the people it doesn't work in Lee County," said Sowders.

WINK News pressed Tom Tom for more answers. today they sent us an email detailing the problem more in-depth. Here is that email:


What is the problem and why is it occurring?

The TomTom device was freezing as it approached the Fort Myers RSW
airport. There is a segment of road between I-95 and the first road that crosses the route that causes an anomaly due to the manner in which
TomTom's software application processes the location of Ft Myers. The
anomaly is isolated specifically to this coordinate in Ft Myers and a fix has been made in the latest map update.


When will it be fixed?

TomTom's most recent software and maps have updated the RSW airport, so
users who have the latest map version from TomTom will not experience
the issue.

For users who have older maps that may be experiencing this issue, a fix
is also available. Specifically, GO 720 and 920 users can update their
software for free and can automatically download the fix through TomTom
HOME, TomTom's free software application. TomTom is working towards a
fix for any customers who may have older maps on TomTom ONE devices.


How is TomTom going to resolve the issue?

TomTom customer support was in regular contact with the particular customer that raised this specific issue trying to resolve the freezing on his device. TomTom sent first one and then a second device to replace the one that was freezing. Upon immediate investigation and analysis, TomTom realized that the freezing issue was not related to the device itself, but rather the map version. Given the unique circumstance with this particular customer, TomTom will offer the customer a free map update.


What should TomTom users in the Lee County area do?

TomTom users in the Lee County area who have older devices should update to TomTom's latest map version to update their device. This will allow
users to navigate to the RSW airport without freezing and give TomTom users the freshest maps available.


Is there someone local users can contact?

Should they need assistance, customers should contact TomTom customer
support at 866-486-6866.


Is this "issue" isolated to one particular TomTom device?

While TomTom initially believed that the incident/issue was perhaps isolated to the customer's unique device, we have now determined that the issue affects devices with this particular map release. TomTom's latest map update fixes the anomaly.


Has TomTom alerted local retailers about this problem?

Given the limited range of both customers impacted and the particular location in question, TomTom decided to resolve the issue directly with customers. TomTom has investigated and addressed the issue in discussion and fixed the particular address in TomTom's latest map version.