Infotainment System And Radio Not Working? Here's Why, and What to Do About It

For today’s car buyers, a vehicle is expected to be more than simply transportation. In addition to getting you where you need to go in a safe and reliable manner, today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs have evolved into sophisticated communications devices. The complex electronic systems that make this possible are known as infotainment systems, a term that combines both information and entertainment functions.

There can be many reasons why your vehicle’s infotainment system is not working. Here’s our guide to infotainment system problems, their causes, and how to fix them.

How your infotainment system works

Using both hardware and software, modern in-vehicle infotainment systems provide drivers and passengers with a variety of functionality that is usually accessed primarily through a dashboard-mounted touchscreen. The components of your infotainment system include:

• Touchscreen
• Speakers
• Antenna
• CD Player
• AM/FM Radio
• Satellite Radio
• GPS Navigation
• Emergency Calling & Location Services
• Remote Starting, Locking, & Unlocking Services
• Smartphone Integration
• Voice Command
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Rear-View Camera
• Bluetooth Connectivity

The infotainment systems in some cars can also include climate control, video player, vehicle performance tracking, and various other functions within their infotainment systems.

Infotainment systems receive inputs from many different sources, such as radio stations, satellites (for navigation, vehicle access, and satellite radio services), the internet (from your smartphone or your car’s Wi-Fi hotspot), built-in cameras, the touchscreen, and even your voice, when you use voice commands. The outputs are most commonly the audio speakers, but also the touchscreen (for information display, navigation and the rear-view camera).

RepairPal Tip: Tracking down a problem with your infotainment system, once it has progressed beyond a simple blown fuse, requires an in-depth knowledge of automotive electronics. If you do not have this experience, or you are otherwise uncomfortable dealing with the complexities of today’s infotainment systems, please contact your mechanic, who will be happy to diagnose and repair your problem.

Reasons your infotainment system isn't working

Let’s start with some general problems that could be affecting your infotainment system as a whole, followed by some more specific issues that can cause individual elements of your infotainment system to malfunction.

General system issues

Power failure: If you have no electrical power flowing to your infotainment system, it will not turn on and none of its features will work. If nothing else in the car works, and you can’t even start the engine, you could have a dead battery. If only the infotainment system itself won’t come on, you might have a blown fuse.

Dead battery Solution: Call your mechanic, auto club, or roadside assistance to have your car’s battery and charging system checked. Replace the battery if necessary.

Bad fuse Solution: Check your owner’s manual for the location of your vehicle’s fuse box. Identify the location of the infotainment system fuse(s) within the fuse box, as well as their proper ratings. With the ignition off, open the fuse box and remove the fuse(s) for the infotainment system (use the plastic tweezers provided if available). Now check the fuse(s) and see if the wire inside any of them is broken. Also check that each fuse has the correct rating, according to the information in the owner’s manual.

If a fuse is blown, replace it with a new one of the correct rating (never install a fuse of a higher or lower rating). Close everything up, start the car, and see whether the infotainment system now operates. If it does, you have fixed it! If it still won’t work or a new fuse blows again, contact your mechanic for repairs at the shop – you have a more serious problem.

Bugs and glitches in the system: Because your infotainment system uses software, just like a computer or a cellphone does, it may sometimes need a software update to fix any bugs or defects that are lurking in its operating system.

Solution: If you own a Tesla or certain other newer vehicles, your car may be able to receive over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The manufacturers send out these OTA updates wirelessly over the internet by to each eligible vehicle, wherever it happens to be parked. This is an automated process that is done whenever necessary. It requires no action from the vehicle owner.

Unfortunately for the rest of the vast majority of the cars currently on the road, software updates for your infotainment system may need to be done at the service department of your vehicle brand’s nearest new-car dealership. Call your mechanic first to see if there’s any way that you can avoid a trip to the dealer.

Infotainment system needs rebooting: If you are having difficulty operating your infotainment system and it does not seem to be responding to your commands properly, you can try rebooting your system. Much like shutting down and then restarting your computer or phone, this process may restore your system to normal operation.

Solution: For a guide on how to reboot your specific system, check here.

Can’t figure out how to operate your infotainment system: If you are having trouble understanding how your system works, we have a quick and easy solution…

Solution: We highly recommend reading the owner's manual thoroughly. Many systems are not completely self-explanatory. The manual for either your vehicle or third-party entertainment equipment will explain, in great detail, the operation of all aspects of your infotainment system. Knowing all of your system’s capabilities will make it easier to get the most out of it. Take some time in your car with the manual and familiarize yourself with functions like:

• Setting radio station presets
• Inputting destinations into the navigation system
• Using voice commands
• Pairing your smartphone
• Activating Bluetooth
• Making and receiving phone calls through the system

The new-car dealership for your vehicle’s brand usually has at least one staff member who can give you expert answers to your infotainment system questions. Call the service department to be connected to their specialist. Some manufacturers may provide a toll-free number, chat option, or website that can help you figure things out, in the event that the manual does not help. A quick internet search should help you locate this information.

Specific system issues

Touchscreen doesn’t work: In some vehicles that live in cold climates, the touchscreen may not function right after you start the car on a frigid morning. Alternatively, you might experience a failure during non-extreme weather conditions.

Solution: Some touchscreens may need to be “warmed up” in cold conditions. Once that your car is producing heat and you are getting warm, the touchscreen should operate normally. Other, non-cold-related causes could be a dimmer set too low, a blown fuse (see fuse section above), a bad connection in the system, or a defective component. If the car is warm, the fuse is fine, and adjusting the brightness doesn’t work, contact your mechanic for a diagnosis and a fix.

Your speakers sound bad, cut in and out, or don’t work at all: Your car’s speakers are connected to the main unit of your infotainment system by wiring that runs throughout your vehicle. If there’s a problem, you might hear a loss of sound from one or more speakers, a crackling noise, poor quality sound, or the sound may cut in and out intermittently.

Solution: If the wiring to a speaker has become disconnected, been broken, or come loose, you may lose the sound coming from that speaker. An intermittent loss of sound could indicate a loose wire somewhere between the speaker and the main infotainment unit. If all of the speakers cut in and out at the same time, the problem may be a connection at the main unit’s output section. A speaker could also be damaged.

While a bad speaker, or a loose or disconnected speaker wire is relatively easy to fix, getting access to them can be quite difficult. Speakers are often built into the vehicle’s doors and interior panels, which require disassembly to access them. The wiring in today’s vehicles is usually buried under the carpeting or behind the interior panels, making it difficult to access. Contact your mechanic to have the problem fixed.

Antenna doesn’t work: Your car has an antenna that enables it to receive the various signals for your terrestrial (AM/FM) radio, satellite radio, GPS navigation, and other relevant systems. The antenna is usually one of these types:

• Retractable antenna mast (manual or powered)
• Embedded antenna in windshield or windows
• “Shark-fin” antenna on the roof

Whatever type of antenna your vehicle has, the way it works is the same: the antenna picks up the signals sent out by the radio station or satellite and channels them into the appropriate part of your infotainment system. When the antenna goes bad, the signals can’t get into the system and it stops working.

Solution: A retractable antenna is relatively easy to replace. If it has been broken off or won’t extend, a replacement antenna can be installed with simple tools. Embedded antennas in the glass are unlikely to go bad, but the wiring that connects the antenna to the infotainment system may be affected. A shark-fin antenna is usually glued to the roof of the vehicle and may require you to first soften the glue with the heat from a hair dryer to remove it. The new shark-fin antenna should come with a new self-adhesive attachment. If you prefer not to deal with fixing your antenna, contact your mechanic.

CD player doesn’t work: While CD (Compact Disc) players are being phased out of the infotainment systems that come on the newest cars, there are still plenty of vehicles on the road that have them. Most CD players are made up of a mechanism that accepts the disc when you insert it, puts it into position, spins it at high speed, reads and plays the disc using a laser pickup, and ejects it when you are finished with it. Some CD players accept one disc at a time, and others can hold multiple discs, playing the one you select. A fault in any of these subsystems can keep your CD player from operating correctly.

Solution: If you are trying to play CDs that you or a friend have made, check your owner’s manual to be sure of the types of CDs that your player can accept. Many will not play CDR or CDRW discs. Next, be sure that you have inserted the disc right side up. Be sure that the CD is clean and free of fingerprints and smudges, cleaning it if necessary in a circular motion with a clean, lint-free cloth. Try a different disc that you know has played well in your player, to determine whether one particular disc may be the problem. If a CD won’t eject, some CD players have a reset function that works by holding down the power and eject buttons for 10 seconds (try this first with the power off, and then with the power on if it doesn’t work when it’s off). You can also try using a CD player cleaning kit if the unit plays, but the sound quality has deteriorated.

Anything more complicated is likely to require the services of a mechanic or an infotainment system specialist. Issues like a CD becoming stuck in the player, the laser lens becoming dirty, a failed motor, or a drive belt problem will most likely require expert help. Unless you have experience working on CD players, you may do more harm than good trying to fix yours.

AM/FM radio problems: AM radio receivers have been installed in vehicles since the early 1930s and were the first type of in-car entertainment. FM radio followed in the 1950s. Since then, AM/FM radios have become standard equipment in most cars. AM and FM radio stations are known as terrestrial, or land-based radio. As long as you are within range of a given radio station’s transmitter, your car’s AM or FM radio receiver should be able to pick it up. When you drive beyond a station’s range limit, you will lose its signal and you must tune to a different station.

Solution: The basic troubleshooting menu applies here. If there’s no power, check the fuse (see the fuse section above). If the CD player works, but you can’t hear the radio station, check the antenna (see the antenna section above). If you can’t hear the radio, CD player, or any other sources, check the speakers and related wiring (see the speaker section above). If everything checks out but the radio still doesn’t work, contact your mechanic, or possibly an automotive radio or infotainment system specialist.

Satellite radio problems: Satellite radio receivers have come as standard equipment on the majority of new cars for many years. Drivers pay a subscription fee to receive a wide variety of music and information channels that are beamed from a network of orbiting satellites. These channels can usually be received by subscribed vehicles from coast to coast in the US without interruption. While the system normally works very well, there can be some issues that cause reception problems.

Solution: First be sure that your vehicle is in a location where it can receive the satellite radio signal. The signal can be blocked if you are in a parking garage, a tunnel, under a canopy of trees, in the mountains, next to tall buildings, or some isolated rural areas. Next, check your satellite radio tuner to see whether every channel is out, or just the one you are listening to. If a single channel is out, switch to one that works. If all channels are out, try turning the unit off, and then back on. If it still doesn’t work, check to see whether you can get AM, FM, or play a CD. If the other parts of the infotainment system work, your satellite radio needs to be fixed. Call your mechanic or an infotainment system specialist for repairs. If other radio functions don’t work but the CD player does, the problem could be in your antenna (see the antenna section above).

GPS navigation problems: The GPS navigation system in your infotainment system receives geolocation and time signals sent from a US government-owned global satellite network. The GPS system in your car uses these signals to plan routes from where your starting point to your programmed-in destination. GPS navigation is a very reliable system, but you may have some problems that interfere with its proper functioning.

Solution:Just as with satellite radio, certain obstacles like tall buildings or mountains can block the GPS signals (your system actually needs to have an unobstructed view of four or more GPS satellites to work properly). Once you are clear of such obstacles, your GPS reception should return. If the AM/FM and satellite radio don’t work, but the CD player does, you could have an antenna issue (see the antenna section above). If you can’t hear the instructions, make sure that the mute is turned off and the volume is turned up. If you can’t find a location, especially in a remote area, there could be a mapping problem. Your onboard GPS system might need an update. Contact the vehicle manufacturer’s customer service department for assistance; the contact information should be listed in your owner’s manual.

Problems with emergency calling and location services, and/or remote starting, locking, and unlocking services: If your car is equipped with OnStar or a similar satellite-based emergency notification and/or a remote vehicle access system, a loss of connection to the system’s satellites can prevent you from sending and your car from receiving the necessary messages and commands.

Solution: Similar to both the satellite radio and GPS navigation systems mentioned above, these emergency notification and remote access services depend on a connection to a satellite network. This means that the same types of obstacles can block the signals, or your antenna could be the problem. In addition, many remote access features work through a phone app, so there could be an issue with the app, the phone, or the phone’s operating system. If you have gone through the basic troubleshooting steps listed above, as well as those for smartphone integration below, and it still won’t work, contact your emergency services provider’s customer help hotline.

Smartphone integration problems: The leading smartphone manufacturers, Apple and Google, have developed apps for their devices that can integrate with today’s complex in-car infotainment systems. Most vehicle manufacturers have returned the favor by making their cars’ systems compatible with these apps. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow drivers to access their phones’ music playing, messaging, navigation, and other functions directly through the infotainment system’s touchscreen, as well as through voice commands.

Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is a much safer (and legal) option, compared to looking at your phone screen and trying to operate the device while you drive. In many cases, these phone-based apps are easier to use and work much better than the in-car infotainment system, particularly for functions like navigation and voice commands. Even though these devices usually work well together, there can be problems when trying to hook up your phone to your infotainment system.

Solution: Keep in mind that all of your smartphone’s limitations will apply when you connect it to your car. If you are in an area without cell service, you will be unable to access those services that require it. If you have an older phone, check your owner’s manual to verify that it is compatible with your car’s infotainment system. If you are connecting your phone via a USB cable and your car has more than one USB port, check your manual to see if there is a specific port that should be used for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also make sure that your connecting cable is working properly and has not malfunctioned. If you are having problems connecting your phone via Bluetooth, see the “Bluetooth problems” section below.

You should also be running your phone’s current operating system and the most recent version of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. If you use your phone in more than one vehicle, check that it is set for the vehicle you have it in. If all else fails, try rebooting both your phone and your car’s infotainment system (see “infotainment system needs rebooting” section above).

Voice command problems: Depending on the age of your vehicle and the nature of its infotainment system, the quality of its voice command system may be less than ideal. It may not recognize or might even misinterpret your voice commands, making for a frustrating user experience.

Solution: The voice command systems on newer vehicles tend to work much better than those on older models. If you are having problems in a newer car, check your owner’s manual for the proper setup and use of the voice command system. Be aware of the location of the microphone in your interior and speak clearly into it. If you are still having trouble, a good workaround is to use the voice command capabilities of your smartphone through Apple CarPlay (Siri) or Android Auto (Google Assistant).

Wi-Fi hotspot problems: Many new cars now come with their own internet connection, known as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Enabled by a separate subscription and monthly fee, a Wi-Fi hotspot typically allows multiple devices within the vehicle to connect via the vehicle’s Wi-Fi system. It is typically built into your infotainment system and adds extra capabilities such as music and video streaming. Just as with any mobile internet connection, there can be performance issues, particularly as your vehicle moves from place to place.

Solution: Here’s a checklist you can use to troubleshoot Wi-Fi hotspot problems:

1. Is your vehicle ignition on?
2. Is your infotainment system connected to the internet and receiving a signal?
3. Does each device have its Wi-Fi turned on?
4. Are your devices connected to your vehicle’s Wi-Fi network? (a password may be required)
5. Are you exceeding the maximum number of devices that may connect to the hotspot? (check owner’s manual)

If you have gone through the checklist and the system still isn’t working, contact your Wi-Fi hotspot’s internet service provider. If the service provider can’t help you, the next call should be to your mechanic.

Rear-view camera problems: Many infotainment systems incorporate a rear-view camera which displays the view behind on the touchscreen, whenever the transmission is in reverse. This gives you a clear, unobstructed view of everything behind your vehicle when you are backing it up. The system is made up of a camera mounted somewhere in the rear of the vehicle, which sends an image through wiring to the touchscreen in the dashboard. The rear-view camera may experience a problem and fail to send a clear image to the touchscreen, making reversing more difficult due to reduced visibility.

Solution: First check that the rear-view camera has a clear and unobstructed view. This can be caused by snow or ice buildup in colder climes, or a retracting camera cover that is stuck and can’t open. Clean off any frozen residue or other debris around the camera and clean the lens if necessary. Check the fuses to see if there is one for the camera cover that might have blown – replace it if necessary with one of the same rating only. If this only happens at night, your backup lights could be out, depriving the camera of the light it needs to see. Look into your rear-view mirror, shift into reverse, and see if the backup lights come on – this could be a fuse or a bulb failure. Anything beyond this, including wiring and touchscreen issues, should be left to your mechanic.

Bluetooth problems: Most infotainment systems are Bluetooth enabled, which lets your phone connect wirelessly to it. This allows you to stream music from your phone and listen to it through your car’s speakers. It also lets you make and answer phone calls hands-free using the vehicle’s phone controls, speakers and microphone. If there is a problem with the Bluetooth wireless connection, you may be unable to use your phone in the safest possible way.

Solution: First, make sure that the Bluetooth in your phone is turned on. Check that both the phone and the car are set up in discoverable mode, so that both devices can find each other and pair successfully. If your phone’s battery level is low, connect it to a power source. For anything more complicated, please see our in-depth article focused on solving your Bluetooth connectivity problems here.

Can I drive with a bad infotainment system?

A bad infotainment system will not affect your vehicle’s ability to get you safely from Point A to Point B. But once you have become used to and dependent on all the different types of information and entertainment that are so readily available through your infotainment system, it’s hard to be without one that works. The short answer to the above question is: It depends.

Sometimes you can…

If your CD player or other single audio source conks out, you likely have several other options for listening to music, so it’s not the end of the world. If your car’s voice command goes, you can use your phone as a substitute, as long as you have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. If your GPS system stops functioning, you can use the navigation app on your phone.

And sometimes you can’t…

On the other hand, if your main unit fails and the touchscreen won’t work, you have a decision to make. If you have a newer car, check your warranty to see how long the vehicle electronics are covered – you might get lucky. Infotainment systems tend to have shorter coverage periods than the rest of the vehicle’s bumper-to-bumper warranty, so read the fine print. If you’re out of warranty, contact your mechanic for a diagnosis and an estimate on repairs. It might be something simple and easy to fix, or it could get expensive.

Once you know the cost of repairs, you can decide whether having them done is worth it, based on the age and condition of your car. Keep in mind that if you plan to resell your car at some point, most used car buyers will want a usable infotainment system. It will be much more difficult to sell your car and it will be worth much less without a functioning infotainment system. If your car is old and worn, and will be headed to the crusher fairly soon, then you may want to skip the repairs and keep the money in your pocket. It’s your call.