Infotainment Systems Are the Biggest Complaint Magnet in New Cars

If you have ever wrestled with your car’s touchscreen to adjust the climate control or answer a call, you are not alone. A new analysis reveals that infotainment systems have become the number one source of complaints from new-car owners. While nearly every other component of modern vehicles is improving, the screens seem stuck in place. According to the data, roughly one in four owner complaints now relates to the multimedia stack.

This is not just a minor annoyance. The frustration often stems from poorly designed interfaces, laggy responses, and the removal of physical buttons for basic functions. As automakers race to add more features and larger displays, the user experience has taken a backseat. The result is a growing disconnect between what owners expect and what they get.

While the rest of the car gets better—engines are more efficient, safety systems more advanced—the infotainment system remains a weak point. Fixing this won’t be easy, but acknowledging the problem is a first step. Until then, owners will keep fighting their dashboards.