danjwilko
New Member
Hi all, hope you are all well, and hopefully since were on a 522gw sub not to many problems. Disclaimer I'm a technician for a UK company that installs in car tech.
The long story short myself and another technician are pulling hairs out basically over these units, we have seen multiple come back into the shop over the last year or so and increasingly more so the last few months.
Its always the same story, freezes, lockup, unable to turn off the owners either leave the units to deplete the battery or press the reset button underneath to get them going again for a short while.
Nextbase support have been amazing as per normal so cannot fault them at all but the brand is certainly being let down by the units at the moment. We didnt seem to see the same problem with the 312/512's.
So at the beginning of the week we receive a phone call from one customer with the freezing issue, and booked them in to asses the unit etc and lo and behold another Dash-cam is booked in via customer support upon checking the details its the same camera, same problem, so i decided to keep note of the units coming back in just for a reference.
The last two days alone Ive had 4 522s back in with the same issue.
First one was installed in an Ford ecospsort 2014, the customer originally bought the 522 bundle deal back in February this year, has had 2 replacement units since then. The original issue was freezing/no power once ignition was switched off, so we switched the setup from a ignition live setup to permanent live setup. (Point to note: Nextbase tech support stated for all front and rear installs if parking mode is wanted then they have to be hardwired in permanent live as the internal batteries do not contain enough power).
The unit still froze so booked back in, we followed the usual protocol check the power cable/fuse, format SD-card, replace SD-card and format, check and update firmware if needed, each time having to reset the unit to get a response.
Then explained the problem and what we had checked with Nextbase technical support, ends in "unit shouldnt do that its faulty needs replacing". Each time they have been back in its been the same process and the same response and to clarify each replacement has been a full bundle uninstall and new reinstall including replacing the hard-wire kit.
So with the above customer/car it was replaced circa in July, then again in September. the customer has now reverted to resetting the dash cam every time it freezes when able to do so safely, which i was informed is 3-5 times a day, so but has zero confidence with the unit.
Ford galaxy 2022, same issue, fitted front and rear bundle 3 weeks ago, customer has had it freeze every couple of days, again same process as above reset replace SD-card see how they get on, phone call half an hour later unit has froze again. Will be booking in for a assessment and more than likely a replacement.
Citroen C3 2012 same as above around 2 months back, the customer doesn't drive often so only noticed the camera wasnt recording the last few days, again freezing and unresponsive, carried out a reset check the firmware version (latest) formatted the SD-card and let the customer know any problems pop back in.
Kia Sportage 2018, as above, kept freezing, reset the camera it froze within 2 seconds, replaced the SD-card and unwittingly left the rear camera out didn't freeze. plugged the rear camera back on and it froze 2 mins later. Rang tech support replacement advised. We have since refitted and has had it freeze once since was told to reset and hasnt had an issue since but isn't a happy customer.
Now noting the rear camera being unplugged on the Kia Sportage and not having the main unit lock up I've since gone back to the Ford Ecosport customer who will be on their 4th 522gw bundle if we replace it again, to unplug the rear camera, and see if it does/doesn't lock up again.
That particular customer has had everything changed multiple times, the only thing we cannot change is the flaming car itself. (does seem to be a reoccurring theme with fords but could be they are more common than most other brands).
If it doesn't freeze by simply removing the rear camera it will mean the 522s are not fit for purpose as a dual camera. If it does freeze again quite frankly myself and the other techs will be out of ideas. I need to have a word with Nextbase support either way and find out if they have noticed any issues with certain cars brands of cars and if so will reccomend alternatives to said brands/models in the future.
Other than ringing Nextbase after following the process they outline each time and getting yet again another replacement which seems extremely futile we have no answers to why the 522gw and on occasion other models keep freezing.
Appreciate this is one hell of a post but to any body with a 522gw with an issue please note you are not alone, get in touch with nextbase support and ge the units checked out/ replaced. If the problem keeps rearing its ugly head maybe the only option is an alternative brand unfortunately.
Have a good christmass all. I will post updates where possible and if we get any concrete fixes etc.
The long story short myself and another technician are pulling hairs out basically over these units, we have seen multiple come back into the shop over the last year or so and increasingly more so the last few months.
Its always the same story, freezes, lockup, unable to turn off the owners either leave the units to deplete the battery or press the reset button underneath to get them going again for a short while.
Nextbase support have been amazing as per normal so cannot fault them at all but the brand is certainly being let down by the units at the moment. We didnt seem to see the same problem with the 312/512's.
So at the beginning of the week we receive a phone call from one customer with the freezing issue, and booked them in to asses the unit etc and lo and behold another Dash-cam is booked in via customer support upon checking the details its the same camera, same problem, so i decided to keep note of the units coming back in just for a reference.
The last two days alone Ive had 4 522s back in with the same issue.
First one was installed in an Ford ecospsort 2014, the customer originally bought the 522 bundle deal back in February this year, has had 2 replacement units since then. The original issue was freezing/no power once ignition was switched off, so we switched the setup from a ignition live setup to permanent live setup. (Point to note: Nextbase tech support stated for all front and rear installs if parking mode is wanted then they have to be hardwired in permanent live as the internal batteries do not contain enough power).
The unit still froze so booked back in, we followed the usual protocol check the power cable/fuse, format SD-card, replace SD-card and format, check and update firmware if needed, each time having to reset the unit to get a response.
Then explained the problem and what we had checked with Nextbase technical support, ends in "unit shouldnt do that its faulty needs replacing". Each time they have been back in its been the same process and the same response and to clarify each replacement has been a full bundle uninstall and new reinstall including replacing the hard-wire kit.
So with the above customer/car it was replaced circa in July, then again in September. the customer has now reverted to resetting the dash cam every time it freezes when able to do so safely, which i was informed is 3-5 times a day, so but has zero confidence with the unit.
Ford galaxy 2022, same issue, fitted front and rear bundle 3 weeks ago, customer has had it freeze every couple of days, again same process as above reset replace SD-card see how they get on, phone call half an hour later unit has froze again. Will be booking in for a assessment and more than likely a replacement.
Citroen C3 2012 same as above around 2 months back, the customer doesn't drive often so only noticed the camera wasnt recording the last few days, again freezing and unresponsive, carried out a reset check the firmware version (latest) formatted the SD-card and let the customer know any problems pop back in.
Kia Sportage 2018, as above, kept freezing, reset the camera it froze within 2 seconds, replaced the SD-card and unwittingly left the rear camera out didn't freeze. plugged the rear camera back on and it froze 2 mins later. Rang tech support replacement advised. We have since refitted and has had it freeze once since was told to reset and hasnt had an issue since but isn't a happy customer.
Now noting the rear camera being unplugged on the Kia Sportage and not having the main unit lock up I've since gone back to the Ford Ecosport customer who will be on their 4th 522gw bundle if we replace it again, to unplug the rear camera, and see if it does/doesn't lock up again.
That particular customer has had everything changed multiple times, the only thing we cannot change is the flaming car itself. (does seem to be a reoccurring theme with fords but could be they are more common than most other brands).
If it doesn't freeze by simply removing the rear camera it will mean the 522s are not fit for purpose as a dual camera. If it does freeze again quite frankly myself and the other techs will be out of ideas. I need to have a word with Nextbase support either way and find out if they have noticed any issues with certain cars brands of cars and if so will reccomend alternatives to said brands/models in the future.
Other than ringing Nextbase after following the process they outline each time and getting yet again another replacement which seems extremely futile we have no answers to why the 522gw and on occasion other models keep freezing.
Appreciate this is one hell of a post but to any body with a 522gw with an issue please note you are not alone, get in touch with nextbase support and ge the units checked out/ replaced. If the problem keeps rearing its ugly head maybe the only option is an alternative brand unfortunately.
Have a good christmass all. I will post updates where possible and if we get any concrete fixes etc.
