Solar Instinct Crashing randomly

usmc1968 said:

It is totally a software bug. I got a very empathetic service tech / product support and they allowed me to send in my 2 year old watch for a refurbished one at NO charge. This one has been working perfectly fine for the past few months. Fingers crossed.

I am happy to hear your exchanged watch is working well for you.

Can a crash/restart issue be software? On occasion, yes. If a specific new software version has an unintended software bug that can cause a restart in specific scenarios. The issue will then be fixed by our engineering team and a newer software update will resolve the issue.

If an issue is strictly an unintended software bug, a replacement watch received in exchange for your own will have the exact same software issue until a new software version is released that resolved the core cause.

When you exchange a watch that has a crash/restart behavior and your new watch is without the issue, it's demonstrating the issue was hardware vs. software caused.

I hope the information helps anyone that comes across this thread.

6438695 said:

Garmin ought to really do a recall, but the more likely cause is a software crash.

I am sorry your watch has developed an issue.

In an effort to give better context, the Instinct Solar series has been in release 3+ years and has been popular. (I also own an Instinct Solar that I use frequently.) The issue with your watch is not being experienced by 100% of the hundreds of thousands of watches in use worldwide. It is for that reason the issue for your specific watch is not strictly a software based issue or everyone would report the same. (I personally have not had the issue.)

Hi, may I ask how are things tracking on the "downgrade" of software. I'm also on the latest software

Would it work to downgrade to an earlier software version?

Awesome. 

When you say abc button to "x" what do you mean? I have the same issue. If I start any activity it crashes randomly

Same issue on Solar Instinct, problem came sudden, might after a software update actually. Garmin has exhanged the watch and waiting now for replacement. WIll see if watch from box out producing the same crash instantly (firmware issue) or it is a hardware problem at vibration.

I have the same issue with my solar instinct tactical camo. Twice

The first one, they gave me a replacement, then after almost one year, the replacement having the same issue

But the difference is, now they ask for a repair fee. I refuse to pay. 

What garmin do about this is not a fair business conduct, consumer become a victim of bad quality control.

Now my watch is on status quo, I think I just gonna take it back from the service centre, in case I need it for a case proof. I will consult with National Consumer Protection Foundation later. 

Thank you so much for sharing! The steps you shared fixed the issue in my case too! I tried different things myself, I downgraded the firmware, disabled automatic updates, upgraded the software multiple times and nothing worked. Today I took the watch to a Garmin technician and he did same thing I did and obviously it did not work. Just tried your steps and it is working!!

I can't believe Garmin is not taking responsibility for this SOFTWARE issue! These are expensive watches, I won't buy a Garmin watch or recomend one never again! The technician told me all he could do is receive the watch and give me a 20% discount in my new purchase! Thanks to you I will be able to record my hiking trip to Guatemala! Lots of gratitude from Costa Rica!

I was very frustrated with my watching shutting down several times a day. Your post fixed mine!  can’t thank you enough.  You saved me hundreds of dollars as I was thinking about getting a new watch…and it definitely was not going to be a Garmin.