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Garmin 965 Altimeter / Barometer Wild Inaccuracies

Adammandes

I’m on my second 965 in 8 months now having the same problem with the altimeter readings. The readings are completely impossible and there seems to be no fix but replacement at customer cost. 


I’m a longtime Garmin fan of many of their products. In panel aviation units, handheld aviation units, cameras, and watches. This is the first model that has been a complete failure as is the customer service. 

in May of 2025 the original 965 failed and after going through all of the ‘fixes’ suggested by customer service, they sent me a ‘refurbished’ 965. It looked new, but obviously was not. 8 months later, my refurbished watch is having the same inaccuracy problems. 

I’ve been chatting with Customer service and have done hard resets, recalibrated the altimeter and barometer and soaked the watch to no avail. Garmin has made me the generous offer of sending me another used unit for $160 but there is no promise that the sensor will not fail again. 

I love my 965, but it should last longer than 8 months. 

have any of you been able to get the altimeter working without replacing the watch?

  • 0

    My sensor lasted 15 months in my 965, still broken, didn't wanna pay for a replacement knowing that it will happen again, This it's a common problem in Garmin watches over the years and Garmin doesn't do anything to fix it or give free replacements. My next one will be a Suunto. 

  • 0

    similar, after 15 months my baro/alti went wild and while i run in for example 10 x 1km circles in par the graph has 1 top in the middle then it goes down instead of having "10 mountains" as it should be ans as it was in the past when i bought it.... somehow i have impression it's interfering with GPS accuracy as my route graphs are less precise than before...  

  • 0

    It appears that this is a systemic problem affecting all of the Garmin lineup. I’ve been using Garmin for 15 years and the 965 was the first to fail in such a dramatic fashion. I’m convinced it’s a software problem, but Garmin’s line is a dirty sensor. 

    I do swim a lot in a pool (300,000 yards per year) but my watch is clean. 

    I’ve looked at the Phoenix and other Garmin watches, but they are plagued with the same troubles. I may take my chances with the $160 replacement refurbished watch and hope they can solve the problem before it fails. 

  • 0 in reply to Adammandes

    It certainly will solve Garmin's cash-flow problems...

  • 0 in reply to Adammandes

    Usually, about 6-8 months before they fail. 

  • 0

    Garmin stepped up and is replacing my 965 with a newly refurbished 965 at no cost to me. This was done with little fanfare through the e-mail portal and after a few days of no communication, a replacement order showed up in my account. 

    Garmin has never accepted a software problem or hardware problem with the altimeter function of the watch, but obviously there is a systemic fault that is plaguing the watches in their lineup. 

    I’m hopeful they will solve the problem soon and we can all have accurate data and functionality restored and to normal. 

    Good luck!