Newest version Karoo - Power button sticking
I just switched from being a longtime Garmin user to the new Karoo. I've had the unit for a few weeks and have noticed that the USB-C battery door seems to interfere with the main power button located directly next to it. The result is that: it can become difficult to actually turn the unit on (I don't detect any movement of the button); it can get stuck in a booting up mode where the "H" logo appears, disappears and reappears over and over again without actually booting up the device (like it's stuck in this cycle). Am I doing something wrong with the charging port door to cause this apparent interference? I push the entire door in until it is flush with the device housing, and that seems to cause this interference.
-
The problem appeared at my unit as well. It sends the unit in some strange reboot where the time and date is off. I guess its manufacturing date 2024 09 23. It messed up my 2 day ride as I rebooted the unit, or should I say the unit rebooted itself countless times.
Im willing to wait for a proper design solution rather then sending back and getting another unit that will end up in the same problem.
Hopefully it will be soon enough.
-
Add me to the list. It's weird. Worked fine for a couple months, then one day I turned it on and it was stuck on the H logo. Popped off the charging port cover, hard pressed the button and it turned on. Now it sticks more often than not.
Pretty frustrating. My Karoo 2 worked perfectly, except it was crap at searching an address/direct nav. The K3 fixed the problem with the Companion App integration, but between glitchy software, Climber problems and now this, yikes.I had a Garmin 1050 that was really good at everything except ... ta daaa ... navigation. The Karoo is a excellent unit, when it works. As a cyclist who detests things that don't work properly, "when it works" isn't a caveat that I want applied to anything I use. Have submitted a ticket. We will see.
-
Something interesting: Some Garmin 1050 users are reporting a similar issue (sticking power button) with those computers. The 1050 and Karoo are similar with the power button and charge port cover living in close proximity. I have had a ticket in for a few days with HH and have heard nothing. Anyone else?
-
Kevin…could you point me to where you are seeing that 1050 information? I’ve been following a 1050 page on FB. I’m probably going to be selling my K3 and buying a 1050. (For some reason, my K3 power button has been behaving lately. Just guessing with enough button presses it wore down the sticking area. )
-
Can't seem to find it now, Tom. So much activity over there. I had a 1050, and can tell you that even with the K3 issues, it's better than the 1050. Random reboots, sometimes the touch screen decides to not respond, navigation is terrible -- the street that we live on didn't show up in the nav search. I felt like for 700 Euros, a device shouldn't be that messy.
The K3 has much better nav, screen is competitive. If they would add eat/drink alerts to the K3, and get the other issues sorted, would be the business. My K2 worked perfectly, just didn't have the ability to search for a route and nav to it directly. The K3 does via the Companion App, but I would guess the reason that functionality hasn't been added is that it's Garmin proprietary.I am waiting for a replacement unit, which I hope will solve the problem.
-
Just received my warranty unit and the power button and charging port edges are more flush than they were on the other Karoo I had. Have just looked at pictures to confirm. Even new, there was a noticeable, almost stepped difference from charging port to power button. Now it's almost flush. Not sure yet what that means for whether the problem returns, but it does appear there is a difference.
Another difference is that the power button no longer has the slightly beveled edge on it. Both charging port cover and power button are 90-degree edges, and the button clicks are much sharper than the first unit that I had. Interesting.
-
Dear Ali,
You sent me a replacement unit, as you can see; however, I am still experiencing the same issue. We need a definitive solution. In a video I saw, the cases being advertised appeared to include the power on/off button—could you confirm if this is correct? If the issue has been resolved with those cases, I would kindly request that you send those instead of units that continue to present the same defect.
This situation is becoming quite frustrating.
-
Sadly, this seems to be a problem for which the design team has no ready resolution.. I, also, am on my second unit... Super annoying to have to open the charging port to turn on and off the device... Funny, I had a problem with one of the buttons on the K2, as well. Hate to say it, but I may start to look at Garmin...
-
My first K3 evinced the sticky power button issue after a couple of months. I have had the replacement unit for twice as long, with zero issues. There were noticeable cosmetic differences between the first and second unit, mostly in how the power button and charging port cover came together. The first unit, the edges of the two were beveled. The second unit is much less so.
As I noted above, people were having similar issues with the 1050, which I wouldn't use if someone gave me one, again for reasons laid out above.We'll see over time, but I have been using it quite a lot since receiving the replacement in January (thank you, Portugal weather).
-
I wrote in on this thread 5 months ago with the same complaints. I've been trying to patiently wait for a solution. The power button sticking continues to be a real problem. I've been with Hammerhead through both of the 1st two iterations. I was very excited when the 3 was realized. Now I feel a bit lost because otherwise I love the unit but not sure I can keep struggling with this button.
-
Hello Everyone, I understand that many of you are experiencing the sticky button issue, and I know this is a frustrating situation. The good news is that we've found a solution! We’ll soon be launching back cases for the Karoo, designed specifically to address this issue. We truly appreciate your patience, and we’re working to make these available as soon as possible, as we recognize this is a common concern for many users. Stay tuned for the launch!
-
@Bhagyashree - This is exciting news! Here is the next question that everyone will have: Will we have to pay for the updated back panel, or is Hammerhead willing to send us one for free? I am the OP of this thread and still having issues with my replacement unit I received back in July 2024.
-
Okay... After a massive fail on a ride today where the Karoo reset itself, the data uploaded to Strava is corrupted and the dates and elapsed time, amongst other datasets were completely wrong and not editable (I have a support request with Strava to figure this out), I just ordered a new Garmin. Sorry Hammerhead... You just missed too badly on the hardware and I can't deal with it any longer.
-
@Kevin Beckerdite
If you do go Garmin, try to find a 1040. I went from Karoo 2 to Garmin 1050, and did not have a good experience. It was quite poor at nav, and couldn't even find the street on which we lived. ClimbPro was very wonky in free ride, and I had more random reboots in a month than I have ever had with the Karoo, 2 or 3. In addition, the screen would suddenly decide it didn't want to respond to tactile inputs for whatever reason.
In the two months it took Garmin support to get back to me, I had returned the unit and got my hands on a Karoo 3. Had power button issues, my warranty unit has been aces for five months and many rides.
-
even for me Hammerhead despite the defects is still better than Garmin (I also have the problem with the power button) and the compass does not exist (terrible) but the continuous updates and improvements to the unit always make it interesting to use... everything ok with navigation and the display is excellent
-
Same for me.
I like it, the display is amazing, the startup time is awfully slow (~ 1 minute).
The sticky power button issue has started to happen few rides after started using it.
One of the recent team rides - tried to power it on and it turn out this on/off loop "eat" the battery.I'd say more - you do not feel the "click" when turn it on or turn it off. So you can't tell if it pressed, or worst, if it released. It doesn't has to do with the USB cover as this occurs also with the USB cover opened.
So what I do these days:
1. whenever turn off the Karoo off, I gently pull the power button outside.
2. the previous Garmin is with me as a backup.
This is obviously push button design flaw.Ali, I'd appreciate if you add me to this mailing list of the new back cover.
Immediate question asked - is this going to break the water sealing etc.??
-
Here is a link to the black shell: https://www.hammerhead.io/products/karoo-color-shell-black
Pretty disappointing that Hammerhead wants to extract another $45 to replace a shoddily designed device case. Gotta hand it to the marketing team: Nice job working to keep this issue “under the radar” and not acknowledging the flaw. Wow.
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
82 comments