Breakdown provider Start Rescue reports rising call-outs for touchscreen failures as it urges manufacturers to prioritise physical dashboard controls for safety.
Breakdown provider Start Rescue has expressed support for vehicle manufacturers reintroducing physical buttons and rotary controls to car dashboards, as touchscreen issues increasingly prompt driver complaints and even roadside assistance requests.
The call for a return to tactile controls comes amid growing concern that touchscreen interfaces distract drivers and impair safety.
Euro NCAP is set to introduce stricter protocols in 2026 that will require physical controls for key functions such as demisting to reduce driver distraction.
Start Rescue managing director Lee Puffett said: “Our UK support centre is receiving calls from customers facing touchscreen issues.
“We’re receiving reports of screens ‘freezing’ and individual operations not responding with customers thinking there’s a much wider problem.
“We’re backing manufacturers re-introducing more buttons, switches and rotary controls. It’s welcome from a safety perspective with key equipment like screen demisting always being available with a quick click and not being wholly reliant on a touchscreen.”
Alongside touchscreen faults, Start Rescue has also recorded an increase in queries relating to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as lane assist or driver fatigue alerts that can activate sudden steering wheel feedback, alarming drivers unfamiliar with the feature.
Stuart Masson, editorial director of The Car Expert, said: “The good news is that manufacturers are responding to customer needs.
“Important new cars we’ve evaluated from several major brands now offer more well-positioned buttons and that’s a direct result of customer feedback.
“Motorists are also being given more choice over the alerts they receive from the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems featured in all new vehicles, some of which can be distracting like a suddenly, juddering steering wheel. The option to store your personal preferences is also a step in the right direction.”
Start Rescue is calling on vehicle makers to adopt hybrid dashboard solutions that blend physical and digital interfaces, ensure safety-critical functions remain easily accessible, and allow drivers to personalise alerts.
It also advises drivers experiencing repeated touchscreen problems to consult a professional, as these may indicate underlying faults or hardware damage.
