TomTom sat-navs bitten by 'leap year' bug

Sat-nav maker TomTom has admitted its devices have been hit by a glitch that left customers worldwide unable to get a GPS signal, leaving some stranded without directions.

Some TomTom sat-navs, including the Go Live (above), have been hit by a 'leap year' bug. Image credit: CNET News

On Tuesday, TomTom acknowledged the bug and said it is working on a full patch.

"The issue is caused by a 'leap year' bug in the software of the GPS receiver," the company said on its website. "We are working hard on a permanent solution that we will make available on our website as a downloadable software fix."

The company was unable to tell ZDNet UK which of its sat-navs are affected, saying only that a "limited number of navigation device models" are seeing the issue. On its forum, customers with a range of devices, including Via and Go Live models, are reporting the GPS bug.

"My Via 180 stopped receiving a GPS signal on Sunday 1st April. This has ruined my one-week holiday, as I now have no way to get around an unfamiliar city," forum member Linjon in Australia said in a post.

As a temporary fix, people can reboot their device, TomTom has advised.