I'm reaching out to you guys in hopes that you can assist me with an issue that happened out of nowhere with my AppRadio 2 unit in the past month. One morning when going out to my car I noticed little spots on the bottom right of the radio screen as seen in the picture below. They're in a place that never really gets used as there's not "bottons" there to press. Also, They don't leach down to the edge of the screen and when I press on them they don't seem to flex, nor is the screen itself "loose". It's very odd, it looks like some sort of gel between the glass and the screen itself (maybe UV gel?)

Anyone ever have this issue? Any tips or instructions someone can point me to that might help me repair it?

Attached is a picture that shows the issue.

Have you tried heating them with a hair drier?

I've had the same thing happen to mine! careful - it starts creeping up and now covers 1/4 of the screen! I don't know if it's caused by the heat here in Houston, TX but it's quite annoying!

Any clues?

It's nice to hear someone else has had the issue. Pioneer claims to have never seen it before and their "official service provider" here in Ottawa refuses to even look at the stereo in the dash - like seriously won't even look in the car..apparently that's their "policy".

It may be heat related but if so I'd be pretty surprised..or they units are literally big peices of sh*t. For that reason I'd be weary of using a hair dryer on it. I live in Canada and the highest temperature has hit maybe 32 degrees..which by summer standards is pretty normal. I also use a dash cover in my windshield. These wouldn't stand a chance down south if that's the case I'd say. After only having this unit for 2 years and with virtually no help from Pioneer I'd be hard pressed to 'upgrade' to any other Pioneer unit. 

Anyone ever take one of these screens off to repair them?

I do have exactly the same problem, I live in Montreal, same temperature as Ottawa and I do have 3/4 of my screen almost unreadable now. I do not know what to do !

i've been having the same issue with mine. looks like oily finger prints inside the screen. it started with a couple now covers most of my screen. just about a week ago the touch screen started giving me problems too. It's having trouble sensing when i touch it. I was thinking it has something to do with the heat also. i'm in sacramento Ca and this summer has been hot some times over 100 and thats when it started getting bad. i've been looking for a replacement screen but no luck so far.

I noticed one mark just like that on my AR2 screen a couple of days ago. If you look closely you can also see a grid-like pattern developing in the screen. You'd have to look at it at a certain angle though. 

I have no reason to believe that Pioneer can do anything. Isn't the warranty something like 90 days? This radio is just over two years old and it's disappointing that the screen is starting to fail. Mine still works OK and you can only see the blemishes in certain light. I think it should live long enough for me to find a replacement. Just waiting for Alpine's new CarPlay HU and then I'll make a decision. 

I don't think I could make much money selling a used AR2 with a messed up screen to anybody. I may find a nice creative way to destroy it. 

I too have this problem. It started out with 3 dots in the bottom right a few months ago and has since developed into bars that stretch over a good third over the screen. It's like whatever adhesive is holding the outer plastic to the actual display is failing.

The unit is 2 years old so there i don't have any warranty left on it. I live in Southern California so it gets pretty warm here too.

I was going to post a picture but I guess I don't have to because that's exactly what mine looks like, only less severe. I only have two of the "dots" and my "bars" are probably 40% of what you've got. Also two years old. Also SoCal.

I'm OK for now because I have to look at a specific angle to really see it and I don't notice it while driving. But I know this radio's days are numbered. For now I'm waiting for price drops on Appradio 4 or Alpine iLX-007. I anticipate better prices around the Holidays. 

I contacted pioneer and this is the response I got:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

It will need to be sent in to Pioneer for repair, looks like the Liquid
Crystal Display is malfunctioning and most likely
that needs to be replaced.  We charge $80.00 to evaluate the extent of the
damage once it is received by us and
then you will be contacted with total cost repairs.  Send it to:

Pioneer Electronics
Attn: Repair
1925 E Dominguez St
Long Beach, CA 90810

Include a letter with full description of the problem, day time phone
number and return shipping address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$80 just for them to look at it, plus who knows what for a new screen and labor. ugh i think not. At night it doesn't look like there is any damage but in the day it looks gross.
 

Mine is spreading fairly quickly! Do any of you know if this only happens with the capacitive touch screens? I'm looking at either the 8000NEX, 4000NEX (resistive touchscreen), AppRadio 4, or Alpine iLX-007 for a replacement. I might stay away from Pioneer if it's a common issue and take a chance with the Alpine. But I like the fact that my car is basically prewired for an AR4 since I already have an AR2 installed... 

Sooner or later my screen will be too ugly to use. 

I contacted Pioneer over my concern of whether or not the AppRadio 4 will exhibit the same screen issue as several AppRadio 2 users have demonstrated. I mentioned all the recent capacitive touch screens (AppRadio 2, 3, 4 and NEX8000). 

Their reply was, "Thank you for your inquiry and feedback on the SPH-DA100.  The construction of the screens for the newer models are different that [sic] that of the prior AppRadio models.  Including the AVIC8000NEX."

What do you gather from this? It sounds like the AR4 is definitely constructed differently, but the way the response is worded is confusing. Should the 8000NEX screen be grouped with the newer models or the older models? I'm thinking that it's included with "prior AppRadio models". Punctuation and grammar are good mmmkay. 

I have also experienced this issue. I don't think it's heat related because I live in Rochester, NY. Mine started as a single noticeable dot in the lower right corner and has now crept across 75% of the screen. It hasn't impacted the touch sensitivity.

I understand the head units are far out of warranty but still very disappointed in Pioneers build quality of these. Will definitely hesitate to buy more Pioneer equipment after how hard the Appradio has failed me. The truly bad part of the screen issue is that it now has 0 resale value.

The fact that Pioneer says the AR4 has different screen construction than the AR2/3 lead me to believe that they have improved the screen and maybe even know about the failures we've been experiencing. I'm probably going to give it one more shot with the AR4 since the Alpine unit is kind of an unknown quantity at this time. 

hi

I had the same problem after 2 years on appradio 1 sphda01, paying the difference with the Pioneer assistance I have changed with appradio 2 sphda100 thinking that he could not have the same problem with the display. Probably is the poor quality of materials that makes them degrade!

This is very disturbing news.

Pioneer shows a stunning lack of customer care. Which makes me considering a follow-on Pioneer radio highly unlikely...

Has anyone found a satisfying solution to this problem? My unit is doing the same thing and has gotten so bad that it's unresponsive to input in certain areas. I'd rather not pay Pioneer $80 to tell me what is wrong with the unit and then charge me an additional fee to replace the screen.  Has anyone had any success sourcing the screen or purchasing one directly from Pioneer?

I'd probably find a used one and swap the whole unit rather than having the screen replaced - it would probably cost less. My AR2 did that and it was becoming more obsolete by the day, so my solution was to replace it with an Appradio4, which supposedly has better screen construction (according to an email from Pioneer when I complained about their crappy AR2 screen). 

I'd probably find a used one and swap the whole unit rather than having the screen replaced - it would probably cost less. My AR2 did that and it was becoming more obsolete by the day, so my solution was to replace it with an Appradio4, which supposedly has better screen construction (according to an email from Pioneer when I complained about their crappy AR2 screen). 

Thanks, at this point I think I'll just wait until the Appradio 5 or other alternatives come out. I'd rather not lose any screen real estate with the smaller screen as negligible as it is, and hope that physical buttons make a return on the next revision.  Hopefully it will support wireless Carplay and last more than a couple of years before you've got to replace it.

Add me to the list. I have 2 units, one with the same problem, I'm sure the other unit is not far behind. I've been an Alpine guy all my life, should have known better.

I took mine apart and had a look at it.

If I can only get my hands on a service/parts manual to make sure that I order the correct part I should be set to go.

http://service-manuals-schematics.com/purchase.php?id=Pioneer+SPH-DA100%2FXNEW5+Service+Manual+%2F+Schematics

I'm guessing maybe it's the monitor unit for $172.75?  Yikes!  Hmm, seems as it's out of stock. 

http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com/model.asp?modelNum=SPH-DA100

That looks like the adhesive between the digitizer and LCD is starting to give way, can you not heat it up with a hair dryer and carefully split the 2 screens and then remove the excess adhesive with nail polish remover/acetone, then just seal them back together around the edges.

Hey guys, wondering if anyone ever found a solution to fixing the screen? 

These bubble type defects have now spread across my entire screen and all touch capabilities are null.

I tried going to Best Buy, but it's no longer covered under warranty. Just curious if anyone knows how I can restore my screen functionality? It's permanently stuck on the "Warning" screen (as I cannot press okay).

I attached a photo.

Cathaldub is right. Its the glue from the digitizer melting. Everyone that has posted here has the same issue. Basically your car heated up and the di-electric glue pioneer used is NOT designed for a car.

DO NOT USE A BLOW DRYER. Blow drying it or heating it up will just make it function worse. There is basically a plastic grid of wires that sends a signal to the radio where you touch the screen on that grid. The glue both allows a connection and holds the plastic and wires in place.

The options are:

1) never buy a pioneer radio again, they're not going to start putting the correct glue to take the heat of a car.any time soon.

2) rip the glass digizier off like i.did and use your smart phone, remote, or other device to control the radio

3) pay 80 and have pioneer look at it an hope they don't charge you more for their poor design. And or yell at customer service until they fix it for free

4) pay 170 or so for the new digitizer and fix it yourself..super easy to do if you have a screwdriver and know how to plug something in.

5) some how remove the screen and glue without damaging any of the very delicate wires. I tried a hair dryer and then ripped the plastic off the glass after 30 minutes. Then i just tried saving the glass cover. I scrubbed at a little spot of glue for another 30 minutes... not even a bit came off. Your going to need some sort of goof off if your going to hope to do it. I don't know how they screwed this Radios design up so bad... the screen is usually the most expensive part. Ill post a pic of what i did soon

the exact same thing happened to me as everyone else in this thread.  the photos posted look exactly like my radio.

i ended up buying a used appradio 2 off of ebay for $100. had to pay to then have it installed as well since i have no skills at all for installation.

well, the used one i bought 2 of the buttons will not work on the radio the volume down and the back button.  now two months later all of the physical buttons do not work anymore.  if i press any button on the radio i lose all touch and steering wheel control the unit completely locks up.  makes no sense at all.  luckily i have steering wheel controls that i can use but that is going to take some getting used to.

pioneer really should be fixing these units for free