Constant issues with touchscreen

[Droiduser77]

I have had constant issues with my touchscreen starting the second month I got my phone. I am on my 3rd phone and still having problems.  The touchscreen keyboard enters different letters than what I am pressing, the search button in the market doesnt do anything, applications wont launch, the back button sometimes scrolls, etc.  I performed multiple "reset to factory" actions with no fix.  After tons of calls to Verizon, I can't get them to do anything about it. All they will do is keep sending me this same model phone which is obviously not the solution. Has anyone else had experiences like this and if so how did you get this resolved?  Im thinking of filing a complaint with the BBB. Don't know what else to do. Help.

[DroidDoesNot]

DroidUser77, My fourth Droid in 16 months just failed with the same issue and I agree with you that for Verizon to keep repeating the same process (sending the same model as a replacement) and expect different results is crazy!

jimfitgerald, I disagree with your proclamation that the issue is not the phone, and also with your suggestion that it may be an app or that there are extremely unlucky users out there. With my first 2 replacements I subscribed to the theory that it's an App, so I took the extreme measure of not loading any apps on the subsequent replacements, other than the apps that the phone comes with along with installing updates to keep them current. After 2 more phones breaking with the same problem, I think that it's time to explore another theory.

Regarding the proclamation that it is not the model of phone, I offer the following.

Even if the least common denominator is the user, it does not mean that the problem is not the model of phone. Having read through various forums, there are numerous users that reported this issue.

Of the users that have experienced this problem, I believe it is likely that the following 2 additional conditions exist for many of the users that experienced this specific problem:

1. They have experienced this problem more than once with the Droid (needed more than one replacement)

2. They have not experienced this problem with other models of touch screens

I have two theories as to what could be causing these failures and I believe that the way to validate one of them, or to dismiss both of them, is to gain feedback from others users that have experienced the specific issue that DroidUser77 described.

I developed the following two theories by exploring what might be different about how I handle and transport the phone that a typical user, and reduced it down to the fact that I carry my phone in my front pocket.

Theory 1 - Stress caused fracture of internal micro components on phone

                 - I don't think this is very likely as I wear normal fitting jeans and I am in a normal weight range.

                 - Cosmetically, each phone that failed was in pristine condition when it failed.

Theory 2 - Electrostatic Discharge causing a short

                 - Having read through other forums about a potential design flaw of an electrical connector in this model of phone, I believe that it's either static electricity from being in the pocket or less likely, gathered lint slipping between screen and internal components causing a short.

                 - However, cotton is relatively neutral in terms of static electricity. Having said that, I am not an expert in static electricity.

I would be interested in knowing how many Droid users having experienced this specific screen touch problem either carry their phones in their pockets, expose their phone to other static electricity environments, or live in dry (low relative humidity) environments.

Random coincidence of General phone failure causing replacement of same model 4 times in 16 months: Highly Unlikely

Random coincidence of Same Specific failure on phone causing replacement of same model 4 times in 16 months: Impossible

After this last failure, I am Done with Droid. 

[luckyhawaiianWA]

 I keep my phone in my purse, very rarely in my pants or coat pocket. I dont have a screen protector anymore. I got my Droid Oct. 2009 and only in the last couple months has it had this Horrible touchscreen problem. Mine is so bad I can't use the keyboard on the touchscreen, can't scroll thru my apps, does not recognize when I push on an app to open it, and have to press the power button repeatedly for the screen to sleep and then try again, Also, the 'back button'(bottom left corner) only works about 2% of the time I press it.   I did the factory reset, of course it didnt help.

   I don't have insurance nor is it covered by warrenty anymore.  I'm not sure if they will even do anything to help me out, but it's sounding unlikely

[tlkng1]

I actually have the opposite problem in that the touchscreen is too sensitive.  I can't say the number of times I have hung up on people when had the phone resting against my shoulder and accidently hit the "end" button with my chin.  When I first turn it on after it has been off all day (I can't have a cell phone in the office I work in), guaranteed that as soon as I actually go to hold it in my hand after turning it on, I get a widgets or something screen just from moving my hand. 

I was at the Verizon store yesterday picking up a new cable for my car dock.  In a conversation with the tech, he indicated that this version of DROID has some persnickety problems but that the newer versions seem to be more stable in operations.  

Personally, other than some minor annoynaces, the phone has worked very well for me.  I don't carry it in my pocket but have the case and if it is not in use, it is in the case. 

[RalphT]

If you are still having problems, please reply to the private message that I am sending you.  I will call you to provide troubleshooting assistance. 

[Droiduser77]

I do but, I go through the same steps. Reset to factory (which never works. once it goes it goes.) then if that doesn't work you just replace with the same model.  THATS IT, PERIOD. No other choices are offered. I went ahead and got a replacement (my 4th phone now ) and it will be good for who knows how long before I have to call and do another replacement. I've put deep thought lately into filing a complaint to the BBB.  It's obvious that Verizon's stock ROM is flawed with this model phone being I'm on the 4th and odds are 0% that I can get three consecutive phones where the model phone itself was defective.  I work in IT and have been for many years so I know how this game is played and can tell you I would have done everything I could to get my paying cst SOMETHING that actually works. I know that nothing will change or ever be done and  no one will admit there is a defect of any kind because this phone was discontinued when the Droid 2 came out.  I better get a **bleep** good deal when my contract comes up for renewal to make up for the (pardon my language) bull**bleep** I've gone through with service pertaining to this phone.  Otherwise you guys can kiss the cst. goodbye.  Which again, I'm sure you guys could care less.

[droid_is_poc]

People can say what they want, but a dud is a dud and the Motorola Droid is a dud.  I have a Motorola 2 Global and all of the malfunctions, quirks and glitches that everyone else is posting here has happened to my phone.  The most recent problems is that the touchscreen does not work around a 1/2" border near the outside of the screen; the slide bar lock cannot be unlocked (presuming another touchscreen problem); the space bar does not work in texting, so I have to type.every.word.with.a period.between.each.word.because.if.I.use.the.space.bar, my cell phone locks up; and sometimes the CAPS lock button locks and then I.CAN.ONLY.YELL.AT.YOU.IN.TEXT.WITH.LOTS.OF.PERIODS.  Also, my apps will stop updating in midstream, my phone will jump to voice texting in the middle of using another app; the list goes on and on.  Somebody should stand behind the Motorola; either Motorola or Verizon, but someone who paid for the phone and is paying their monthly Verizon bill on time should not have to suffer through owning this POC phone.

[#8]

Droid_is_poc that is awful that you are having so many issues with you phone! I have a Droid also and I don't know what I would do if my phone was acting this way. To address your keyboard/touch screen issues I recommend going into Settings> Applications > All > Multi-Touch Keyboard and hitting Clear data.

Regarding your apps not updating. I would suggest trying to update the apps on WiFi. If either of these options don't work I would try a master reset. Have you done a master reset on the device?  If not, here are the steps to do so:

• From the main screen, touch menu tab 
• Touch Settings 
• Touch Privacy 
• Touch Factory Data reset 
• User has the option of Erasing SD Card - if desired check "Erase SD Card" 
• Touch Reset Phone  
• Touch Erase Everything

I am certain that these options that I have provided will resolve your issues. I hope this helps. Thanks.

SammuelP_VZW

VZW Support

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[cindib]

Yay, I was researching my texting problem where I couldn't use the space bar or my text would freeze.  Your first suggestion worked!  I'm glad I don't have to do the master reset!

Thanks!,

Cindi

[hsdoll]

My droid global 2 is dying again.  Have no clue why it keeps dying this is the forth one that they have sent me.  Now is it the phone I am starting to think it is, but have warrenty on it and all they do is just keep sending me different refurbished on.  They must of broke at some point of time because they keep breaking with me I have never had this much trouble with a phone as I have had with this one.

Lots of issues with this phone

[mek8630]

Yeah from the research I've done on the Droid phones, is that they aren't worth screwing with. It's possible replacing the front digitizing screen may help, but again not sure how long it will help. That's probably what they do with all the ones that get sent in, they probably have the screens replaced on them, and then sent back out to someone else, until those screens go bad. I'm not 100% that's what the problem is, but from the research I've done on the issue, that's what it sounds like to me. I've got a Droid 1 here, and I'm having all the same problems. It's like it just has a mind of it's own. It starts doing stuff, like there is a ghost clicking on random things. I'm not sure what it could be about those screens that would be going bad. Also it's not like it's some quick task replacing those screens either, it's kind of a pain in the butt. I did find the screens for pretty cheap online, but I'm kind of hesitant to order one, because if it's only going to be a temporary fix, then there isn't much purpose in doing it. I've always had pretty good luck with Motorola phones in the past, but that was before touch-screens, but apparently Motorola doesn't know what they're doing when it comes to these new touch-screen phones, so we'll leave it up to the ones who do know what they're doing...