Android Auto crashes are back with a vengeance in the latest update

Some things never change in the Android ecosystem, and Android Auto bugs are one of them. Almost every new release seems to introduce a fresh issue, whether it’s random crashes or connection problems. Unfortunately, the latest Android Auto update is no exception, with many users reporting that the app repeatedly crashes during use.

There are several reports from Android Auto users on Reddit (2) about the app crashing on their vehicles (via Android Authority). The issue seems to have started after installing the latest 17.2.662404 update.

There doesn’t appear to be a specific trigger for the crashes, with users facing it on both Android 16 and Android 17 and across various devices. It also happens within a few minutes of starting Android Auto. Worse, the same scenario will repeat itself if you restart the app.

The problem occurs whether you are using Android Auto wirelessly or over a wired connection. Your phone's brand or model doesn’t seem to matter either, with Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, and Moto users all reporting the issue.

As a workaround, you could try to roll back to Android Auto v17, as that is seemingly working for some users. You can try restarting your phone as well, but that has not helped most of the affected users.

Android Auto crashes are not a new issue

Google has yet to acknowledge the Android Auto crashing bug. It has rarely done so in the past, so don't hold your breath this time around as well. Likewise, don't expect a speedy fix either. So, if you heavily rely on Android Auto, consider rolling back to the older version that seems to be working for most users. And if you have yet to install the latest Android Auto update, you might want to hold off for now.

Ironically, the crashes are happening less than a month after Google pushed a Play System services update in June that aimed to fix Android Auto's persistent connection issues. That clearly does not seem to have worked as intended. If anything, the company should take this as a sign that it needs to do a bit of work on its quality control and testing processes.