Gemini Crashes Android Auto As Highly Anticipated Update Is Becoming a Flop

Gemini Crashes Android Auto As Highly Anticipated Update Is Becoming a Flop

Gemini Crashes Android Auto As Highly Anticipated Update Is Becoming a Flop

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/gemini-crashes-android-auto-as-highly-anticipated-update-is-becoming-a-flop-269757.html

Publish Date: 2026-05-10 04:06:00

Source Domain: www.autoevolution.com

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Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution

Android Auto users have been drooling over the Gemini update ever since Google announced it last year. The rollout started in late 2025, and the excitement went through the sky when more users started getting the update.

Unfortunately, Gemini is slowly but surely turning out to be just another major headache Android Auto users are struggling to deal with. This time, it’s a crash happening after a recent update, with Gemini seemingly causing Android Auto to stop working when requested to perform certain actions.

Several users told me after my Android Auto 16.8 story that the app started crashing when asking Gemini to make phone calls. It turns out that the issue isn’t exclusive to phone calls, and more users confirm the same problem on reddit, adding that it also happens when Gemini is in charge of other tasks.

For example, asking Gemini to send a text or a message via WhatsApp also causes a crash, and someone explains that pretty much any task leads to the same outcome. “Same with me. Whenever I call Gemini, wireless AA disconnects after it responds,” one reddit user explains.

Interestingly, the issue appears to happen more often in Hyundai and Kia cars, and it’s unclear if other brands are affected. The mobile phone brand and model don’t make a difference, as the issue has been confirmed on Google Pixel and Samsung devices.

While the crash can be considered a critical issue, Gemini is also causing other problems on Android Auto. Some users claim Gemini is much worse than Google Assistant and can’t even perform basic tasks, such as making phone calls. Others claim Gemini fails to locate them correctly, eventually offering incorrect recommendations, even when Google Maps shows the correct location.

Many users describe Gemini as a downgrade and want Google Assistant to be restored, although the long-term strategy on Android Auto is obvious. Gemini will be the only assistant going forward,…

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