Overview
- Users on Reddit and Google’s product forums report a sharp rise in Android Auto crashes after recent updates, based on aggregated accounts from multiple threads.
- Reports point mainly to the v17.2 release in the Play Store beta track with some v17.1 installs also showing instability.
- When the bug occurs the phone projection drops back to the car’s native infotainment screen and reconnects repeatedly, with crashes triggered by simple actions such as opening maps or controlling media.
- Affected drivers can avoid the interruptions by leaving the Play Store beta, using Android’s “uninstall updates” option, or sideloading an older stable APK until Google publishes a patch.
- Coverage so far is driven by user reports rather than an official Google bulletin, raising safety concerns for those who rely on the system for navigation and hands-free media control.