For over a year, a Bluetooth bug affecting Android devices has caused in-car audio systems to fail, often leaving drivers without sound. Although the issue has been widely reported and tracked publicly, Google has yet to provide a permanent fix, leaving many drivers dealing with a problem that turns a routine feature into a recurring annoyance.
The problem comes down to how Android manages Bluetooth profiles. Phones connect to the car for calls just fine, but media audio doesn’t switch on, so calls work, while music, podcasts, and navigation directions stay silent.
For now, the only solution is an inconvenient manual workaround. Users have to open Bluetooth settings, select their car, and toggle the Media Audio option off and back on, a process many report having to repeat nearly every time they get behind the wheel.
The bug was initially reported mainly on fully updated Pixel 8 phones, while earlier Pixel models appeared unaffected. That containment didn’t last. New reports suggest the issue has since spread to the Pixel 7 and the newer Pixel 9 lineup, affecting both stable and beta versions of Android. A handful of Samsung Galaxy devices have also been mentioned.
Reports suggest the bug disproportionately affects vehicles from Japanese manufacturers, with Mazda, Toyota, and Honda frequently mentioned. This trend points to a breakdown in compatibility with communication protocols that have long been considered standard.
Frustration has only grown due to what some users describe as dismissive responses from Google. In the public issue tracker, one user said Google employees suggested trying a different car, implying that a 2016 vehicle and a 2025 smartphone may not be intended to work seamlessly together.
The stance has confused users and experts, since backward compatibility is a foundational aspect of Bluetooth. It conflicts with the assumption that a core connectivity feature should work consistently across multiple generations of devices.
The ongoing Bluetooth issue is at odds with Google’s marketing around Pixel phones. The company promotes them as premium Android devices designed to deliver a seamless experience, and they have even earned approval for U.S. federal government use.
In reality, Pixel phones have faced a string of high-profile hardware and software issues. In recent years, Google has been forced to limit battery performance across several Pixel generations to reduce fire risks, a notable response to an underlying hardware problem.
The long-running Bluetooth issue now joins that growing list, chipping away at confidence in a device sold as premium. For affected drivers, a simple, everyday feature has turned into a recurring frustration.
With the problem entering its second year and affecting newer devices, users continue to wait for a firmware update that is increasingly perceived as uncertain.
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