Gemini voice calling on Android Auto keeps failing me - and Google has until September to fix it

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Google is officially shutting down its Assistant tool in September , leaving Android with only one official option for a digital assistant: Gemini. Unleash the chorus of groans.

We all know that Google is pushing Gemini into every corner of Android. The company wants it to write our emails, summarize web pages, doctor our photos, do our shopping for us, reserve tables at restaurants, and so much more.

Also: I've used Android Auto for years, and these 5 changes solved my biggest issues

But what is the cost of depending on AI for so much? For one, it'll come at the cost of reliable hands-free voice calling, especially when connected to Android Auto -- at least in my experience.

Gemini has been riddled with voice-calling issues for some time, with the most recent being the " Something went wrong. Please try again " issue in June 2026 that affected both Android and Android Auto , prompting users to return to Android Assistant .

The problem isn't limited to voice calling.

For instance, users have complained about Gemini not playing a song when connected to Android Auto , or even when it's not connected to Android Auto, as this Reddit thread clearly shows . In that same thread, one user shared this Gemini interaction:

In this Reddit thread , a user shared this interaction:

Assistant handled what should be simple tasks very well.

In fact, I rarely had any issues making hands-free calls with Assistant or with Assistant and Android Auto, nor did I ever have any issues with Assistant sending messages. For calls, all I had to do was say, "Hey Google, call Haversham Happenstance," and within seconds, the phone was ringing. I can't remember the last time Assistant failed to place a hands-free call.

Once I (reluctantly) switched over to Gemini, voice calling with Android Auto became so unreliable that I stopped using the feature. Even after clearing the Gemini cache and deleting its storage, the problem persisted.

Let's be clear about this: the combination of Gemini and Android Auto makes hands-free calling an unreliable feature. What that does is cause drivers who need to place phone calls to look away from the road and down at their phones. We all know where this story ends, and it often doesn't end well.