Android Auto users report mysterious disconnections at specific highway locations

A curious phenomenon is plaguing Android Auto users across the U.S. and beyond: wireless connections to car infotainment systems are abruptly shutting down at precise locations on highways. The issue, first highlighted in a Reddit thread by a Chicago driver, has since drawn dozens of similar reports, with users pointing to radio frequency (RF) interference as the likely culprit.

The saga began when a Chicago-based Reddit user, posting under the handle FocusGalaxy96, detailed a consistent problem: every time they drive past the second Bolingbrook sign on Highway 55 heading south, their Android Auto system — connected wirelessly via an AA Wireless dongle — abruptly shuts off. “It’s the only place where it happens consistently,” they wrote, adding a video of the anomaly they captured recently. What started as a personal troubleshoot has since snowballed into a global discussion, with dozens of drivers from Phoenix to Sydney chiming in with eerily similar experiences.

The Reddit thread, which has garnered over 70 comments and counting, reveals a striking pattern: Android Auto disconnections occur at specific, repeatable geographic points, regardless of vehicle make, phone model, or head unit type. User KeelrLeek, also a Highway 55 commuter, confirmed the exact same issue at the same spot, exclaiming, “Small world!” Others reported identical disruptions near airports, toll booths, weigh stations, and even baseball training facilities — suggesting a common culprit: interference.

Theories abound, but the leading hypothesis points to radio frequency interference disrupting the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections that wireless Android Auto relies on. User chaosrain13 speculated that a Department of Transportation sensor, like those used to monitor travel times, might be “flooding your Bluetooth with RF while it scans your MAC, causing a temporary disconnect.” Meanwhile, moralesnery shared a firsthand account of pinpointing a small radio antenna at a streetlight as the source of their daily disconnection, a problem they resolved by switching their AA Wireless dongle to 2.4 GHz mode. Several users also noted that switching to a wired USB connection eliminates the issue entirely, but the mystery deepens with reports of wired setups failing too.

Android Auto’s wireless functionality typically operates over a Wi-Fi connection between the phone and the car’s head unit, often using the 5 GHz band for faster data transfer. However, as multiple users noted, this frequency is more susceptible to interference from external sources like traffic sensors, radar systems, or even nearby transformers.

While third-party dongles drew early blame, drivers with factory-installed wireless Android Auto — including newer BMW, Ford, and Kia models — reported identical issues. This debunked theories that aftermarket accessories were the sole weak link.

As more reports keep flooding in, this quirk could prompt action from Google or hardware manufacturers. It looks like Android Auto’s wireless convenience is colliding with the invisible chaos of modern radio traffic. Until regulators or tech firms address the gap, users may have to keep improvising.