Android Auto bug still makes steering-wheel controls skip two songs

One press, two tracks

Some Android Auto users are finding that a single press of their steering-wheel media buttons skips two songs at once, according to Android Authority. The problem first drew attention earlier this year among owners of the 2026 Toyota RAV4, and fresh complaints suggest it is still unresolved.

The behaviour affects both the next and previous buttons, so playlists can jump two tracks forward or backward. It has been reported across several music apps and over both wired and wireless connections.

The problem spreads beyond Toyota

The issue is no longer limited to the RAV4. In a report dated 25 October, a driver using a 2011 Acura TSX with a Pioneer AVH-2550NEX stereo described the same double-skipping while playing Tidal on a Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus.

That driver noted the fault vanished when swapping to a Galaxy S23 Plus with the same stereo and app versions. Steps such as reinstalling apps, wiping cached data and re-pairing Bluetooth did not help.

This week another user reported identical behaviour with a Galaxy S23 Plus and a CONVOX EVO-810 head unit. Spotify and YouTube Music were both affected, while the head unit's own music controls worked as expected.

Odd behaviour on Android Auto 18.0

A further complaint from a 2026 RAV4 owner shows the problem persisting on Android Auto version 18.0. In that case, pressing a steering-wheel button twice made YouTube Music seek 10 seconds into a track instead of changing tracks.

According to Android Authority, ordinary Bluetooth playback and the on-screen controls inside Android Auto worked correctly in that setup. That suggests the fault lies in how the steering-wheel inputs are handled rather than in the apps themselves.

Google is looking into it

Google has not ignored the reports. An Android Auto community specialist emailed the Acura owner on 27 October, and another specialist confirmed this week that the issue had been passed to the Android Auto team.

Those responses indicate Google is investigating, but there is no confirmed fix or explanation yet. It is also unclear whether every affected setup shares the same underlying cause. Android Authority has contacted Google for comment.

Why it matters for drivers

Steering-wheel media controls exist so drivers can keep their eyes on the road. A button that skips two tracks, or seeks instead of changing songs, makes that simple task unreliable and can tempt drivers to reach for their phone or the screen instead.

With no fix announced, affected drivers can only report the issue through Google's official Android Auto channels and wait for an update. Anyone buying a new head unit or car may want to check recent user reports before relying on these controls with Android Auto.