I recently upgraded to a new Android phone, and now Android Auto in my 2020 Honda CR-V is constantly disconnecting and reconnecting, making it unusable for navigation and calls. It seems to happen most when I hit a bump in the road. I've tried different USB cables, including the official one from Google, and I've cleared the cache on both the phone and the car's infotainment system. Is this likely a software issue with the latest Android update, a problem with the car's USB port itself, or some weird compatibility glitch? Has anyone found a reliable fix for this kind of intermittent connection problem?
That intermittent drop almost always comes down to a flaky connection. Clean the car's USB port and the cable plug, then try a port that’s dedicated for data (if you have more than one). Also make sure you're using a solid data cable—some “official-looking” cables are charging-only and won’t stay stable.
Do a quick reset-and-pair: reboot your phone, forget the car in Android Auto, then re-pair. Also check if your phone is in battery saver or power-optimization mode that's starving Android Auto of background activity.
Check for updates on both sides: your phone OS, the Android Auto app, and the car's infotainment firmware. A lot of disconnect issues get fixed with a subtle firmware update you might not notice unless you check.
Verify the USB mode on the phone (some devices have a choice like 'Charge only' vs 'File transfer'/'MTP'). Try a different cable from a reputable brand and keep the cable length reasonable—longer cables can be flaky.
If your car supports wireless Android Auto, you could try that as a workaround (even if not ideal for driving). If not, borrow another car for a test drive to see if the problem follows the phone or the car’s system.
If it keeps happening, it’s likely a hardware issue somewhere (car USB port or infotainment). Bring logs: note exactly when it disconnects, what cable you used, and whether any specific bumps trigger it. A dealer or a tech that handles infotainment updates may have a service note about this particular model.