If you use Google Maps on Android Auto, you might find yourself facing an annoying issue where the color-coded traffic lines completely disappear when using the Maps feature in your car. This issue originally appeared on the Android, iOS, and desktop versions of Maps, but now appears to have made the jump to Android Auto. These colors highlight the current traffic status on your route, with green, yellow, orange and red traffic lines giving you quick information about the route you’re currently taking.
While the exact cause of the issue is not yet known, based on the timing of its initial appearance and some user reports, it may be related to the release of the new immersive navigation features in Google Maps. This update launched on Android Auto in July, bringing a revamped set of 3D visuals and greater features to Google Maps, intended to make it easier to get around and see where you were going. However, as Android Authority notes, the feature appears to be tied to a broader server rollout rather than individual client-side updates. This means that it may be difficult to determine the exact cause, and may not be related to immersive browsing at all.
There is no good solution yet
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What’s disappointing is that there isn’t really a solution that users can turn to if they encounter this problem. While you can see some traffic information in Preview mode (suggesting the problem is simply hiding the traffic data), it’s not ideal because the map zooms out much further, which can make it difficult to follow directions while driving safely. Other users have reported managing to get the feature to reappear after completely uninstalling the app and then downloading an older version. However, automatic updates can put you back into the same problem without any warning.
Google at least seems to have the issue on its radar. In a thread on the Android Auto Community, a community specialist responded that the reports were forwarded to the Android Auto team after users provided additional details about devices and software. This doesn’t provide a solution for the affected drivers, but it means the problem has moved beyond the usual user-to-user troubleshooting stage.
You can always turn to other options
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If missing traffic lines are preventing you from using Maps normally, you can also just switch to another navigation app until Google sorts things out. Waze is one of the more obvious choices, especially since it already works with Android Auto and offers live reporting on traffic, accidents, hazards, road closures, and other issues. Because Waze focuses so much on what’s currently happening on the road, some users prefer it for everyday navigation.
Other options are also available. TomTom has also supported Android Auto for several years and offers real-time traffic information, speed camera alerts, etc. You also don’t have to make the change permanently. If you prefer Google Maps for navigation, keep it installed and switch back once traffic colors start behaving normally again. Until then, using Waze or another Android Auto-compatible navigation app is probably easier than reverting Maps to an older version. Especially since the problem doesn’t seem to matter much depending on what version you’re using anyway.
