Google Maps is facing fresh criticism over problems with its audio navigation, with new reports suggesting that recurring issues could confuse drivers and, in some cases, put them at risk. Users have flagged frequent errors in pronunciation, unclear turn instructions, and sudden route changes, all of which can make voice guided navigation harder to follow. These concerns are especially serious for people who rely on spoken directions instead of looking at their screens.
According to a recent report by a tech publication, audio navigation becomes essential in situations where drivers do not have a phone mount, lack an in car display, or need to keep their phones out of sight in high crime areas. In such cases, clear and accurate voice guidance is critical.
The report highlights major challenges in multilingual regions like South Africa, which has 12 official languages. Many local streets and areas use Afrikaans, Xhosa, and other native names. However, Google Maps allows only one language setting at a time. This often leads to heavy mispronunciations, making some place names difficult or impossible to recognise.
Errors were also found in how the app reads road numbers. In one example, MR559 was announced as “Mister 559” until the car reached the road, after which the app corrected itself. Similar mistakes were noted on other roads that use both letters and numbers.
Drivers also reported that turn instructions are not always clear. In busy areas with many intersections, the app sometimes fails to clearly say whether a turn is left or right. This forces users to rely on street names that may already be mispronounced.
Another key issue is automatic rerouting. Even after selecting a specific route, Google Maps may switch to a faster option without clear notice. In some cases, users get a brief prompt. In others, the change happens silently. This can be risky for people who choose routes based on safety, road conditions, or familiarity rather than speed alone.
The report suggests that users should be able to opt in to route changes instead of having to opt out. It also warns that while future AI upgrades like Gemini integration could improve language handling, they should not replace fixes for current problems. Based on these findings, the report says Google Maps may not be fully dependable for those who rely only on audio guidance, and that other navigation apps could be more reliable.
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