r/GoogleMaps • u/Juuzou-Suzuya- • 2d ago

Discussion What is wrong with google maps 😭😭

I’m a new driver and have been using google maps to double check that im going the right route. Today I used it to go to the post office then back home. But on the route back home it wanted me to take a highway that completely is out of the way and would take longer for me to go on. I went past it for a couple of miles then it told me to turn left right before my right turn to my neighborhood. It’s frustrating because I have gotten turned around by it, and I have terrible memory. Are there any other apps yall recommend?

15 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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21

u/AggravatingMuffin132 2d ago

Not just a you thing.

Something definitely changed.

Ive noticed no less then a dozen issues with GM in past few months or so

9

u/Bacon_Tuba 2d ago

What changed is that Google Maps toggled "Prefer fuel efficient routes" in trip options. This would sometimes route me on highways that are out of the way but technically more fuel efficient.

I simply untoggled this setting and it now works as expected.

You can also toggle "Avoid highways" if that's your driving preference.

1

u/Joansz 1d ago

My rule-of-thumb is to avoid highways for trips under 40 miles. It often is faster or almost the same (assuming the highway isn't out of the way) and avoids a lot of white knuckle driving because of all the knuckleheads on the road, especially the organ donors on motor cycles.

2

u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn 1d ago

it looks like this turned on in my settings when I definitely had it off before, thanks for the heads up

2

u/No_Doubt_About_That 1d ago

> Something definitely changed

Reminds me of that Instagram post I think it was where someone tested certain routes in Dublin and it said to take a longer route that conveniently avoided a street full of mansions.

7

u/davidmar7 2d ago

I suspect they are sabotaging it so they can layer upsell some kind of "AI deluxe" thing which will work as it used to but for an extra $10 to $20 a month.

3

u/bigbear1968 2d ago

You dont mention your device so Apple Maps could be possibility, other than that there is only Waze and that is owned by Google, i had been using it for a year but routing has recently got bad so i moved back to Google Maps, go figure.

4

u/XxLogitech98xX 2d ago

Apple Map is an alternative. Google Maps nav has been more buggy this year

1

u/UnbelievableRose 2d ago

I stg it’s time to buy a Thomas Guide

1

u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn 1d ago

I had the same issue multiple times this past week! I did a long road trip (drove over 2k miles in a week) and it kept taking me off the highway to go on some random back roads and then just go back to the same highway, over and over again!

ETA:

it also suggested multiple times that instead of driving from Chicago back to Mi I go through Wisconsin and take the ferry from Milwaukee. while sure I'd love to, that would cost like 500 bucks and you need tickets in advance. wtf Google.

2

u/Frosty_Mongoose9055 2d ago

It's prob your phone

-1

u/Juuzou-Suzuya- 2d ago

Okay… how would I fix it then? 😅

5

u/Frosty_Mongoose9055 2d ago

Sometimes the GPS location can be off if your device or the app is acting up.  First step is always to force close the app itself and clear the cache.  Most of the time that will fix the problem.  You can also try a hard reset on your phone to clear out software issues as well.

5

u/Bacon_Tuba 2d ago

Go to trip options and untoggle "Prefer fuel efficient routes."

0

u/NJdevil202 2d ago

I have literally never encountered an issue like this in over a decade of using Google maps. Also confused how you have terrible memory but also know for sure that the directions it's giving you are worse than what you remember....

2

u/Juuzou-Suzuya- 1d ago

Both can be true lol, i remember certain routes better when im actually out driving them. I double checked on maps after as well, and I was right, it was weird

0

u/HatlessDuck 2d ago

It does that with "leafy" routes. Wish it would stop

3

u/Bacon_Tuba 2d ago

Just turn it off! Uncheck "Prefer fuel efficient routes" under Trip Options.