Every new Google Pixel launch usually comes with its share of strange bugs and quirks. Over time, such reports have reduced, but they are still there. So far, some unlucky Pixel 10 users have run into problems with wireless charging, while others are seeing snow on their display despite it still being summer. But the latest Pixel 10 issue is far more alarming, with reports claiming the phone sometimes fails to connect to 911 emergency services.

One Reddit user reports calling 911 using their Pixel 10 Pro XL, but instead of reaching an operator, they heard a “mix of garbled beeps, shrill electronic screeches, and the occasional ghost of a human word buried in the noise. It was like trying to talk to aliens through a broken modem.”

Worse, the user called 911 four times and faced the same problem every time. The user eventually used their Pixel 7 to make the call, and it connected without issue, in the same location on the same carrier.

Emergency services were able to reach the user on his Pixel 10, with the return call sounding crystal clear. Thankfully, he wasn’t in a life-or-death situation, so the failed 911 call didn’t put him in immediate danger.

Flagship features mean nothing if Pixels can’t dial 911

It’s difficult to ascertain if this is a widespread issue with the Pixel 10 series or an isolated case. It could also be tied specifically to Pixels on the Google Fi network. At least one other Pixel 10 user commented on the Reddit thread, confirming they called the emergency services twice and got the same result.

This is not the first time Pixel users have reported problems when trying to contact emergency services. In 2022, a spate of Pixel users complained about being unable to reach 911 from their phones. Google eventually fixed the bug, but this is one feature that you’d never want to see fail under any circumstances. Before that, a Microsoft Teams update broke 911 emergency calls on Android, which required Google to push out an update to resolve the issue.

Ironically, the Pixel 10 is the only Android phone, apart from Google’s Pixel 9 series, that supports satellite-based emergency calling in the US.