August 22, 2025
SINGAPORE – Some Grab customers in Singapore were taken aback on Aug 20 after the ride-hailing mobile app briefly displayed fares that exceeded $1,000 due to a glitch.
The unusually high fares, even for short trips within the country, were visible for about 20 minutes from around noon.
In response to queries, a Grab spokesperson said the price spike was the result of a system error, which was corrected within 20 minutes.
The spokesperson added that some users – without indicating the number – were affected by the glitch, even though the company’s safeguards “automatically prevented most bookings with incorrect charges from going through”.
Grab said it has processed full refunds for the incorrect charges for all affected users as at 9pm.
“We are doing everything to learn from this so it doesn’t happen again. Our customers trust us with their daily needs, and we don’t take this for granted,” the spokesperson said.
Bloomberg reported that users in neighbouring Malaysia also experienced similar pricing anomalies.
Several users took to social media to share screenshots of the drastic jump in fares.
Among them was Facebook user Tan Kwee Yong, who wrote: “I never knew (travelling) from my military camp to another military camp (would) cost a quarter of my pay.” His fare was listed as $1,511.80.
In another screenshot, the cost of a ride from Tampines to Kinex mall in Katong was listed as $1,012.
One user commented: “I wonder if anyone checked the fare or simply clicked on book.”
Grab, which is backed by US-based Uber Technologies, is the dominant ride-hailing operator in Singapore, as well as other markets in the region, including Malaysia and Thailand.
Uber exited South-east Asia in 2018, transferring its operations to Grab in exchange for a stake in the company. Grab now faces stiff competition from Indonesia’s GoTo Group and several smaller rivals in the region.