Apple CarPlay problem with 2019 Acura RDX and iPhone X

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The Acura RDX problems made the news yesterday, in a big way.

If you do a Google search, you're likely to find more information about the RDX Infotainment system.

Is it possible the glitch in Apple CarPlay has spread to my phone? This issue of not being heard when speaking to someone started when I got the Acura carplay. Last week - this issue happened when using my phone not attached to CarPlay. I did same solution as I had with CarPlay - I pressed “speaker” and then “speaker” again and problem solved - caller heard me again. I know other people that have this issue with carplay. So how can it be that now I have this issue occasionally even without using CarPlay???

I have the same problem with random disconnects on my 2019 RDX which I bought last August. Sometimes CarPlay will work several days in a row without disconnecting but then sometimes I will have the problem 3 or 4 drives in a row. When the problem happens, it is normally within the first 5 minutes after I start driving the car.

I too called Acura client relations several time about the problem in the last week and they were no help, simply saying an update is coming out in a month or so but they have no idea if that is going to fix the issue. Very frustrating too say the least.

I tried the reboot fix as described in the YouTube video. The reboot worked ok. But it did not fix the CarPlay disconnect problem, the first 10 minutes I drove the my 2019 RDX after that CarPlay disconnected 3 times.

You may have to do this reboot more than once. My 2019 RDX had multiple disconnects every time I drove it. Maps or Waze cutting out when you need crucial directions is no fun. Ultimately, the screen froze and would no shut off even when the the car was off and sitting for 20 minutes. It took me a couple of reboots following the YouTube video before it righted itself. It has now been about 17 days without a glitch. Good luck and please report back if you find this does or doesn’t fix the problem. Thanks for the feedback.

I tried a second reboot of the Infotainment system using YouTube instructions on my car but did not fix the CarPlay disconnect issue. After the second reboot I drove the car for 10 minutes and CarPlay disconnected and then reconnected 3 times making CarPlay unusable.

I called my local Acura dealer and they said they have gotten 15 calls on the CarPlay disconnect issue in the past month. Service rep said it is happening on both RDX and MDX models. He said Android auto is working OK but he is hearing about the issue a lot on CarPlay.

He said hopefully the upcoming software update will fix the issue but he said that could be a number of months off but he said Acura has not told them when the update will be.

I have this problem on my 2019 RDX - it started with the last software upgrade. Acura knows about the problem but does not seem to know how to solve it. I have both an IPhone 7 (work) and an X.

The infotainment systems freaks out but only when using Apple Car Play. It does not shutdown when using Bluetooth to hear podcasts or Spotify on your phone. BTW, it truly freaks out - the map doesn’t know exactly where I am, no radio, no satellite, not a thing.

There is a YouTube video that shows how to reset - press the 3 buttons at the top of the touchpad simultaneously - or pull the fuse or disconnect the battery. Sometimes the car resets itself overnight - sometimes no.

Apple, please work with Acura to fix this!

This CarPlay disconnect problem seemed to start in my 2019 Acura RDX sometime after iOS 12.3 in the last few months. I have called Acura Tech Support for five times the last couple months to complain. I also called my local dealer who says the problem is very prevalent in our RDX an MDX both. The dealer service person I talk to said they’ve gotten about 15 calls on this the last month.

Acura is aware of the problem but they seem to have no idea what it’s gonna be fixed.

I tried the YouTube video fixed several times but that did not work for me.

Bluetooth audio seems to work fine and the problem is just with Apple CarPlay.

I tried numerous other fixes recommend in this form but nothing has worked for me.

I urge everyone to call Acura Concord support at 1 (800) 382-2238 to complain.

I just got off the phone with Acura.

They are now acknowledging the problem and have admitted, the system is "overwhelmed" by Apple Car Play and can't handle it. They say the "fix" is imminent and will be released, prior to the end of the summer. Once it's released (assuming it works), they will then discussion "compensation".

One other little quirk they told me about, I'm not sure I believe: The system is not just sensitive to Apple Play. I haven't used Apply Play in 2 weeks and the system still froze up on me twice, on Sunday. Acura is recommending not using Apple Play and performing a "hard reset", to clear out any previous Apple Play information in the system (which is what they're claiming caused my system to freeze).. I'm not sure I buy that story, but that's what I was told.

Over the last 2 weeks, my RDX has simply "shut off" 4 times, while driving down the road. I doubt that's related too the Infotainment system, but it's pretty odd and more than a little disconcerting.

Thanks for the Information BrianL999.

I agree that Acura owes us all compensation for all this aggravation with CarPlay. When I talked to them last week seems like they had not even issues a service bulletin to the Acura dealers about the issues.

If Acura was proactive they would send out an email to all RDX owners clearly explaining the issues and what they plan to do about it instead of forcing all of us to dig though these online forums to figure out the problem.

I plan on calling them up tomorrow and pointing that out to them.

By the way there is lots of changes coming with CarPlay in iOS 13 coming out in September. Let’s hope they are testing that too.

It is pretty clear Acura needs to work a lot closer with Apple to keep on top of this.

I've downloaded iOS 13 Beta and installed it on my phone.

The integration with the RDX Infotainment Center, seems to be improved. I've only used it for a few hours, but I've yet to have a dropped call. Apparently Apple has streamlined the software in iOS 13 and perhaps there's less "overload" on the Infotainment Center.

For whatever reason, it seems to be working better for me, so far.

BTW, iOS 13 offers some pretty neat upgrades for the iPhone.

BrianL9999, thanks for the information. Hopefully iOS 13 can fix this problem. Keep us informed on if it continues to work for you. This problem of CarPlay disconnects is unpredictable, sometimes it will work OK several days in a row. Other times it will disconnect a number of times in a row.

I called Acura again today, and told them they really need to email everyone to let us know the status of resolving this issue. They said that was a good idea, but I wonder if they will actually follow through.

The person I talked to said they were embarrassed about the issue. Well we will see if any of that actually translates into action.

I spoke too soon on iOS Beta 13. I had 3 dropped calls today.

On another interesting development, I got a message on my Infotainment Center, that there was an "Update" available from Acura. I tried to download the supposed Update about an hour after getting the message and it was no longer available. Read into that, whatever you wish.

I often get notified that there are system updates - but I click on it and says I am up to date - yet another glitch. I recently stopped using CarPlay. I have had issues with calls and Waze - at some point I said this is enough - so I just use Bluetooth. But I paid for a feature that I no longer can use in my car - so that’s unacceptable.

BrianL9999. Too bad that you found iOS 13 does not fix the issue !

Yes I have gotten plenty of those fake system update notices as well. As MACThornhill said, I too have stopped using CarPlay as well, too many disconnects. I just use Bluetooth as well.

The case I opened with Acura about this got moved to an “escalation manager”. I talked to him at length today but he was really no help.

They don’t seem to want to send out any communications to us about this. I pointed out that people are buying this car not knowing the CarPlay is not working. He said that there’s some fine print somewhere in the documentation when you buy the car that talks about is not their responsibility if CarPlay is not working because it is an Apple product.

He said they were they are aware of the problem and are working on it but no idea if and when it will be fixed.

So yes I agree the whole situation is pretty unacceptable.