Apple CarPlay issues 2021 Lexus NX

iPhone X

Model NQAM2LL/A

iOS 14.4

When I make or receive a phone call in my 2021 Lexus NX FSport, I receive complaints from callers that my voice is muffled, low, and cuts in and out. It’s so bad in fact I can not make calls using CarPlay and have resorted to using speaker phone or Bluetooth. Without my phone plugged in via USB, I can not use the screen for navigation or any other CarPlay function. Similarly when I try to use Siri, I literally have to yell ‘hey Siri’ multiple times before it functions.

When I disconnect my phone from the USB cable (and Apple CarPlay) and the phone call goes through Lexus Bluetooth, the transmitting volume is normal and clear.

Similarly, the incoming volume is noticeably lower on Apple CarPlay when compared to Bluetooth. I can generally adjust by toggling the car speaker volume to very high during phone calls. And by very high I mean, max volume just to hear the person on the other end.

I have had my car in to the Lexus dealership and they reported the issue is not with the microphone or hardware and that it must be an Apple software issue as Android phones they tested work flawlessly. I have erased the phone completely from my vehicle, reconnected it and software is up to date. All with no resolution.