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iPhone 13 Pro loses bluetooth connection to car 2-8 minutes after starting a phone call

I recently purchased a new iPhone 13 Pro (then exchanged for an iPhone 13 Pro Max) to replace my iPhone XR. Here is the info on the problem I am seeing for your developers:


Hardware: iPhone 13 Pro Max, running iOS 15.0.2

Car: 2016 Toyota Avalon


Steps to reproduce:

  1. Start Car
  2. Allow phone to connect with car via bluetooth.
  3. Start a phone call
  4. Connection between the car and phone fails anywhere from 2-8 minutes after the call starts.
    1. The phone call continues on the phone, but the car thinks the call has ended. After this point bluetooth functionality no longer works properly until I restart the car.


Other details:

- The phone has no issues playing bluetooth audio to the car. Issue only happens on phone calls.

- My old iPhone XR did not have this problem, but was not running iOS 15.


Steps I have taken to fix the problem:

  1. Stopped/started bluetooth service on iPhone
  2. Enabled then disabled Airplane mode on iPhone
  3. Re-paired the iPhone to the car after forgetting bluetooth settings on both devices.
  4. Restart iPhone
  5. Force restart iPhone
  6. Updated software on car
  7. Reset all settings on iPhone
  8. Disabled 5G (settings -> Cellular -> Cellular Data Settings -> Voice & Date = LTE)
  9. Exchanged my iPhone 13 Pro for an iPhone 13 Pro Max, still have the issue


The iPhone is unusable for calls in my car which is really frustrating. Hopefully someone out there has seen something like this and has a solution/workaround. Or maybe this will make it to the developers and they can try and fix the issue.

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 15

Posted on Oct 27, 2021 6:20 PM

Reply
315 replies

Jan 26, 2022 4:56 AM in response to Scott-he-him

I have a 2010 Volvo and recently received and iPhone 13. It connects to the car via Bluetooth, but I cannot use the hands free feature for my calls. None of my previous iPhones had this problem. I have done everything suggested by Apple and users on another discussion thread, and also been to a Volvo mechanic, all to no avail.


In response to your suggestion to answer a call on the phone then tap Audio and chose Bluetooth, it goes to that setting for a second then switches back to the iPhone setting. My calls simply will not transfer to the car with the exception of a call I am already on as I get into the car then start the car. That call connects to the car’s microphone and speakers but I cannot make or receive a second call that way. I guess I can pull over, kill the engine, make a phone call from the car then start the car, but that is ridiculous and won’t solve not receiving calls.


Whilst everyone’s suggestions are well thought out and may even work for someone, I’ve only seen 1 or 2 responses that a suggested action actually fixed the issue. This is a problem APPLE needs to solve so I wish they’d get on it. I’ve talked to Apple Support 3 times and each person denies ever hearing this issue.


And why doesn’t Apple respond with a fix on these threads?

Jan 26, 2022 5:41 AM in response to mahcolo

I have the same car as you do (2010 XC60) and the problem started with iPhone 12 on iOS 14.4 and continues now with iPhone 13 up to iOS 15.2.1. I tested the unreleased iOS 15.3 and it got better (incoming calls works fine, can't make outgoing calls from the steering wheel, but it works if you start the call from iPhone display). The official 15.3 should be released this week, so let's see if it makes it to the final release. If not, I'm going back to the iPhone XS Max which I still keep, and it works just fine without issues for years on the same latest iOSes.

Jan 27, 2022 11:53 AM in response to Sdunlow

I appear to have a different Bluetooth/Phone App issue on my iPhone 13 Pro, as I do not lose connection but experience interference/scrambling noises for 10-15 seconds on phone calls. If I’m on a hour-long work call using my AirPods or car Bluetooth, it’s almost guaranteed to happen at some point. Been happening since I got the phone in October. This update did not fix my specific issue that many others appear to have as well. Still waiting for feedback from Apple engineers on the bluetooth logs they collected.

Jan 27, 2022 2:51 PM in response to IslandCove

I also just updated to the 15.3 and while it is too soon to say for sure, I did make a phone call for just over 8 minutes without disconnecting. The last update, 15.2.1 had actually made it worse and my calls dropped within the first couple of minutes. I have a 2016 Toyota Highlander. I will see how it goes with a longer phone call. Hoping that this 15.3 fixed it. I used to have the iphone X and had no problems at all. I upgraded because of the camera which is a big improvement but the bluetooth issue with phone calls not staying connected has been VERY frustrating to say the least.

Jan 28, 2022 12:00 PM in response to MJG1984

Volvo XC60 2010 (bluetooth handsfree)

iPhone 13 Pro Max on iOS 15.3


Just did a few calls and seems that it's working. Only sometimes, I can't make outgoing call from the steering wheel. But when I make the call from iPhone screen then it connects the call back to the car stereo.

All incoming calls worked jist fine (which is most important for me)

Will update, but it is promising *fingers crossed*

Feb 1, 2022 3:51 AM in response to K8Nest

Volvo XC60 and iPhone 13 Pro Max on iOS 15.3 - today went for longer drive and the problem still occurs.

My phone is connected to the car, I got an incoming call which I accepted with no issues. We spoke about 2 minutes and after that the bluetooth disconnected and call went to iPhone speaker.

This is really dangerous during the drive and I'm really ****** off at Apple for such bad experience!!! This is definately my last iPhone I purchased!

Feb 1, 2022 9:19 AM in response to pudgemo

Not sure if you’ve figure out the issue yet, but I was having the same problem all of a sudden with my new iPhone 13 mini pairing to my Mazda3 2018. There was no issue before and I don’t believe there was any phone update either between now and yesterday.


After several tries and fails, I did a hard reset on my entertainment system (hold buttons music, nav, and volume dial down until the screen resets) and once it turned on… I unpaired everything again and reconnected.


Everything’ works now.


I really hope this helps you!

Feb 2, 2022 9:14 AM in response to pudgemo

I have newer iphone 12 and it worked fine with my 14 honda pilot handfree link. Then i did updates as recommended by Apple. Well now Siri, which i use alot while driving wont work when connected to handsfree link and bluetooth in my pilot. I contacted support and they had no clue of the issue. Obviously it was something in one of the updates that has taken my siri offline when in bluetooth in car. It can play music, and it can do phone calls (oddly now i have to keep hitting "transfer" to get it to answer a phone call something bizarre now) I can somewhat do phone calls so microphone works for that..but not Siri??? This could be a deal breaker for me as i have long drives and do alot over siri with reading / answering text messages, checking weather while driving, having it read emails, going to apps, taking phone calls etc. Please fix this. I have already 2 times removed it from handsfree link and put back. Oddly got siri to work 1 time in last 6 months while connected then stopped again. frustrating say the least.

iPhone 13 Pro loses bluetooth connection to car 2-8 minutes after starting a phone call

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