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Level 1

35 points

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:

Start Car
Allow phone to connect with car via bluetooth.
Start a phone call
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:

Stopped/started bluetooth service on iPhone
Enabled then disabled Airplane mode on iPhone
Re-paired the iPhone to the car after forgetting bluetooth settings on both devices.
Restart iPhone
Force restart iPhone
Updated software on car
Reset all settings on iPhone
Disabled 5G (settings -> Cellular -> Cellular Data Settings -> Voice & Date = LTE)
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

Best reply

pudgemo Author

Level 1

35 points

Posted on Nov 8, 2021 7:43 PM

Today I ran another experiment. I still have my original (working) iPhone XR. I gifted it to my son when I upgraded to the iPhone 13 Max. Here is what I did:

Upgraded the iPhone XR to iOS 15.1
Connected the phone to my car
Drove around on a call with the iPhone XR connected

At no time did the iPhone XR disconnect or drop the call that I was on. I drove in many spots where the iPhone 13 Pro Max disconnected/dropped calls.

I plan on running a couple more controlled experiments on my iPhone 13 Pro Max over the next few days. One when connected to bluetooth in our other car (not a Toyota) and another in my Toyota but not moving. We'll see what happens.

Hopefully someone at Apple will see this thread and find this info helpful when trying to fix/recreate the issue.

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Similar questions

315 replies

Jan 26, 2022 10:15 AM in response to davidbenes

Official iOS 15.3 was just released! Anyone able to test it out? I will be able to test it out tomorrow.

Sdunlow

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2022 11:00 AM in response to pudgemo

Oh WOW!! This is so encouraging been following this post from the beginning! Downloading the update now and will report back my findings!!! Hoping!!!!!!

Jan 26, 2022 11:03 AM in response to Sdunlow

Dumb question but how do I download this update ? I just had 15.2.1pop up a few days ago and I downloaded it. No indication I can download 15.3 on my phone.

Jan 26, 2022 12:06 PM in response to qasharif

No success with iOS 15.3 on a Toyota Yaris II , still not working

mahcolo

Level 1

12 points

Jan 26, 2022 12:50 PM in response to qasharif

I agree qsharif.

Sdunlow

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2022 1:28 PM in response to CaseyJones1968

Hey there! It was in my general settings, software update, ready to download. I did a trial run with one call did not disconnect after 5 minutes. Will continue to use, will update if fixed or not.

Jan 26, 2022 1:37 PM in response to Sdunlow

so 15.2.1 was just in my settings ready to download a couple of days ago. No sign of 15.3 being available

Do some areas/phones get updates first? I'm in Canada if that matters

Jan 28, 2022 8:23 AM in response to pudgemo

Updated to 15.3. Had a 9 minute call and over 20 minute call with no drop. I have a 2016 Toyota Highlander. Keeping fingers crossed it is finally fixed.

Jan 28, 2022 8:45 AM in response to PattyG777

2014 Tundra so far so good. We shall see.

MJG1984

Level 1

4 points

Jan 28, 2022 11:55 AM in response to pudgemo

Also updated to 15.3, 30min+ call with no drops (2018 Prius). Seems promising so far. Hopefully any future updates don’t break what they’ve seem to have fixed.

mahcolo

Level 1

12 points

Jan 28, 2022 12:23 PM in response to davidbenes

Cautiously optimistic…upgraded to 15.3 and hands free is working. I have an iPhone 13 paired with a 2010 Volvo. I’ll update again in a few days.

Lets hope future updates keep us connected…!

Jan 28, 2022 9:09 PM in response to Idontknowanything99

15.3 installed and so far so good. No disconnecting.

fingers crosse

tuemay

Level 1

8 points

Jan 29, 2022 3:48 AM in response to CaseyJones1968

Installed 15.3 on 13 Pro. It's Better but not good. Lost Connection a few Times.

Car is a BMW e91 2006.

Feb 3, 2022 2:41 PM in response to pudgemo

I have the same issue with my Audi 2010 Q5 , and also with my ram 2020 promaster city Van . The Audi happens more often and the ram every once in a while.

Feb 9, 2022 5:57 PM in response to pudgemo

Updating to 15.3 also seems to have fixed the issue I had in my 2019 Highlander.

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