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

If it helps to calm down some of you, seems like Apple is working on fixing this.

I just tested the not released yet 15.3 (on my 13 Pro Max) which went out for public testers and in my Volvo XC60 2009 all of my incoming calls were finally working fine. I just can't seem to be able to dial straight from my steering wheel to make an outgoing call (then it drops).

I forwarded my feedback to apple, so hopefully they'll fine-tune it and we will have a working bluetooth again.

Definitely not a car manufacturer problem

I drive a Porsche and face the same issue. My Porsche also has a dual system for CarPlay, which is separate to the main system, and even with that the Bluetooth has issues.

My wife’s iPhone XR works normally with it, and my X used to work perfectly fine. Since the day I got the 12 pro I’ve had this problem since day 1

same problem even after the following attempts to correct.

Note: this never happened, not even once, using my old iPhone 6s Plus over about 18 months in the same truck.

Phone hardware: iPhone 13 ProMax

Phone software: 15.0.2 and 15.2

Vehicle: 2019 Tacoma TRD Off-road

Actions taken

1) upgraded iPhone software manually to 15.2

2) updated Tacoma Entune software

Android users are not having the same problem and several have texted in the same vehicles with both iPhone and Android to prove it is an iPhone issue.

This is a safety problem. I cannot drop a business call randomly while driving. Worse it does not actually hang up the call. It simply disconnects Bluetooth. This leaves the user scrambling in traffic to mute and recover. It is unprofessional, illegal, and dangerous to be scrambling in traffic because my electronics are failing.

Please address this, Apple!

I have exactly the same problem with my Toyota Highlander 2016 after upgrading to iPhone 13 Pro. I also don’t have apple car play in my car. I never had this problem with my XR. And most of the time the call doesn’t drop, it drops the Bluetooth on the car but the call is still continuing on my phone which sometimes I had to use speaker to finish my call and having a phone on your hand can get you fined. But that been said there are times the whole call drops. Although the call dropped from the car Bluetooth, I can still see my call history on the screen of my car as well as the car showing my phone is connected for phone and audio. If I try to call from my car as soon as the call dropped the car screen displays “you can dial now”. I do make a lot of calls while driving and it is a safety concern while driving and toggling between speaker, headset and trying again to reconnect with the car which for me is always unsuccessful unless I had to remove the highlander from my iPhone and remove the iPhone Bluetooth in the car and reconnect them again. It is very frustrating and unsafe, from this thread there is a trend specially with Toyota cars. Checked my Highlander software for any updates and it is up to date. I hope apple will come with a fix soon. Apple help please, or you will lose old time customers!

I have 13 Pro Max since 5 days and have similar issue with my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. I use iOS 15.3 and the incoming calls are fine, I can make calls from the car using the cars stereo, but if I try to end the call from the steering wheel, the phone disconnects from car and the call transfers to the phone and didn’t end. After that I can’t connect to the car, only when I restart the car. This is my first iPhone, with Android phones I’ve never had problems making and answering calls from this car (latest phone was an S21 Ultra with no issues).

Yes I did, 15.3.1 Did not resolve my issue. I have now turned my watch off and we'll see if that makes a difference. It's very random, sometimes it doesn't do it for several days, other times it will do it multiple times a day and multiple times during the same phone call. Does not do it listening to music, just when on a phone call. Apple's latest answer is it's Environmental. They say we have ruled out everything else including software so it has to be interference of some sort like weather, the type of walls where I am, my location, mountains, etc. I told her I don't agree that it isn't Software because that's why they come out with updates, while I am running the latest update maybe they haven't found a fix for this yet. She didn't agree.....I don't think it's hardware because the phone has been replaced. I too have a 2nd generation watch but I don't want to go spend more money to upgrade the watch at this point. Anything but Apple's issue.

Good point. I posted above that FaceTime stays connected just fine for me, and music streaming does too, so it would seem to indicate that the phone app is the issue.

Interesting. The watch is the only thing I haven't disconnected from the phone. Maybe I'll try that

I am having the same issue with calls dropping from Bluetooth speaker while driving and going to my iPhone 13. When I had the iPhone XR this was never an issue. It drives me crazy! I have done all of the above suggestions and nothing has worked. I have a Toyota Sienna. It seems like a lot of people w Toyotas have this issue. Apple please fix this!

2016 Toyota Tundra.

Iphone 13 Pro, version 15.1.1

I have the issue as well. Music from spotify works fine in car, no drops. Phone calls drop after about 2-3 minutes. VERY ANNOYING. My sons iphone 10 does not have any issues with music or dropping calls. My s20 ultra never dropped calls or music. I know the cars bluetooth is functional as the issue only happens with my new iPhone.

15.1.1 doesn’t seem to be the answer. I’ve updated my 13 pro max to 15.1.1 hoping for a better result with calls in my ‘17 Highlander. Unfortunately, the call was dropped from Bluetooth 4 minutes and 40 seconds into the call, and I had to finish the call using the speaker.

The exact same issue that everyone facing it, I have an Audi A6 Avant 2007 and before switching from my iPhone X to iPhone 13 Pro Max I had no issue at all, the iPhone is connected to the Audi Handsfree, I receive calls through the car stereo but when you talk more then 3 ~ 5 minutes the Bluetooth connection drops all of a sudden and after 2 ~ 3 minutes the iPhone 13 Pro Max makes the connection but call is still on iPhone. Updated to iOS 15.1.1 didn’t helped at all. I just wanna grab the iPhone and through it away

Well, part of me is happy to hear I don't need to deal with the headache of calling tech support at Apple because it is a known problem and apparently no fix. But the other part of me is quite annoyed that it is a known problem of several months and no fix has been made.

I just wanted to add I have the exact same issue, my Bluetooth calls drop within 2-8 mins (although music apps are not dropped via Bluetooth) and I have reset everything (I will not go through the headache of a factory reset!), re-paired my Bluetooth, and all of the other suggestions including paying $75 to have the software on my 2017 Toyota Tundra updated by the dealer and have the latest and greatest IOS 15.1.1 update on my phone - nothing fixed it.

Very irritating given the exorbitant cost of the Iphone 13 Pro and it doesn't work as describe!!! (Another class action suit could be on the horizon like the battery throttling of the Iphone 6 and 6+).

Same issues on 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage cannot receive or make calls via CarPlay. Must restart can and phone to use stand alone Bluetooth connection. Also still having issues with CarPlay dying halfway through a short drive.

Also same issue here with an iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone SE 2 and a BMW 335i from 2013 since iOS 15. Neither iOS 15.1 nor 15.1.1 fixed my problems with the bluetooth handsfree connection. The problem isn't limited to the iPhone 13 (Pro) but more to iOS 15.

The recipient understands me loud and clear, but I only hear it very softly with a strong crackle. And after a few minutes the car loses the bluetooth connection. I have repaired the devices several times without any effects, while my old iPhone 6 with iOS 12.5.5 works fine.