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

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Dec 30, 2021 2:33 PM in response to Kathymcdonmi

I had to get a new car and it connects to the phone over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth like the old car did. I had switched to my Samsung Note, no problems. Though, with Wi-Fi, Problem solved with the iPhone 13 Pro.

That said, I know most cars only connect wirelessly through Bluetooth and if I didn’t have to get a new car, or I bought one that used Bluetooth, I would still be using the Samsung.

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Jan 4, 2022 7:53 AM in response to trapperthecrapper

well, sorry to hear, but good to know its also happening on the 12... I was thinking about going back to 12, but if that is the case, then its more likely a software issue with iOS 15. Still crazy that they haven't acknowledged or fixed this yet. Its clearly a major issue.

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Jan 4, 2022 8:10 AM in response to pudgemo

I have this exact problem - have the iPhone 13 Pro, IOS 15 - love the updated camera (I had the X) but phone constantly disconnects from my Car. I have a 2016 Toyota Highlander. I updated the E-Tunes - the software in my car and that didn't help. I just called Apple and they said to update to the IOS 15.2

I read that other people did this and it didn't help but I'm going to try to see if it does help. The Apple guy was very persistent in saying that if I update and then turn the bluetooth off and on again - it should work.

My bluetooth seems to work fine with my selfie stick. Haven't tried with much else. Anyway, very frustrating. Hope it works. Anyone else have 15.2 yet and a Toyota? And did it help?

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Jan 4, 2022 8:18 AM in response to PattyG777

15.2 doesn’t help, there’s definitely a problem that they refuse to deal with, I was told by Verizon that it’s the changing from 5G to LTE , that’s also not true, when I updated my EnTune it made it a Toyota app , Apple need to do a complete recall on all 13’s, I am really disappointed in this, my 6 plus never had these problems, I wish I would have never upgraded 😡

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Jan 4, 2022 8:20 AM in response to pudgemo

I have issues connecting my iphone 13 pro to my car as well (Toyota camry 2015). Calls are disrupted with any notification sound (lock sounds or text message sounds) on the phone. Same happens with music too. I didn't experience this with my iphone 8plus.

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Jan 6, 2022 4:45 PM in response to edmond125

Same issue here, upgraded from iPhone X to 13 max pro on Verizon, cannot stay connected to Bluetooth in my 2016 4Runner running IOS 15.1. Continually drop calls on Bluetooth every couple of minutes, sometimes less than a minute of connectivity, cannot maintain any Bluetooth connection for calls for any length of time. Bluetooth works fine for music, it’s only calls that are impacted.


Never has any issues with my old iPhone X, this is complete cra**.


Using my work iPhone 11 running IOS 15.1,zero issues with Bluetooth calls


Apple please acknowledge this issue and apply a hot fix

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Jan 6, 2022 4:56 PM in response to PattyG777

I updated and did the on off Bluetooth and any other tip trick I could find on the internet to try. I have a Toyota 4 runner and it drops every call. Came from X to 13 pro and it was a down grade for sure…. I’m miserable with this phone 😩

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Jan 7, 2022 4:19 AM in response to BMW-IP12Mini

That all my incoming calls are now working fine via car bluetooth (I can even accept them on the steering wheel). But I have issues with making outgoing call from my steering wheel (sometimes). It works from the iPhone display. But sometimes the outgoing call disconnects the bluetooth and then you need to pair them again.

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Jan 7, 2022 8:40 AM in response to pudgemo

Same problem here, but with an iPhone 11 with version 15.2, no matter if connected thru Bluetooth or cable, phone calls doesn’t work. Before the update it worked and never had any issues. Car is a Toyota Corolla Touring sports from late 2020. Not sure I want to upgrade to a newer iPhone having issues like this for months,not being able to use the phone for calls …. Help is needed apple!

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Jan 8, 2022 4:37 AM in response to pudgemo

iPhone 12 Pro Max running 15.1.1 here. My Bluetooth connects to my 2013 Renault Megane for music, but as soon as I try to make a call, it gets redirected back to my phone. I try to reselect the car as the audio, but it just keeps doing the same. Had no problems with my XR previously, and the 12 pro max was fine up until a certain point, which I can only assume was iOS 15!? Will try the 15.2 update, and give the USB cable addition a try.

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Jan 8, 2022 8:11 PM in response to pudgemo

My iPhone 13 connects to Bluetooth stereo in the car but as soon as I try to switch it over to media so I can listen to Apple Music it will not work!!! I just want to listen to my music and have spent long hours trying to fix an issue that’s clearly not fixable.

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

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