Since updating to iOS 15.3, my car won't stay connected; bluetooth keeps connecting and disconnecting

Upgraded to iOS 15.4, problem fixed👍

After installing 15.4.1, you need to forget on both your phone and car. Then re-pair. Funny that their is no official response on this problem and fix from Apple 🤔

Not necessarily. Some posters have reported that the upgrade to 15.4 resolved their BT issues without having to remove their phones and re-pair. In my case, I had to remove and re-pair.

YMMV.

2017 Chevy Bolt EV, iPhone 11, iOS 15.3.1.

Discovered today I have the same issues. I’m usually on short trips and using wired CarPlay with no problems. But when I’ve charged to 80% I like to disconnect from CarPlay (no wireless CP), and I discovered that I can receive calls over BT but not make calls.

However, I’m taking a long road trip this weekend, and am thoroughly disappointed that I will have to concern myself with disconnecting BT only when I want to place a call…

From past experience I can state this is an Apple and iOS implementation of BT, as I’ve had BT issues with different iPhones and iOS versions that were eventually corrected by an iOS update. In particular, my original iPhone SE had these similar BT problems and it was Apple’s to fix. Back then, people were certain that the SE was defective and Apple even replaced some people’s phones, only to find it made no difference: it was the BT coding in the iOS version tailored for the SE.

So, finding this out after being on 15.3/15.3.1 for a while now, I really regret upgrading from 15.2.1.

I know it will eventually get fixed, but the silence from Apple is only an indication that they know about it but are not concerned enough to fix it with any urgency.

Same issue here in my 2014 Subaru Impreza. I have to go into my settings and click on my car’s Bluetooth at the same time as pressing “pair audio” on my car’s stereo, even though the phone is already paired. Then it connects for a few seconds, disconnects, sometimes reconnects on its own, disconnects for a second time, and then it will finally stay on until I reach my destination (usually 10-25 minute drives). I have to do this every single time I get in the car. This is enough to make me finally want to switch to Android after over a decade of being loyal to Apple! Bluetooth connectivity is way too important of a tool in this day and age. I’m due for my bi-yearly phone upgrade and instead of automatically going for the iPhone 13, I’m looking hard at the Samsung Galaxy S22 since this thread is a couple months old and I don’t see any replies with help for this issue from Apple. They could’ve fixed this bug by now!

Delete the pairing from car and phone. Then reset network settings from your iphone resets.

problem gonna be solved :)

Here’s another solution I found while testing out using Siri to disconnect Bluetooth:

This isn’t a good option because Siri turns off the BT radio, so at least in my car I have to reconnect the car to the iPhone once I’ve turned the BT radio back on.

Heres what worked better: while connected via BT, initiate the call using Siri from the hands-free button on your steering wheel; when the phone screen (the one on your phone, not the car’s screen) comes up, choose “Speaker” instead of your car connection; once you hear dialing, switch back to your car connection and the call continues via BT, as it should.

This is clearly an Apple programming SNAFU with BT, as it’s failing at the point of placing the call. The above method works with a couple of toggles of the Speaker/BT car connection for your particular car. If you’re in traffic and stopped at a light, it’s an easy way to dial a call.

Again, YMMV.

Same issues with 2012 Audi Q5 phone Bluetooth connection since upgrading my 13 pro to 15.3, and 15.3.1 shows no improvement. Typical malfunction is after a call has ended it shows still connected on the car for anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes, then when it finally goes back to playing music the phone loses the Bluetooth connection with the car completely. Have tried the Hail Mary resets but this is obviously a programming issue.

I have a 2015 Audi S4 and it is doing the same thing. I went to the dealer and they did a Audi company info search and there is nothing about it. It is exactly the same thing though and I also noticed that it is dropping my apple Airpods pro as well.

That definitely makes me think it is the phone.

you would think Apple would be more together than that.

Please do as suggested and open a tech support ticket. I spoke with the tech rep this afternoon and we walked through the diagnostics using bluetooth to connect to a call from my car and my wireless headphones. It took about 20 minutes and the diagnostics will take several minutes, but the more info they have, the faster they can fix the problem.

Attempted my first BT call in my ‘17 Chevy Bolt EV without having re-paired the phone, but it failed as before. So I removed the phone from the car, deleted the car from the phone, and re-paired them. Fortunately, that seems to have fixed it!

For anyone still experiencing BT issues on 15.4, I highly recommend that you delete the connection and then re-pair your iPhone with the car/device. It worked for me.

Many users are having similar connectivity issues since updating to iOS 15. Suggest you call Apple tech support & open a ticket.

Same here! 2011 Dodge Durango Crew - I was going nuts!! Ipnone 12 Pro Max, then tried my daughter's Iphone 11 and wife 11 pro max and same issue. That's when I realized it was not the car unit. Never had problems before iOS 15.3

We need a fix ASAP.

Tried a couple of workarounds, and here’s what works for me. In my situation (car/phone/iOS combo), the problem seems to only be with placing calls over BT; receiving calls works just fine.

Try this:

Disconnect from BT, initiate the call, reconnect and you can carry your outgoing call over BT. Granted, this is a real PITA and potentially unsafe while driving, especially because it requires you to forego hands-free — the whole point of Bluetooth.

I haven’t tried it using Siri to disconnect from BT, but I’ll give that a whirl and report back.

The other workaround, and is a better option for me since I have wired CarPlay and I don’t like to let my phones get to 100% and especially to not stay there, is to connect to CarPlay, initiate the call, then disconnect from CP. I tried this and was able to continue the call over BT, once the BT connection was reestablished after being disconnected from CP.

Give these a try. YMMV.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any repercussions you might encounter if you forego hands-free to place calls.

Update to iOS 15.4 or 15.4.1.

If that doesn't fix it, delete the iPhone from the car, and Forget This Device (your car) from the iPhone.

Then re-pair the phone and car.

If that doesn’t work, then you can go Android or get a newer car. Or both.