iPhone 16 Pro Max | iOS18 - Car Play does not access Phone app

Details:

Phone: iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 18 (latest updates)

Car: 2017 Mazda CX-5 with the Mazda CarPlay add-on installed by Mazda

It did work (and still does work) with my prior iPhone (13 Pro Max running iOS 17.7)

When I connect my iPhone 16 Pro Max to CarPlay and try to make phone calls Siri tells me that there is no App available to do this. If I look at the CarPlay under Settings>General>CarPlay>My Car>Customize the Phone app is not listed. The Phone app does show under the same path on my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

• My 16 Pro Max does connect to CarPlay
• I can make calls with Siri when not connected to CarPlay
• If I start the call from my phone directly, it will show up on my car display in CarPlay.

I have forgotten and re-added the car, changed the cable, restarted the phone, checked for iOS upgrades, but nothing has worked.

I have also tried this in another car - 2024 Mazda 3 with factory CarPlay, and was still not able to make phone calls.

Has anyone else run into this issue?