iPhone 5 won't auto connect to Bluetooth

I realize this discussion is about the iPhone 5 not auto connecting, but I was experiencing the same problem with my iPhone 4S. These instructions worked for a 2013 Subaru Impreza (Limited Sport) with a HD radio and an iPhone 4S. The radio itself has a menu button and has BT setup as one of the options. At first I was trying that route, with the issue that my iPhone 4S wouldn't auto connect. I did go through that menu set-up to delete the phone, then I went through the voice set-up to add the phone. So far a couple of tests of turning off the car and turning it back on, the auto connect seems to work.

This may have also fixed another problem I noticed. When I request a single song through Suri (single song on a album), it plays through correctly, but then if I request another song it doesn't start playing. There is a red circle around the speaker icon and I have to turn off/on the radio for the song to start playing (at least that was the fix I found). Again, through my limited testing just now, I didn't have this issue so far after using the voice set-up to add my phone to bluetooth.

This actually solved my problem too. Good work! I have a 2011 Subaru WRX as well, for the record.

To expand a bit, based solely on my assumption:

I believe the issue here is the fact that the phone was not orginally synced through the voice command which can only be done in the driver seat. I believe the purpose of this is so the car can have 2 phone memories, one for passengers and one for drivers. It makes sense to me that the driver phones would auto-connect, but those done manually through the radio (ie for passengers) wouldn't. This allows, say, my wife to sync her phone to the bluetooth on demand, but won't auto-sync every time she rides in my car.

Anyway, it's working like a charm now, so thanks for the post!

I'm having the same auto connect issue with my 5s in a 2012 subaru impreza sport premium. I'm not understanding how to add the phone using the voice commands. Didn't see it anywhere in owners manual. I've tried deleting and re-adding the phone multiple times but each time I start the car I have to manually add the phone. Any suggestions out there?

Solution worked perfect for me. I had an iphone 4 paired with my 2013 Subaru Impreza with the standard stereo/bluetooth system. I tried everything to pair my new iPhone 5s.

You must remove prerious phone via voice command, not manually on the stereo.

Once I did deleted and paired via voice command, worked like a charm.

Confirmed for me as well. Going through the voice setup rather than the manual setup and it is working again.

Not sure what the exact issue is but the fix works. Thank you posters.

iPhone 5s

Subaru Outback 2012

Bluetooth auto-connect

How do you pair using the voice system? I have the Harman Kardon touchscreen with Navigation. When I hit the handsfree button on the steering wheel the list of commands does not include setup or pair phone or anything like that.

Hi. I'm trying to pair my new iphone 5s with my SEAT Alhambra (registered in 2011). My previous iphone 4 worked absolutely perfectly but it just says "no device found" when I do the manual search through the car's system. When I've downloaded the list of compatible phones for my car's age, the 5s isn't on there but that seems ludicrous?! Does anyone have any suggestions? Would trying to use the voice recognition work with the SEAT as it does with the Subaru? Thanks.

Didn't have this issue with the 4S but now the 5 won't auto connect to my car just like the posters above.

Same problem. Any link to brand of car / stereo perhaps?

My 4 worked fine, 5 won't connect. Is it a iOS or phone model issue?

2012 Subaru Impreza.

2011 Subaru WRX. Hmm..

same here

2013 Subaru Outback

very interesting....

This solved my problem. Thanks!

AGSilver, I also have a 2012 Subaru Impreza. What are the exact steps you took to get this to work? Any help would be appreciated.

2012 Subaru Outback--same issue. I tried the steps above, so I'm excited to see if it works!