iOS 8.1.1 bluetooth problem in Mazda persists

Same issue with my 2009 Mazda 6. Incoming calls, playing music, talking to Siri all work fine with my iPhone 6. When placing a call it initially goes through the Mazda Bluetooth but switches back to the phone once the call has gone through. This necessitates a potentially unsafe futzing with the audio source button on the phone. I should add I didn't have this issue with my "old" iPhone 4 on iOS 7.

I've tried forgetting the Mazda on my phone, deleting the device on the Mazda head unit, turned Bluetooth off and on and rebooting the phone, changed Call Audio Routing to Headset and Speaker, installed 8.1.1 and reset network settings. Haven't done a reset all yet. I'm thinking only a new iOS update is going to fix this. I can pair my phone and every other function seems fine - it's just placing calls that doesn't work as it should.

Let Apple know your frustration. I'm sure they're well aware of the issue but extra pressure is warranted ...

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

If Bluetooth is designed to be 100%, no-issue, always backwards compatible, then why are there firmware updates for some Bluetooth devices?

iOS: Troubleshooting Bluetooth connections - Apple Support

If your Bluetooth accessory has upgradable firmware, check to see that you have the latest version1, 2.

If your iPhone connects to any Bluetooth device, then it's working properly. Contact Mazda to support the Bluetooth on the car.

Use the article I linked.

Eyeballer001 wrote:

I’m afraid you haven’t convinced me with your arguments. As I see it, modern operating systems are so complicated that it’s not realistic for any individual or even group of individuals to anticipate *every* possible scenario the OS will deal with. It is not rare for even small, seemingly innocuous updates to have unexpected consequences and dysfunctions.

The crux of your argument seems to be that since Bluetooth device pairing with iPhone OS 8.1.1 works for most people in general, and for you in particular, then it is inconceivable that iOS 8.1.1 is at fault for those few outliers having problems.

I think a relevant analogy is the WiFi problem which previously surfaced with OS X Yosemite. Most people had no problems with WiFi after updating. Applying your reasoning would suggest that the WiFi hardware manufacturers were at fault for those few individuals who did have problems. However, in some posted cases, people were having problems connecting Apple computers with Apple Airport stations, both of which had the latest software/firmware updates. Apple finally released a software update which fixed the problem for most affected people. The problem, in a simple sense, was that Apple developers hadn’t accounted for some less common, particular system configurations, and those particular configurations “broke” the WiFi component of Yosemite.

For the other posters in this thread, their devices worked with previous versions of iOS as well as other devices’ implementation of Bluetooth (e.g. Android). That would suggest that the devices had properly implemented some version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a common standard, like 802.11n for WiFi, and is maintained by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. All licensed Bluetooth devices are required to be backwards compatible with older versions of Bluetooth, and so your assertion that users needed to update their device firmware is flawed. Even if Apple had implemented a “new and improved” version of Bluetooth, they would have been required to have it compatible with older devices. (Out of curiosity, how would you suggest I update the Jabra Drive firmware…the device has no mechanism for doing so, nor should it need one given the backwards compatibility requirement for Bluetooth).

If you cannot concede the possibility the Apple messed up, then we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

Cheers

There's always that possibility.

But critical thinking & analysis, combined with basic troubleshooting techniques, common sense and years of experience in the field, along with personal exposure to the devices, leads me to the most reasonable conclusion: Any individual Bluetooth accessory that doesn't work with iOS 8.1.1 or 8.1.2 (assuming other Bluetooth accessories do work) is at fault, and needs to be inspected more closely.

And additionally, since I know for a fact, having worked with accessory manufacturers in the past, that some of those engineers don't place as high of an importance on what they view as 'secondary' issues, things get put on the back burner, and they don't finish coding the updates in a timely manner. Same thing for some email providers. After every major iOS update, there are email providers (usually smaller ones, not the big ones) that had months to get ready, but they didn't. And I have to contact them to light a fire to get them to do so.

And as far as the backwards compatibility part? That's for the most basic functions, i.e. the actual connection. Do the devices see each other and have a basic connection? Yes? Then the backwards compatibility is valid. Anything more advanced does sometimes require firmware updates.

And it's not just Apple that talks about Bluetooth firmware updates:

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl889

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=1528

http://worldwide.bose.com/downloads/en/web/bose_bluetooth_system_download/page.h tml

http://www.alpine-europe.com/index.php?id=1422&L=2

oldman191 wrote:

Two iphones 5S each. Both work fine. Both activated same day. Both upgraded to 8.xxx same time from same network. One still works fine. It sincs with car and home wireless land line phone. The other sincs to nothing.

If they are both updated to iOS 8.1.2, and one device connects to Bluetooth just fine, and the other does not, then on the device that does not, follow these steps: [iOS: Troubleshooting Bluetooth connections - Apple Support]

As a final step if that all fails, make a backup and restore it as new: [Use iTunes to restore your iOS device to factory settings - Apple Support].

If it still will not connect to any Bluetooth, get the device serviced. It has a hardware failure.

Same issue different car, chrysler uconnect. All worked just fine until Apple issued the 8 series of "updates"!

THis i issue is 100% Apple! If the next "update" doesn't fix this issue, new cell phone manufacturer is warrated!

Neither Apple nor users here have an answer other than "It must be your fault, our phones work fine". Keep searching, someone some where will figure this out and it will be totally Apple! My iPhone worked fine until ios 8 - 8.1.1. Wish I could revert.

Good luck!

I've got the same problem on my 2012 Mazda 3 with my iPhone 5. Has anyone tried "Reset All Settings" on the phone? I've read in other threads that this fixes Bluetooth issues, but haven't tried it since I don't want to have to reinstall everything unless I need to.

Bluetooth isn't a requirement on any federal installation nor in any state. Operating a mobile phone may require a form of hands free, but Bluetooth itself isn't a law.

Now, how many of you posting in this thread can tell me the current firmware version of the Bluetooth installed in your vehicle, and what is the most current version available from your vehicle manufacturer or Bluetooth accessory manufacturer?

Also, does your iPhone connect to any Bluetooth device, such as a headset, speakers, or even a photo kiosk at a Target or Wal-Mart?

Dewcr3w88 wrote:

Except that most of us had no issue with ios7xx , can still connect those devices and had no issues until the last several ios8 updates

Irrelevant. Whenever Apple prepares a new iOS update, all other related tech companies are advised, far in advance of the release (as in, like MONTHS ahead of time), what changes will be made. That includes app developers, email providers, website managers, and Bluetooth accessory manufacturers, just to name a few. And if they want their products/services to be compatible with iOS devices, then it is their responsibility to make the required adjustments. If they fail to make required adjustments, then it's also their responsibility to advise their customers, even before the iOS release, that their products/services will not be compatible with the new iOS.

Technology changes. That's how it works.

iOS 8 is different from iOS 7. The way the Bluetooth interfaces is also different. If the accessory is not updated to a firmware version (again, the responsibility of the manufacturer to provide that and the responsibility of the consumer to install or update it) that is compatible, then it will not work properly.

oldman191 wrote:

After updates: NO Bluetooth connection on anything

Before updates 8-8.1.1: Bluetooh worked fine

reset, restart and ALL other FIXES unsuccessful

Apple update is faulty

No, it's not. There's an issue with your device.

Make a backup. Restore as new. Attempt to connect to any Bluetooth accessory or device, not just your car. For example, see if it will connect to Bluetooth speakers, a Bluetooth headset, or even a photo printing kiosk with Bluetooth capability.

If it connects to any of these, the Bluetooth on the device is fine. If it does not, it is likely a hardware issue. Get your device serviced. But it's not the update. If it was, then NOONE's devices would work.

It's not an issue with just one device. Everyone on this thread is complaining about problems with their iOS devices with Mazdas that started happening after the 8.0 release. Bluetooth is designed to be backwards compatible, so even if Apple did change something, it shouldn't have broken what's already out there. If they knew they were changing something with their BT implementation, I'd like to see where that's documented.

In my case, my iPhone 5 connects fine to a wireless speaker. It also plays music through my Mazda with no problems. The problem is only when I try to place a call through the hands-free system on the car. 9 times out of 10 the info screen on my car just flashes "Bluetooth searching" like it's trying to connect it through the car's audio system. Then it reverts and switches back to the phone. Once the call is established, I can change the audio source on the phone to the car and that works. But that's a dangerous thing to do while driving.

Dont even bother with the drone. its pot luck it seems with ios8.... They have to sort this out.

Something is up with the way it handles connections and audio... Something on the phone is trying to search or connect or adjust while its connected.

I was able to listen to 10 minutes worth of music by blind luck on my way home today (not a long drive) but I started spotify, noticed it wasnt connected to VW PHONE (what my car identifies as) inside the app so I selected it and some how was good to go on my way home....

Im not holding my breath but Apple really needs to address it, I am sure in their employee lot there has to be one person who works there with an ios8 device and having issues staying connected to their car's audio. Bluetooth should not have backwards compatibility issues.

I hate to be dramatic, but if fix I may have found by dumb luck doesnt persist or the next update doesnt lock everything up I will either trade this for a 5s on 7.1 or look else where for an android phone. It isnt ideal because I really like everything else about the 6.

Did you try deleting the Bluetooth settings on the iPhone and on the car audio system? I have a Corolla S 2012, and today I tried deleting the old Bluetooth settings on the iPhone 6 Plus and re-establishing it, and the songs are playing finally with the update of iOS 8.1.1

Our vw car dealer introduce us clearly to buy htc ore Samsung

now we have about 7-8 htc one & Samsung s5 Dual sim

they all have bluettoth 4.0 --- the Same like the iphone 6 & +

they all work Fine Talking & Diving safely