megadith

Q: iPhone 6s and Mazda Bluetooth issues

Hi all, I've got an iPhone 6s on 9.2.1 and a 2016 Mazda CX5 Grand Touring with a Bose stereo system. I am having an issue where playing audio via Bluetooth (music from iTunes, podcasts, etc) has bad sound quality, the audio skips ahead randomly, and it cuts in and out a lot. I can't see a pattern to it, meaning it doesn't seem to cut out or skip more when there are notifications or other things happening on the phone. I do have an Apple Watch, so I wonder if that might have something to do with it. I have taken the phone back to factory settings and even had Apple replace it entirely and I set it up as a new phone, to no effect.

 

I don't have these audio quality issues when I connect the iPhone to the car via USB but that is not a solution either because:

1) it always starts playing the same song when I start up the car - the first song alphabetically in my music library, and

2) Apple Maps voice prompts don't play - it pauses the podcast or lowers the music volume but there's no Siri voice giving directions.

3) If I don't plug the phone in immediately when I start the car, it starts playing the radio at an insanely high volume and then I have to manually select USB. 

None of those are issues if I'm connected via Bluetooth.

 

I had this exact same phone/watch setup on a 2013 Honda CRV and connected to Bluetooth with no issues the whole time I owned that car. I have taken the Mazda in to the dealer twice and they say it's an iPhone issue. Does anyone have any ideas on what's going on and how I can fix it?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Mar 7, 2016 3:19 PM

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Q: iPhone 6s and Mazda Bluetooth issues

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  • by ChrisJ4203,Helpful

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Mar 7, 2016 4:57 PM in response to megadith
    Level 9 (57,137 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 7, 2016 4:57 PM in response to megadith

    The plug-in issues you describe are a vehicle issue, and how the audio system controls the phone.

     

    The issue with Bluetooth, you said it worked in another vehicle. I understand Mazda said it was an iPhone issue, but most audio issues have to do with software in the audio system not made to support the Bluetooth version in the phone. I would take the vehicle back to Mazda and ask if there is a software update to their audio system. You might also check around to see if they have had complaints from other users in your area with that vehicle. You can also try contacting Mazda customer service and pose this question.

  • by megadith,

    megadith megadith Mar 7, 2016 4:51 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 4:51 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Thanks! I'm going to contact Mazda customer support, because I tend to agree with you that it's the car and not the phone. I have only had the car for a couple months and I've taken it in to the dealership twice - the first time they updated the infotainment system and said it would be fine after that, but it didn't change. The second time I had the car in was a week ago and they said there was no update and that the problem was with the iPhone. I can't imagine why Mazda would make a Bluetooth audio system that doesn't work well with iOS.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Mar 7, 2016 6:42 PM in response to megadith
    Level 9 (57,137 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 7, 2016 6:42 PM in response to megadith

    You would be surprised what you see. Apple releases the software to the vehicle manufacturers so they can check to ensure their devices work with the latest iOS. It is their responsibility to ensure that it does, or to notify their users that it doesn't. Many device manufacturers either do not test their devices, or don't provide a path for updating them, which can cause issues for smartphone owners, not only Apple's iPhone. Good luck, and I hope you get it straightened out.